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Jim’s
Australiana Spot – 2UE - May 1, 2011
Questions
Prince Alfred was the first Royal Prince
to visit Australia in 1868. How was the prince connected to:
| Q |
Irishman
Henry O'Farrell? |
| A |
Farrell shot him
at a picnic at Clontarf and was hanged for it |
| Q |
The German Dukedom of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha?
|
| A |
|
| Q |
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| A |
It was offered
to him |
| Q |
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| A |
He was captain on its around the world voyage.
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| Q |
|
| A |
His wife Marie
had a biscuit named wafer her. |
Basic facts about Alfred Ernest Albert Saxe-Coburg
(6 August 1844 – 30 July 1900)
• 4th child of Queen Victoria and Albert
• 2nd in line to throne for many years...naval career
• married Czar's daughter - had five children
• ruled Dukedom of Saxe-Coburg Gotha after his brother relinquished his
right to rule as he was to be King of England
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE OF 1868 Melbourne Argus
'ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION of THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN SYDNEY. [BY
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] SYDNEY, THURSDAY, 6 P.M.
To-day was observed as a general holiday, in consequence of the
Sailors' Home Picnic, which was very largely attended. Six steamers
and both the yacht squadrons started for the scene, which was at
a spot down Sydney Harbour.
The Prince arrived at two o'clock, and, after luncheon, was walking
with the Countess of Belmore and Sir William Manning, when an unknown
elderly man came behind him, and drawing a revolver, shot the Prince.
He was firing a second shot, when the bystanders struck the pistol
from his hand, and seized the assassin. The bullet was thus diverted,
and went through Mr. Thornton's foot.
A fearful excitement ensued. A large number of ladies fainted, and
the crowd rushed on the assassin, amid loud cries of "Lynch
him, Lynch him." The police, interfered, and dragged the assassin
on board a steamer. Later intelligence states that the 'man has declared
himself to be an Irish man.
8 P.M. The would-be assassin has been recognised as H. J. O'Farrell,
a lawyer's clerk, brother to a solicitor who practiced some years
ago in Melbourne. He was living at Ballarat, and came here about
three months ago.
He fired at the Prince's back, when two paces off. The bullet entered
two inches from the spine, passed through the muscles of the back,
and round by the ribs to the front of the abdomen.
The Prince immediately fell, exclaiming, " My back is broken." Sir
Win. Manning, seeing the Prince fall, and hearing the second report,
throw himself down, while the crowd rushed to raise the Prince and
seize the assassin, who was only saved from being torn piecemeal
by the exertions of the police and the Chief Justice, who got severely
handled in aiding the police. Numerous attempts were made to tear
the prisoner away, and his clothes were torn to shreds.
"When he was placed on board the steamer Paterson, to be taken to Sydney,
the crew tried to seize him to lynch him. A second revolver, fully loaded,
was found on him. The sensation in the city is indescribable, mounted troopers
and foot police, fully armed, were despatched to the wharf, the gaol, and the
Government House.
The Prince was carried on board the steamer Morpeth about four o'clock,
suffering intense pain. Two lines of citizens formed an avenue from
the marquee to the steamer, and profound grief was manifested by
them. Many ladies fainted as the Prince was borne by. He arrived
in Sydney about five o'clock, and was conveyed to Government House.
The wound is not thought to be mortal, though it causes great pain.'
AFTERMATH: In March
1868, the NSW Government voted for a memorial building to be erected, “to
raise a permanent and substantial monument in testimony of the heartfelt
gratitude of the community at the recovery of HRH”. This led
to a public subscription which paid for the construction of RPA.
Prince Alfred recovered from his injury and was able to resume command
of his ship and return home in early April 1868.
Henry James O'Farrell was quickly tried, convicted and hanged on
21 April although Alfred asked that he be spared the death penalty.
Tune in to hear Jim on 2UE every Sunday
at 12.30 pm
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