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| Prince Alfred in Uniform |
Back in Brisbane, the Prince was
honoured with a display organised by the German residents, eager to express
their loyalty to the rulers of the British Empire. The procession had, however, a distinctly
Teutonic flavour.
THE GERMAN TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION AND
SERENADE.[1]
The procession formed in order near
the Observatory on Wickham Terrace, and lighted their torches. A considerable
number of the procession, however, bore paper lanterns, this distinction being
apparently accorded to those who were to take part in the serenade.
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| Triumphal arch in Queen Street for the visit Prince Alfred |
Its appearance from a distance was
attractive in the extreme; there was in fact a kind of wild, romantic beauty
about it which few could see without pleasure. Seen nearer, the effect was none
the less agreeable, the lurid glare thrown by the torches on the fences around,
and the buildings past which the procession wound its fiery length along, being
made more prominent by the comparative darkness of the night.
The procession was preceded by the
Volunteer Band, and comprised also a German Band, both, of which played
alternately, thus keeping up a strain of enlivening music the whole length of
the march. An immense crowd, which, increased in size at every step, followed
the procession to the gates of the Vice-regal grounds; but at this joint a
Cerberus[2],
in the uniform of a soldier of H.M. 50th Regiment, stopped the throng, only
admitting the German procession.
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| Government House ca.1868 |
The trees in the grounds were hung
with Chinese lanterns; and the pretty effect of these, combined with the
torches and lanterns of the procession, and the gas illuminations outside
Government House, produced a really magnificent and fairy-like scene.
Reaching Government House, the
German congregation serenade the Prince, who does a make an appearance as he is
still dining. He finally honours the
crowd with his presence when he emerges on the balcony as the English National anthem,
rather incongruously, is sung in German.
On the procession arriving at
Government House, it was found that the inmates were at dinner. The serenade
immediately began, with the famous national song, "Was ist der Deutchen Vaterland,"
which was followed by "Liederfreiheit," the words of which are in
praise of freedom of song. The serenaders then struck up a lively piece known
as "Becker's March” and when this was completed, went on to sing the
English National Anthem, translated into German. At the conclusion of the first
stanza, the Prince, accompanied by His Excellency the Acting-Governor,
Commodore Lambert, the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, the Hon. the
Attorney-General, and others appeared on the terrace.
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| Government House and Botanic Gardens |
The Hon. J. C. Heussler, M.L.C.,
then stepped forward, and presented the following rather flowery address in
German.
"His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, Duke of
Edinburgh, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, &c, &c,
&c. "May it Please Your Royal Highness, "We, the German residents
of Queensland, bid your Royal Highness a heartfelt welcome with 'torch and
song,' according to ancient German custom, on your safe arrival in Brisbane.
"We greet your Royal Highness as son of Her Majesty the Queen, to whom we
are subject in fidelity and loyalty, and under whose sceptre we enjoy
protection and liberty; as son of a friend whose memory the present generation
bliss, and whose noble deeds will be more and more recognised by posterity.
"Your Royal Highness, as German Prince, will, at some future time, be
called upon to exercise a powerful influence over the destinies of our distant
Fatherland: may this influence, for the blessing of mankind, be instrumental in
cementing the bonds of friendship that unite England and Germany."May the
Ruler of the Universe take your Royal Highness under His omnipotent protection.
Instead of making a speech in response
to this piece of fawning supplication, the Prince hands Heussler his reply. The procession retreats and only after they
leave the grounds, does Heussler read out the Prince’s reply.
His Royal Highness, who received Mr.
Heussler most graciously, thanked him very cordially for the address, and
intimated that he was much pleased with the demonstration. He then handed him his
reply to the address.
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| Johann Heussler |
Several rounds of hearty cheers, which
were graciously acknowledged by His Royal Highness, having been given, the
procession reformed, and entered the public gardens by the private gateway
leading from the vice-regal grounds. On arriving near the gate leading into
Alice-street, the procession halted, and Mr. Heussler read His Royal Highness'
reply to their address. Several more cheers having been given for the Prince,
the procession marched to the Town Hall, and spent the remainder of the evening
in festivity.
After completing his public
appearances, such as they were, the Prince took his departure.
The Prince left Government House
shortly before 12 o'clock. The carriage was preceded by a detachment of the
mounted (white) police, and followed by a detachment of black troopers. There
was a very liberal display of flags flying from the houses along the route, and
the arch opposite the Police Office was now inscribed with the words 'Farewell
Royal Guest.”.
Immediately on his stepping on board
the Kate, the royal standard was hoisted at the main, and a salute of
twenty-one guns was fired from the Queen's Park battery by No. 1 Company
Volunteer Artillery, assisted by a number of the Ipswich Artillery Corps. The Kate
immediately left its moorings, and steamed down the river amidst the prolonged
farewell cheers of the large crowd, which were responded to by the Prince.
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| Ships lay at anchor in the Brisbane River |
The Kate was followed by a large flotilla of spectator craft.
The afternoon was beautifully fine,
and the trip down the river was most enjoyable. The muddy banks and flats which
disfigure the River so much at low water were covered, as it was flood-tide, so
that the river looked its best. A fine strong breeze was blowing, which was
very pleasant and enjoyable whilst the steamer was in the river, but which
rendered the bay rather too rough for some of the lady excursionists. The
Ipswich was, however, so heavily laden that she did not roll about much, but
the Government steamer pitched about like a cock-boat[3].
The H.M.S. Challenger was gaily dressed with flags, and flew the Royal Standard at her main and the
white ensign at her mizzen. Her yards were manned with seamen dressed in white,
and the upper part of the vessel presented a very pretty, and to a landsman,
most interesting appearance. The Challenger is not by any means a model of
modern naval architectural beauty, but she was, nevertheless, a great object of
interest to many people on board. As soon as the Kate dropped her anchor,
several boats put off from the man-of-war and went alongside her. The
Commodore's gig also put off and waited alongside until the Prince and suite
were ready to embark. About 3 o'clock, the Prince having bid farewell to all on
board the Kate, entered the gig and was rowed alongside the Challenger.
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| H.M.S. Challenger |
True to form, as soon as he
boards his boat, the prince disappears below deck.
As soon as he stepped on board the
gangway, the guns thundered out a Royal salute, and the band played the
National Anthem. H R H at once went below, and did not show himself again or
acknowledge in any way the repeated cheers given by the passengers on board the
steamers.
After the Prince’s departure, the
back-biting and blame shifting began.
Upon the whole, His Royal Highness
appears to have produced a favourable impression amongst the colonists. The
fact that that impression is not general - and, however it may be regretted,
there is no denying that in the country districts which he has visited, a few
of the colonists think they have some reason to complain that but scant
courtesy has been shown them - is not to be attributed to any intentional
conduct of his own, but partly to the unfortunate circumstance that his
movements have had to be so hurried, and partly to the incompetency and
blundering of the hon. gentleman at the head of the Government, who was rash
enough to undertake the sole direction of the reception.
A postscript arrived in the form
of this newspaper report from Sydney. [4]
AFTER partaking of luncheon at the
Sailors' Home Picnic, about noon to-day, the Prince was walking with the
Countess Belmore and Sir W. Manning, when an unknown elderly man came behind,
drew a revolver, and shot His Royal Highness through the back. He was firing a
second shot, when the bystanders struck the pistol from his hand. The ball
intended for the Prince went through Mr. Thornton's foot.
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| The shooting of Prince Alfred |
The assassin has been recognised as H.
J. O'Farrell, a lawyer's clerk. O'Farrell was only about two paces behind the
Prince when he fired. The bullet entered about two inches from the spine, and,
passing through the muscles of the back, went round by the ribs to the front of
the abdomen. His Royal Highness fell immediately, exclaiming, "My back is
broken."
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| The Capture of the Assassin O'Farrell |
The miscreant was immediately seized,
and would have been lynched on the spot, but the police interfered, and took
him at once on board a steamer and conveyed him to Sydney.
The would-be assassin was an
Irishman and as such, had little regard for the British Monarchy. He was later hanged in Sydney.
Price Alfred made a full recovery
and two months later left Sydney to continue his world tour.
©
K. C. Sbeghen, 2011.
couriers brisbane
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