Alec Markwell

Death Of Captain

THE death occurred suddenly, aboard his ship “Cora”, off the western coast of Cape York Peninisula, on Feb ruary 23, of Captain Allison Alexander Markwell, master mariner—affectionately known to old-timers as “Alec”.

He sailed the waters of the South-west Pacific for over 30 years, and he knew the reefs, tides and natives as did few' other men. He was one of the Old School of “white men true”, whom we can ill afford to lose and whom it is becoming increasingly difficult to replace. He was of strong and generous character, and he was among the first to give help, wherever needed. Almost his last act of this des cription was to provide funds to assist in the burial, with becoming honours, of the body of an Australian Gallipoli veteran, which was in danger of interment in a pauper’s grave on Thursday Island.

This generous and genial sea-captain will be sorely missed by lonely planters and traders. They valued his happy com panionship, his cultured mind and his wide experience. He was well known along the coasts and among the islands of Papua and New Guinea.

Captain Markwell was buried at Weipa Mission Station. He is survived by a brother and his sister, Miss D. Markwell, of Chatham Street, Margate, Redcliffe, Queensland. GH.