‘Dick America' Is

Dead

Famous Old Negro Sailor of

the Solomons

FAMOUS old man of the Solomon Islands, Dick America (otherwise George Washington Ezekiel Richard 1, a negro, born in Philadelphia, USA), d at the Marist Mission Station, linoni, San Cristoval, on September 24.

According to Mr. Henry Kuper—to om Mr. Richardson entrusted his jers several years ago—Mr. Richardson d at the age of 83. He passed away icefully as a result of old age, well ended by the European staff of Wai li Mission station. He left two sons 1 two daughters, and 28 grandchildren the Solomons.

Having spent his younger days in square-rigged sailing ships, where he be came a first-rate sailor, he eventually went t 0 Thursday Island. As sailmaker and, later, as master of pearling luggers, he became well-known all over Torres Straits and in Northern Queensland ports.

In 1905, he arrived in the Solomons in the employ of Captain Charley Butchard and Mr. G. R. Younger, now of Nono, Russell Islands, BSIP. They arrived in the lugger Manila, one of the fastest sailing craft the Solomons have ever seen, and they went beche-de-mer fishing on the east coast of Malaita—quite a dangerous undertaking at that time.

Richardson married a Malaita girl, the marriage being legally performed by Captain Butcnara.

The beche-de-mer venture proved suc cessful, and Captain Butchard took the proceeds in the schooner Clara Jackson to Canton, and sold the lot there very profitably.

Richardson joined the newly-appointed

staff of Lever’s Pacific Plantations, and was sent out by them to Graciosa Bay, Santa Cruz Islands, as assistant manager to Mr. Matthews. Graciosa Bay was a beauty spot—and was also notable for its six-feet bows and bone-tipped arrows, which invariably produced tetanus. How ever, Richardson and his wife prospered; and they were later transferred to Maru Bay, in the Arosi district of San Cristoval, where he traded, and planted up Lever’s property with coconuts. His two sons, Sgt.-Major Richardson, of the BSIP Armed Constabulary and Edwin Richardson, chief steward on the RCS Kurimarau, were born during this time.

RICHARDSON started out on his own account and planted out a piece of land called Marou, also in the Arosi District. Owing mostly to his good nature, he lost this property.

Temporary employment as overseer, fishing for beche-de-mer, etc., gave him what his simple needs required. He was always an enthusiastic gardener, and his food gardens were an example to natives.

Himself a Negro, Richardson proudly refused any assistance from natives, though he gave freely to them. His motto was “Going to paddle my own canoe.” He was always accepted by all Oldtimers as “a thorough white man.”

His own frequent remark, that he was the first white man on Makira, was accepted by Oldtimers as “one of his George Washingtons.”

His actual name was George Washing ton Ezekiel Richardson; but when he first went to the shipping office to sign his first articles and gave this name, the shipping Master said, “None of that!

Your name is Ezekiel Richardson, and, take my advice, next time you come before me make it Dick.”

So in the Solomons, he was generally known as “Dick America.”

Captain Alan Villiers, of the square rigged ship, Joseph Conrad, who called at Santa Anna and spent four days there, left his name to posterity describing, in a whole chapter in his book, “The Cruise of the Conrad,” the two old “sea dogs” he found there—Ezekiel Richardson and Henry Kuper.

Though hampered by the loss of one arm, destroyed in an accident when dy namiting fish, “Dick America” will surely manage to climb the long rope ladder to Heaven which all true square rigged sailors have to do to get there.

Home is the sailor.