Historical Notes

(The Vincentian, October 9,1919)

A New Motor Launch

There was some excitement in three small towns on the Leeward coast “by the appearance of a large and comfortable looking motor launch with a large party of excursionists on board. ”Some declared it to be the long overdue Government motor launch, but those in the know contended that she was not. The launch was the property of F.A Corea and is a credit to local workmanship…The weather was delightfully fine on Sunday and the sea as calm as the proverbial pond most of the way,which was unfortunate as the merits as a sea boat could not be tested.{{more}}

The excursionists are all enthusiastic over the comfort provided and her steadiness when in motion.”

The Government Motor Launch (The Vincentian, November 13, 1919)

The Government launch St Vincent was successfully launched at Carpenter’s Yard last Thursday. The graceful appearance of the new boat as she lay in Kingstown harbour won commendation of all. She is really the finest bit of

local work seen for a long time. The boat has proved to be highly satisfactory and is likely to take up her work shortly.

George Bascombe (The Times, January 9, 1902)

“People in Kingstown may have noticed during last week, the decrepit, though somewhat stalwart figure of an old man begging in the streets, but few

perhaps were aware that the old man was no other than the once redoubtable

George Bascombe, who had headed the riots which broke out in this colony in the year 1862. The riots were soon quelled and Bascom, with two of his

lieutenants was arrested at Mt. Bentinck and after being twice illegally

flogged by Sgt. Major Duffy of the Police was shipped from Rabacca to Kingstown, where he was tried and sentenced to be publicly flogged and to a long term of imprisonment, but was shortly after reprieved. Had fortune

favoured Bascombe, he might have been the first President of the Republic of St Vincent, living at Government House. As it is, last Monday he was admitted as an inmate of the Pauper Asylum.” (Bascombe was a Barbadian immigrant who was working on the Mt. Bentinck Estate)