Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954) Saturday 24 May 191357788

DEATH.

PENNY.-On May 20, at his residence,
Eglinton-terrace, Mount Gambier, John
Penny, sen.; aged 89 years.

Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954) Saturday 24 May 191357788

Obituary.

Mr. John Penny, sen.-An old colonist
and one ot the oldest men in the district,
Mr. John Penny, sen., died at his resi-
dence, near Vansittart Park, on Tuesday
night. Mr. Penny had for a long time
suffered much from a painful complaint
arising from kidney disease, but, aided by
a wonderfully strong constitution, had at-
tained the ripe age of nearly 90 years.
The deceased was horn at Dartmouth,
Devonshire, England, in November, 1823.
While still a youth he entered upon the
life of a sailor, which he maintained un-
broken for about 30 years. As a sailor
he first came to Australia about 60
years ago. He remained in South Aus-
tralia a few years as a landsman, and then
resumed his favorite pursuit of a son of
the sea. But after he returned to Eng-
land, and rejoined his family for a short
time, he concluded that it was about time
he abandoned his sea roving, and settled
down somewhere. The taste he had re-  
ceived already of South Australia made
him prefer it, and a little over 50 years
ago he came to this State. For some
time he worked at various employments in
Adelaide and Willunga, and sent home for
his wife and family to join him. Then,
hearing of the attractive and promising
country at Mount Gambier, he came here,
walking all the way from Willunga ; and
when it is remembered that this was in  
1858, it will be understood that it was
a big undertaking; After his arrival at  
Mount Gambier he worked for a time for
Messrs. Fidler & Webb. It was while
working for them that the steamer A-d
mella was wrecked at Carpenters' Rocks
in August, 1859. The late Mr. S. T.
Webb drove him down to the coast, with
the hope that as an expert sailor he might
be able to do some service. The sight of  
the poor people holding on to the rigging
of the wrecked vessel day after day was
too distressing for him, and he induced a
few other good oarsmen to enter upon the  
forlorn hope of rowing a small dingy from
the shore to the wreck, which was sur-
rounded with breakers. The waves rolled
the small craft over, but they righted it
and tried attain, and reached the wreck,
and rescued some of the unfortunate
people. The bravery of Mr. Penny and
his companions induced the life-boat crew
to risk the breakers, and they did so, and
hy this means 22 in all were saved. For
this service Mr. Penny received two
medals (which he valued highly), and, we
believe, a monetary reward. He was af-
terwards in the employ of Messrs. Fisher
and Rochefort, owners of the Mount Gam-
bier station, afterwards Moorak. Follow-
ing that he purchased a piece of land at
Sutton Town, the first two allotments
sold there, and erected a residence upon it.
For seven or eight years he stayed there
with his family, and then disposed of it
and took up a farm at Mil Lel. He car-
ried on the occupation of a farmer for
some years, and about 20 years ago let
it, and came to the town to reside. His
wife died soon after he shifted into the
town, and after that Mr. Penny led a
quiet life in Mount Gambier. His family
of four sons and a step-daughter scattered,
as most families do in Australia. They
are--Messrs. John Penny, of Mount Gam-
bier ; Robert and Henry Penny, of West-
ern Australia ; and George Penny, of the
Wimmera. The step-daughter is Mrs. E.
Manser, of Mil Lel. Including Mrs. Man-
ser's children there are 31 grand-children.
Mr. Penny was a member of the Mount
Gambier Lodge of Oddfellows for 50
years. The funeral was held on Thursday
afternoon. The officiating' minister was
the Rev. W. A. Potts, and Messrs. James
& Walter conducted the funeral arrange-
ments.