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- IN MEMORIAM
Friend after Friend departs
Who has not lost a Friend?
Charles SCANLEN, whose death at Cradock was announced in our last issue, is justly entitled to rank amongst the foremost of our Frontier Worthies. To many of our readers it will be known that he came to this country with his parents when a mere boy, and that with them and Party he was located at Clanwilliam, a division of the Colony which, it was speedily discovered, was utterly unsuited to their circumstances. The Government soon became so sensible of this that the whole party of emigrants with which the SCANLENs were associated were removed to Waai Plaats, Lower Albany, where it was subsequently known as “The Irish Party”, and became amalgamated with the British Settlers of 1820. The elder SCANLEN, however, soon established himself with his family in Grahamstown, where the subject of this notice spent many of his early years. Engaged in sedentary employment, his health failed him – eventually compelling him to change his pursuits, and to engage in active outdoor employment. At the time referred to there was no regular Transport service between Grahamstown and Cradock, and it at once occurred to Mr. SCANLEN that here was an opening exactly suited to the requirements of his case. He accordingly at once entered upon it with all that steadiness of purpose which ever marked his character through life. It was soon discovered that Charles SCANLEN was one who might be implicitly depended on; and having inspired this confidence, his position gradually widened, until he was regarded as one of the most rising and influential members of the Cradock district. Possessed of sound judgment and of never-flagging perseverance, the claims upon him for service were so numerous and pressing that the transport business was soon abandoned, and a widespread agency soon grew up around him, to which his son is now the worthy successor.
The deceased was, however, no less distinguished as a clear-headed man of business than as a true Patriot, loyal to the country of his adoption, and prepared at every time of danger to stand foremost in its defence. His personal bravery has been proved in innumerable instances. In his career as a member of Sir Harry SMITH’s celebrated Corps of Guides; in his gallant aid to Theopolis, when invested by the warlike Kafirs; in his intrepid succour in conveying ammunition, with a few other Cradock men, to Whittlesea, when surrounded by hordes of infuriated natives and rebel Hottentots, and in numerous other instances in which he proved alike his indomitable pluck, his self abnegation, and his cool but sound determination of purpose either to “do or die”. Capable of an enormous amount of fatigue, he never spared himself, but was ever ready either at the call of friendship, of business, or of patriotism to render his service.
As a Member of Parliament, for many years representing in the House of Assembly the division of Cradock, he will ever be remembered for his unassuming deportment, his sound judgment, and his unflinching defence of Eastern Province interests. Charles SCANLEN was no weathercock. He had well studied his Political Creed, and his opinions on public questions when once matured were unflinchingly maintained and distinctly uttered. It would be well were our modern or embryo politicians to study his creed, and to steer accordingly. Take Charles SCANLEN for all in all, the Colony never had a worthier Citizen, or the Eastern Province one on whom dependence might be more implicitly placed.
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