The Colonial Surgeon’s report for 1858 noted that Central Police Station was surrounded by a drain which did not have sufficient fall to allow sewerage to flow into the sewer resulting in the most “offensive effluvium” surrounding the station. “Such an arrangement cannot but be injurious to the health of the many persons who inhabit the Station.”
He also reported on cases of Fever and Dysentery amongst the men posted to Aberdeen, Stanley and Shaukiwan noting that they could rarely escape the ill effects of Malaria. He recommended that the Superintendent of Police should arrange for the Constables stationed there to take a daily dose of quinine.
Constable William SOUTHWELL was admitted to the Civil Hospital in July 1858 perhaps suffering from the effects of Malaria or from the Asiatic Cholera which was sweeping through the Colony at the time. He wrote his will on 15th. July and was buried in the Colonial Cemetery the following day. His was just one of over forty burials in the cemetery that July with the majority being either soldiers or sailors.
William was 41 years of age and came from Louth in Lincolnshire. He left his silver watch and chain, two gold rings and pipe to his friend George SHEPHEARD. The rest of his belongings were to go to George SPANTON who was also a patient in the hospital. But perhaps the most important part of the will was his wish to have a stone erected over his grave – he did not want to be forgotten.
George SHEPHEARD, had recently been appointed Inspector of Markets and with their close connection would seem to be a likely candidate for carrying out his final wish. He did well for the headstone survives to this day and can be found in Section 11 of the Hong Kong Cemetery. The inscription is worn with age but during the 1980s when I transcribed the MIs I was able to make out
“Sacred to the memory of William SOUTHWELL, a native of Louth, Lincolnshire, who died .. July 1858 ……….”.
How do I know that William was a Police Constable? Because that is how he is described within the burial register. In fact, William has made a little bit of history because as far as I can ascertain his headstone is the earliest in the cemetery to a Constable of the Hong Kong Police - although many others were buried earlier but without the benefit of a memorial.
George SHEPHEARD was not so lucky. He left Hong Kong to became a Tidewaiter with the Chinese Maritime Customs. In July 1864, whilst posted to Amoy, he set off in the Customs lorcha to help the British ship Taeping which was experiencing difficulties. He did not make it back to land. Some ten days later fishermen found the wreckage of the lorcha and reported having seen the body of a European floating in the water. On being asked to describe the dress of this individual it was found to correspond exactly with what Mr. Shepheard had been wearing on leaving Amoy. A reward of 30 dollars was offered to retrieve the body but it is not known whether it was ever found.
