Messrs. Devitt & Moore, as shipbrokers, had many fine ships figuring in their books, notably Mermerus and Thessalus, and at odd times others of Carmichael’s fleet. They were also brokers for Mr. T. B. Walker’s speedy little barques in the Tasmanian and Brisbane trades. These sailed under the Devitt & Moore house-flag, and Mr. Walker occupied a room and his clerk a desk in their office.
Mr. T. B. Walker was a very prominent man amongst London shipowners and for many years was chairman of Lloyd’s Register. He was a shipmaster of the old school and took a great pride in his ships, and kept them up in most liberal fashion. One of his customs was to keep officers and apprentices on board whilst the ships were at home, an old pensioned cook going into the galley and acting as shipkeeper. Thus the Walker apprentices had a most valuable training in docking and undocking, shifting ship, refitting rigging, bending and unbending sail, etc., and a further result of this custom was that these pretty little barques were kept in such good order whilst at home that they came to be known as the West India Dock yachts.
Mr. Walker lived at Hackney and later at Snaresbrook, and he used to arrive at the docks punctually at 9.30 every morning. By this time the decks of all the Walker clippers in port had been washed down, the ropes Flemish coiled, the brass polished and everything was in order for his inspection. And everything had to be in perfect order, for he had an eye like a hawk and nothing escaped him: the least thing wrong or out of order and he was sure to detect it. His captains used to assemble together to meet him and make a daily report on their ships. After Mr. Walker had made his inspection it was the long-established custom for his captains to conduct him to the West India Dock Station, where he entrained for his day’s work in the City. In the spring when most of the ships were home, this procession of Mr. Walker and his captains from the docks to the station was a well-known sight of the neighbourhood and was referred to as “Mr. T. B. Walker and his satellites.”
Walker’s Clipper Barques.
Mr. T. B. Walker’s long connection with the Tasmanian trade began in 1851-2 when he despatched the brig Arnon, of 338 tons register, to Launceston. She was commanded by Captain Benjamin Fowler, a brother-in-law of Mr. Walker’s; she arrived out of season and lay in port for some months waiting for the following season’s wool, during which time Captain Fowler married a daughter of Captain William Nielley (late 40th Regiment), of Rostella, East Tamar, Launceston, and by so doing set an example which was followed by quite a number of Walker’s skippers and officers. To name only a few, I may mention Captain Barwood, who succeeded Fowler in the Arnon and is, I believe, still living in Tasmania; Captain Wittingham, who was lost in the Lanoma; Captain Smith, of the Westbury; and Captain Brown, of the Corinth. To return to the Arnon, on her return trip besides wool, she carried the mails and a large shipment of gold.
On his arrival home Captain Fowler transferred to Walker’s new barque, the Henry Reed, of 495 tons, and finally commanded the Alfred Hawley, another new barque of 420 tons. Captain Fowler retired early from the sea and settled down in his native town, Scarborough, where he took a great interest in municipal and local affairs, becoming in turn Alderman and Mayor, and lived to a good old age, being greatly respected and esteemed by his fellow townsmen.
In the early sixties Walker kept three ships in the Launceston trade, the Durnstan, Fugitive and first Westbury, all small wooden barques. He also had ships in the Queensland trade; most of his ships were built by Pile, of Sunderland, as the following list of his later ships will show:—
| Date Built. | Ship. | Description. | Tons. | Builders. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863 | Arab Steed | wood barque | 635 | Pile, of Sunderland. |
| 1866 | Araunah | „ „ | 448 | Gardner „ |
| 1867 | Westbury | iron „ | 493 | Pile „ |
| 1868 | Decapolis | „ „ | 632 | „ „ |
| 1869 | Berean | comp. „ | 526 | „ „ |
| 1870 | Corinth | „ „ | 614 | „ „ |
| 1873 | Barossa | iron ship | 968 | „ „ |
| 1876 | Lanoma | „ barque | 665 | Austin „ |