CLOSE OF A USEFUL CAREER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3308, 8 November 1883, Page 2

CLOSE OF A USEFUL CAREER.

Intelligence has reached Saltcoats of the sudden death at sea of Captain John Leitch (Commodore of the Cunard fleet) on board the steamer Saragossa, in the Mediterranean. It appears that he died quite suddenly when he was writing his log in the deck cabin. He was no ordinary man in the merchant navy, and played an honorable part in that service during an active career of no less than 52 years at sea, tho greater part of which service was passed in the Cunard Company. Born in Eaise street, Saltcoats, he followed the pursuit of his father going to sea at the age of 14. Promotion was rapid, and on attaining tho position of master he became noted for his quick passages to and from Eastern ports. Ho joined tho Cunard line, and worked his way up until he became tho commodore. Among other ships, Captain Leitch commanded the Scotia, but his health would not allow him to continue in the rough weather of the Atlantic, and ho was transferred to the more genial service of tho Mediterranean. During the Crimean war he engaged in transport work and took out the first troops sailing from Liverpool. He was 66 years of age, and served 37 years in tho Cunard Company, for tho most of that long period as captain. _ No higher testimony can bo borne to his skill and care as a navigator than to mention the fact that during his whole career ho never met with an accident or mishap at sea. For many years he hae resided at Liverpool, where he was highly respected.