Session 3: A View of the Sea
General Summary
Friday 26th February 1886
The League of Gentlemen arrive promptly at 12:00 pm at Seafield Tower, the seaside summer residence of Sir Henry Ayers. They expect a fine luncheon and an opportunity to learn more about their new role as the Board of Directors of the Commercial Bank of South Australia. At the main entrance to Sir Henry's fine home, they present their cards to the butler and wait patiently while he confirms their appointment with Sir Henry. Once shown inside they are directed to a formal sitting room where Sir Henry and Thomas Wellington await them. Sir Henry is eager to learn every detail of yesterday's shareholder meeting and subsequent activities at the reopened bank. He knows the League were kept very busy late into the evening with bank issues, staffing changes, and strategies for improving the bank's fortunes. After a full and frank discussion, a plan is agreed upon for action before the next shareholder's meeting in one month's time. With formalities concluded, all retire to Sir Henry's dining room for a fine luncheon and less taxing conversation. Thomas reveals a book that has taken his fancy, the Trouvelot Astronomical Drawings. He has an abiding fascination for all things astronomical and spends every spare minute pouring over the text and illustrated plates within this rare and beautiful atlas. After luncheon, Sir Henry invites his guests up to the tower, a structure he shares with his neighbour, Sir Thomas Elder. On reaching the top of the stairs, the League finds Sir Thomas watching distant ships through a large spyglass set up on a tripod. After introductions, Sir Thomas asks the younger Thomas if he is enjoying the book he lent to him. The young man's answer is an emphatic yes. Some time is spent admiring the view through the spyglass. The League listens to both Sirs complain about a southern neighbour whose tower is more advantageously situated. The neighbour signals steamers and sailing ships off the coast and buys their entire cargo before they dock in Port Adelaide. Cargos are then sold at a higher price due to the "shortage" created by the neighbour. Neither Sir is impressed by this claim jumping behaviour. The afternoon progresses in pleasant conversation until an alarm is raised on the nearby Glenelg Jetty. A shocking accident causes people to run from the Jetty towards Moseley Square. Dr Sanford Cleve Kirkham is the first to arrive on the scene and discovers a dock worker critically injured by falling cargo. The man's left arm is crushed below the elbow. Luckily for the dock worker, Dr Kirkham is skilled in medical matters and saves the injured man's life. What was a leisurely afternoon takes a frantic turn as the dock worker is transported to the Moseley Square Police Station casualty room for Dr Kirkham to amputate the man's crushed hand and forearm. The other members of the League calm the crowd, investigate the cause of the accident, and find the injured man's wife. James Sinclair Hindmarsh insists Lance Corporal Martin Allchurch, the senior officer at the Police Station, inform Sir Henry of the many past accidents caused by rushed cargo handling practices onboard ships on tight schedules.Created Content
Non-Player Characters (NPCs)
Injured dock worker, Glenelg JettyLance Corporal Martin Allchurch, Senior Officer, Moseley Square Police Station
Locations
GlenelgGlenelg Jetty
Moseley Square
Moseley Square Police Station
Sanford Cleve Kirkham
Head Alienist Dr Sanford Cleve Kirkham
( 64 / Male ) from
Adelaide Lunatic Asylum at North Terrace
James Arthur Howard
Diplomat James Arthur Howard, Esq.
( 46 / male ) from
Adelaide
Report Date
16 Nov 2020
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