Notable South Australians/Richard Jagoe
Richard Jagoe.
IF sheer hard work and dogged perseverance deserves a place in this record, it has been well earned by the subject of this memoir. Born at Truro, Cornwall, in 1833. Prior to leaving England he engaged first in a collier schooner and then in a fruiting cutter, as an introduction to sea-faring pursuits. Arrived with his parents in this colony in 1849, he commenced his colonial career by working as farm laborer or drapers' runner, as occasion demanded. Later on he took another turn at sea-faring, and made several intercolonial voyages, but the life was not to his taste, although a most profitable employment in the days of the diggings'. On returning from Forest Creek he served with an auctioneer in Adelaide, and obtained an introduction to newspaper life, and a favorable opportunity arising he was placed on the Adelaide Times to collect the shipping news. He ultimately changed to the Register, and in this service he has continued for over thirty years. In early days he was appointed Sanitary Officer, to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases, and has carried out the duties of that vocation with universal approbation. The boat service at the Semaphore having attracted attention from the want of efficiency displayed, the shipping reporter was again thrown into the breach, and by the powerful aid of the Daily Press overcame All obstacles, and changed the Beach Service from whaleboats to sailing cutters. As the colony progressed he had the honor of working up the important and efficient Steam Service which has developed into a Company, leaving the subject of this notice still reporter for Shipping and Assistant Health Officer,:and in all probability he will some day die in harness. Mr. Jagoe has a most positive and intimate knowledge of all circumstances connected with Port Adelaide for over thirty years, and is referred to on every occasion when the old customs are alluded to. Although his vocation of night and day work precludes his mixing with the haut ton, it is said that on sundry birthdays there are celebrations held at the "Sandhill Savage's" lair which are as pleasant and jovial as those in the circle of "Society." It may be mentioned that the original name was Trejago, and in the time of Edward VI., his ancestor, Jahn de Trejago, of Fentgallan, was high Sheriff of Cornwall.