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22 March 1912. The late Mr Joseph BastianiA Veteran Liberal and noted Smuggler
of olden days The death took place at his
residence at Colwell on Friday morning last of Mr Joseph W Bastiani, a
well known local resident and one of the oldest Liberals of the
district, after a very short illness. Although ailing for the past
four or five weeks Mr Bastiani was out off doors on the Monday prior to
his death. The late Mr Bastiani was 80 years of age and could recall
many tales of interest of the doings of his younger days, when he would
frequently run contraband goods, on one occasion after landing a cargo
at Compton they were chased right across to Totland where they were
caught. The deceased was a noted and
familiar figure along the shores and proud of the number of
distinguished visitors he had the honour of taking out for a row or a
sail. The most interesting personality to him
being the late Mr Laboughere. Mr Bastiani was a well known
Liberal and one of the oldest veterans of the islands Liberal
Association, which he rarely missed attending. He was an out and out
supporter of the cause of Liberalism and one of the first to advocate
the erection of a Liberal club for the district and personally collected
a considerable portion off the money that purchased the land to build a
club on, but failed to see the realization of his ideas, although he
lived to be a regular member of the present institution. The late Mr Bastiani was
predeceased by his wife some seven or eight years ago and leaves a grown
up family of seven sons and one daughter.
There are also 35 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. The funeral took place on
Tuesday afternoon at the Colwell Baptist
Chapel where he attended for a number of years and there was a large
attendance of mourners and sympathizing friends present. Mr Albert Hill conducted the
service and portions of scripture included the 90th Psalm, 1st
Corinthians, 5th chapter, and 14th chapter of
Revelations, while the hymn sung was “Rock of Ages”. In a feeling
address Mr Hill referred to the respect with which their departed
brother and comrade was held by those who had known him for a good
number of years. He was a man of principle and one whose word could be
looked upon as a guarantee. The coffin was borne from the
house to the chapel by four of the deceased fellow boatmen. Messrs C.
Conway, E. Conway, Elias Cotton and F. Dorey. The family mourners present
were Messrs Edward, Frederick, John, Joseph, Maurice and Sebastian
Bastiani (sons), Mrs Urry (daughter) Mesdames Edward and Joseph Bastiani
(daughters in law), the Misses Mable and Gertrude Bastiani
(granddaughters) and Albert Bastiani (grandson). Among other present were Mr
and Mrs Cotton, Mr and Mrs Geo, Baker, Miss St John, Mrs Saunders, Mrs
Phillips, Mrs Reason, Mrs J Reason, Mrs W Eldridge, Mrs Albert Hills,
Miss Keslake, Mrs Howe, Mrs Holden, Mrs Elias Cotton, Messrs G Moyce, H
Fry, R E Liver, Edgar Hitchman, J Lane, T S Webb, R Ray, A W Green, and
Mark Whitewood. There were a number of
beautiful floral tributes including a wreath from West Wight Liberal
Association and Club, Fred and Lucy, Margie Sebastian and family, Neal
Ellen and the children, Queenie and Rodney, Joe and Alice, Mr and Mrs
Dorey, Mr and Mrs Saunders and from the late friends at the Totland
reading rooms (Miss St John). Messrs Wheeler & Co. were the undertakers and the coffin plate was inscribed “JOSEPH BASTIANI DIED
MARCH 15, 1912 aged 80 years” The family of the late Mr
Bastiani wish to sincerely thank the many kind friends and neighbours
for their expressions of sympathy and for flowers sent.
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