Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Saturday 12 March 1910, page 14


DEATH OF MR. LUTHER

SCAMMELL.

A PIONEER OCTOGENARIAN.

The death is announced, at the age of 83 years, of Mr. Luther Scammell, one of the political and commercial pioneers of South Australia. Mr. Scammell, who was the senior partner in the firm of F. H. Faulding & Co., opened a chemist's business in Adelaide in the very early days. In 1861 he entered the present business with the late Mr. F. H. Faulding, a Yorkshireman, who died in 1868. The present commodious buildings in King William-street occupied by Messrs. Faulding & Co. were erected by Mr. Scammell in 1876. He handed over the active control of the establishment to his two sons in 1889, and has lived a retired life since. He was a genial, sunny-tem-pered man, who claimed a large circle of friends, and he took a keen .interest in poli-tical and commercial problems. On March 9, 1857, at the first general election held after the granting to the State of constitu-tional government, he was returned as senior member for West Torrens, his col-league being the late Mr. J. W. Cole. In March, 1860, Mr. Scammell retired from political life, and he never again sought election. He was the first president of the Hindmarsh Institute, and a decade ago gave an interesting account of how he ob-tained that honor. It seems that about 1852 or 1853 the idea of founding an insti-tute and library at Hindmarsh originated with the late Messrs. J. .Pickering, J. Gib-son, Quartley, Hunwick, and Scammell. Government aid not being the fashion then, it was decided to hold a tea meeting to raise funds. Mr.. Scammell being the youngest was left with much of the work on his hands, and feeling that some extra attraction was required he secured the services of the only photographer in Ade-laide, Professor Hall, who had just imported a magic lantern. The late Mr. E. J. T. Crawford placed his malt-house at the dis posal of the committee, and Mr. Scammell wrote up a bill, describing the exhibition, and stating that as only 500 tickets could be issued, early application was necessary. ' The bills were distributed as far north an Gawler, and so few were entertainments at the time, that before 6.30 p.m. nearly 2.000 people crowded the room and brewing yard. Mr. Scammell, foreseeing trouble, sent round early and cleared all the local shops out of loaves and butter, and then sent two spring carts to Adelaide for more.

People cut their own bread and butter, and helped themselves to water from the pump in the yard. But when the time came for the lantern show the 2,000 all wanted to get into the room, and after a few slides had been shown the improvised tables and forms on which the audience mounted broke, and the performance had to be dis-continued. Mr. Scammell, loth to see the people go away disappointed, then promised all who had paid, that he would exhibit the lantern slides each night during the week free. He did so in Playford's chapel, and gave lectures at the same time. The tea meeting resulted in the gain of £30, and then Mr. James Gibson stumped the coun-try for miles around with Mr. Scammell, and when £70 was collected, it was expen ded in books. The last lecture given in Playford's chapel, under the auspices of the institute, remembered by the late Mr. Scammell, was one on "Goldsmith," de-livered by the late Mr. Howard Clarke in 1857. On the night when the whole of the North-parade, Port Adelaide, was de-stroyed by fire. The deceased maintained a keen interest in mattere of public moment throughout his busy career. Of late he had been in indifferent health, and was feeling the weight of years. He left four sons Mr. W. J. Scammell, manager for Messrs. F. H. Faulding & Co., in Sydney; Mr. Luther R. Scammell, Adelaide manager for the firm; Mr Francis Scammell, solicitor, and Mr. Ernest Scammell. who has just taken up land in Queensland; 3 daughters Mrs. Newton, Western Australa; and Mrs. Minchin. Adelaide; and Miss Lavinia Scammell; and 11 grandchildren.