52 I AUGUST 18, 2019 THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA AUGUST 18, 2019 I 53 LIFE& WELLBEING HISTORY Connecting the harbour towns (1) • Trouble with the barklori in Grand Harbour MICHAEL CASSAR The Vi~oriosa landing place at San Lorenzo Steps. After nine years at Marsamxett, the setting up of the Grand Harbour Steam Ferry Company (GHSFC), the second marine transport venture by Gustav GoUcher, Eduardo Montebello Pulis and RaJfaele Polidano, ostensibly to serve the Grand·Harbour, gave them an edge over the Marsamuscetto Steam Ferry Service (MSFS). Connectivity between both harbours became a reality;'ferries could be interchanged to relieve others undergoing maintenance and repair. However, compared with Marsamxett, a ferry service in Grand Harbour was fraught Lord Charles Beresford (1846-1916), after whom Sigismondo Savona (1837-1908) took up the with difficulty; it was extremely busy at all one of the 'Admiral' Class ferries was named. barklori cause in the twilight of his years. hours, with naval and merchant ship move­ ments and hundreds of small craft. Co-exis­ tence between the Royal Navy and mercantile Neither GoUcher nor Pulis received remuner­ of workers and their families was at stake, they already been impacted by the tramway, the dis• Lord Charles Beresford, the Commander-in­ Our gloomy an ticipations are seldom realised community was tenuous: the Admiralty had ation but Polidano drew a monthly allowance could easily revolt like workers bad done in Eng­ charges after the completion of the new docks Chief, Mediterranean Fleet (1905-1907), consid­ in all their gloominess; all boatmen may be able 'owned' the harbm:.r since Admiral Parker of £8. Polidano transferred to the new com­ land, Russia and Italy. at Gbajn Dwieli and the periodical absence of ered by many the personification of 'John Bull', to make their bread, as heretofore, although not defined harbour waters in 1851. pany, without compensation, the concessions The bark!ori registered en masse with the Fleet from Grand Harbour. The bark!ori had served as second-in-command to Sir John just perhaps in the old fashion". Merchant shipping and local craft had limited awarded to him on July 31, 1905, for the landing notaries Cauchi and Vella of Cospicua. The peti­ undertook to address public complaints; they Fisher; their contrasting views on naval warfare The first ferry, Admiral Bromley, was rights of passage anC. berthing in naval waters places. The contract contained the usual provi­ tion was drawn up in Maltese and English and also asked to be given alternative work when and personal animosity was proverbial. On July launched at Marsa at Sam on Saturday, and creeks; a red flag flown from Fort StAngelo sions for the sale and devolution of shares, dur­ was presented on August 21, 1906, by Sigis­ the ferry service started. 17, 1901, Fisher, who was at the Lower Barrakka August 25, 1906. It was blessed by Fr Francis during fleet movements brought shipping activ­ ing and after the 10-year period, as decided by mondo Savona to the Lt Governor, Major Gen­ In the Daily Malta Chronicle of August 25, Gardens watching Beresford mooring HMS Bugeja. During the reception given by Pulis ity to a halt. Furthermore, the proposed landing the partners or their heirs. eral Sir Charles Barron, the head of Govern­ 'Nautilus' opined that progress was unstop­ Ramillies in Grand Harbour, decided that the and Polidano the guests were also able to see places in Dockyard Creek were surrounded by The impending construction of landing ment, in the absence from the island of the pable; the writer recalled the English weavers' movement left much to be desired, and, in a the other two ferries which were launched The dgT!ajjes had a monopoly of ferry traffic in Grand Harbour until 1906. extensive naval facilities, including the vict­ stages and the) uilding of ferries confirmed the Governor, Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke. (the Luddites) erstwhile opposition to machin­ deliberate public humiliation, signalled an without ceremony that afternoon. ualling yard and No.1 Dock. wors=fears(the barklori. Themen had already Savona (1835-1908) was at the end of an illus­ ery, and averred that, rather than wait for the order to his junior to leave harbour and return Pontoons were built by Peter Camilleri & Equally problematic was the large number of been de a severe blow the previous year by trious political and military career. When he axe to fall, they ought, lilre others before them, "in a more seamanlike manner". Admiral Sons of Marsa for installation at the Marina, a barklori who, in contrast with their fellows at the way service; a fast steam ferry service died in July 1908, the Daily Malta Chronicle join the P&O as sailors. Lambton was the commander of the 3rd stone's throw away from the fishmarket in Val­ Marsamxett, wielded enormous power. That the would spell disaster. recalled that Barron told Savona that he could not rescind Cruiser Squadron and Admiral Bromley was the letta, at Strada Marina, Senglea, and next to San barklori did not enjoy public sympathy was The weekly Malta Taghna took up the cudg­ "For many years there were few figures better the Governor's decision. He regretted the likely Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard. Lorenzo Steps at Vittoriosa. common knowledge. els on their behalf and advised that if they recognised... He had a style of dressing even of consequences but the fe:-ry service was being By midsummer, the harbour was agog with A fourth landing place (it would have been the The periodical Matteu Callus of December 30, wanted public support they had to address his own; his step was measured and stately. In introduced for the convenience of the public. excitement and rumour; it was now not a ques­ third in the Cottonera) by St Theresa Steps was 1905, queried why rumours about the impend­ long-standing grievances: they were unkempt, his dress he unconsciously revealed some of the Savona reiterated the claim for alternative tion of if but when the service would start. cancelled after the Admiralty complained that ing ferry service, about which it was in favour, rude, proud, preferred soldier and sailor pas­ characteristics of the man. He was earnest in work for the men, to which Barron replied that there would be too much congestion in thenar­ were not being confirmed. Such a service was sengers, kept dirty dgha.ijes, and trips took too everything, deliberate in everything, deter­ he did not believe the men would be as badly rowest part of the creek, almost at the entrance necessary to stimulate business between the long because they did not always row in pairs mined in everything. Seldom was he ever seen affected as was being claimed. Furthermore, be to No.1 Dock, and the ferries would have found capital and the Cottonera and to end the barklori according to regulations. in public except in silk hat and frock coat. His left for possible consideration (but later turned it difficult to manoeuvre. monopoly. It sometimes took an hour to get The men were advised to present a petition presence was commanding, and one recognised down) Savona's request for a copy of the ag~e ­ "Mansfield Clarke had Late delivery from England of fittings for the home in all weathers, what with the time spent drawn up by a notary. Malta Taghna also sug­ that he had a right to command. He was ever a ment between the GHSFC and the government. lift the landing places delayed the inauguration which waiting for a dghajsa c.nd the tedious row across gested that the public boycott the ferry service man who had the courage of his opinions." Like Borton before h1."ll, Mansfield Clarke decided to was scheduled for October 11. the harbour. and embargo passengers who betrayed the Savona averred that the ferry service would had decided to lift the island's archaic trans­ island's archaic Trials were carried out on October 3. The All these considerations would have been on barklori. In thinly veiled incitement it was exacerbate the condition of 564 barklori and port network out of its a~-old hibernation and company made up for the impending delivery the table by the time the contract was drawn up averred that since the livelihood of a large body some 3,000 dependents whose livelihood had vested ptivilege. The Governor had already transport network out of of the fourth ferry by purchasing the smaller by notary Francesco Schembri Zarb on Decem­ wrecked the prospects of the government­ Stella in September 1906; it was completed in ber 30, 1905, in the presence of the same part­ owned railway by granting a licence to the elec­ its age-old hibernation November by Nicola Mayer at Marsa. The Barrakka Lifts saved the ferry company additional investment. ners in the NSFBC: Gustaf Gollcher, in his and tric tramway so he was unlikely to be moved The ferry service was inaugurated at 9am his brothers James and William's names, all by the plight of the barklori. and vested privilege" on Monday, October 15. In a touch of irony it Olof's sons, residing in Valletta, Eduardo Mon­ Unity among the men soon wavered; some had been suggested that a water festival be tebello Pulis, born in Livorno, son of Giuseppe, wanted Savona to insist on fixed ferry times to held on the day of the inauguration to·enable and Raffaele Polidano, son of Francesco, both allow them to work outside such hours, and for the barklori to earn some extra income. residents of Sliema. the ferry fare to be doubled.