The North Borneo Herald. TUESDAY, 2ND JUNE 1914. INTERMENT OF THE LATE ALFRED JONES AT JESSELTON CEMETERY

THE NORTH BORNEO HERALD AND THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE

EDUCATIONAL SERIES BY BORNEO HISTORY

No. 11 - VOL.XXXII. SANDAKAN, TUESDAY, 2ND JUNE 1914.

The North Borneo Herald.

TUESDAY, 2ND JUNE 1914.

INTERMENT OF THE LATE ALFRED JONES

 AT JESSELTON CEMETERY

An Impressive ceremony took place at Jesselton on the evening of 27^th April last when the remains of the late Mr. Alfred Jones were reinterred at the Cemetery.

The corpse was brought round from Usukan by the G.S.Y. Lotus in charge of Mr. French. The Lotus arrived alongside the wharf at 4.30 p.m. where the remains were handed over to the charge of the Civil Police. A special train conveyed the party from the wharf to the Post Office where the coffin was placed on the gun carriage which was covered with several beautiful wreaths.

A procession was then formed and moved off towards the Cemetery to the sad strains of the band and the rumble of muffled drums. The procession was constituted as follows, Firing Party, Band, Gun Carriage, H. E. the Governor, Hon’ble the Government Secretary, Hon’ble the Commandant, Hon’ble the Resident and a large following of Officials and other European Residents. The Civil Police detachment brought up the rear.

The remains were met at the entrance to the Cemetery by the Rev. F. Leggatt who conducted the service. It was greatly to be regretted that a heavy shower of rain commenced shortly after the arrival of the procession at the Cemetery.

Mr. Alfred Jones was killed on 13^th November, 1897, during an attack on Fort Ranau.

The rebel Mat Salleh had been run down to this stronghold and after bombardment it was decided that the place should be stormed. The storming party succeeded in forcing an entry but Mr. Jones was shot and speared inside the fort while leading the attack. A great fight took place for possession of the body and only after considerable losses (4 were killed and 5 wounded) were the storming party drives back, managing, however, to bring the body with them.

Mr. Jones was buried within the lines of the investing force.

The Dyak police refused to again assault the place and it became necessary to invest Fort Ranau for some weeks, when on the arrival of further ordnance, Mat Salleh evacuated the fort thus eventually allowing an unopposed entrance.

The Hon’ble Mr. Hewett, the other officers being Messrs. Wine, Onsley and Barraut.

-/ss