James Smith Rigmaiden (update)

Since my first post about James Rigmaiden I have uncovered some new information. I was lucky enough to find out about a website called Trove which is compiled by staff at the National Library of Australia and contains pages from newspapers, books, images and so on. I was surprised to find several entries about James there and, as they are so interesting, I will reproduce them here, firstly from the Melbourne Telegraph of the 21st February 1871:

A Colonial Leander
An extraordinary story comes from Sandridge. A man named James Rigmaiden, who is known as a good swimmer, whilst at Sandridge on Sunday, boasted that he could swim to Williamstown and back. His companions received the statement with a good deal of laughter, and after some badinage, Rigmaiden stripped and took to the water. Little attention was paid to him at first, but bye and bye, as he got further and further from the shore, his companions began to be afraid that he really meant to try the extraordinary feat. They watched him of upwards of  an hour until his head disappeared between intervening boats and the Williamstown shore. He started at about half past three, and an anxious watch was kept until after dark for his return. The conclusion was eventually arrived at that Rigmaiden was drowned, and his sorrowing comrades thought the wisest thing to do was to report the matter to the police. His clothes were accordingly collected and carried to the police station. The occurrence was duly entered into the police records and reported to the chief station. Next morning, however, to the astonishment of the police, the missing man, dressed in a sailor's suit, walked into the Sandridge station anxiously inquiring for his clothes. He stated that he swam to Williamstown, and after a short rest, without leaving the water, he started on his return trip. When about half way back and near the ship Chelsea he found that "there were sharks about" and, getting frightened, he made for the jolly boat of the Chelsea, fastened astern of that ship. He managed to get into the boat and shouted to those on board. A very fierce dog forms part of the crew of the Chelsea, which effectually kept Rigmaiden from ascending the side.The growling and disturbance made by the animal aroused those on board. The captain at last came on deck, and the poor fellow was assisted on board pretty well exhausted. He was well cared for, and next morning dressed in sailor's clothes and sent ashore

An incredible story! To this day there is held a "Big Bay Swim" every February between Sandridge (now called Port Melbourne) and Williamstown across Melbourne Bay and the estimated time of the swim is about 2 and a half hours, although some finish it sooner. Is it a coincidence that it is the same time of year as James Rigmaiden's swim - except he got a lift back and a rest in between!

This is Sandridge Beach these days in preparation for the Big Bay swim

Map showing Williamstown in relation to Port Melbourne

In the UK census of 1871 later that year his wife Catherine described herself as a widow - had she received a message about his supposed demise and not known it was a mistake. If James had been abroad for a long time she might have decided to call herself a widow - seven years was the usual period of time allowed to elapse - but did not bother to have it legally approved. Or was James just on a short trip to Australia. I have not yet been able to find out, but his companions seemed to know him well and were fond of him. 
More articles about James in the next post