(1847-1920) Robert Roland Stevenson

Railway Fireman (1877)

The service record of RRS shows that he was by this time a "Fireman" at Port Wakefield (60 miles north of Adelaide), the date given is December 3, 1877. As a fireman he travelled on the steam engine with the driver, continually stoking the coal to ensure that the all important fire never went out. He and Maria occupied "Belleview Cottage" and one hopes that the view was of the sea and not just of the railway line. Here their first child was born in June 1878. RRS wished to call her Jessie, perhaps for the Robertson grandmother, but Maria preferred Ada Margaret. Their next move was to the early day copper mining centre of Kadina, 123 miles north of Adelaide, and here at Ewen Street on April 16, 1880, the second daughter was born. This time RRS decided on Janet but Florence Marian was much more fashionable so Maria had her way again. RRS was now a Spare Engine-man and no longer had to stoke and was required to do much shunting about of engines, and was soon moved to Adelaide to do so. The year 1881 was not altogether successful concerning his career. Perhaps having had early training as a sailor he was inclined to look at far horizons and dream, but there being much less space to manoeuvre railway engines this didn't answer at all. On June 16 he was fined 5 shillings [50 cents] because he moved an engine without first ascertaining that the line was clear and so damaged engine No. 120.

On August 27 came a second fine of the same amount and not easily spared with a wife, two bairns and a third on the way. This time he had neglected to report over-shooting Bowden Railway Station platform and some person unknown had told tales. Less than two weeks later RRS was removed from shunting,and driving engines with gay abandon, and reduced in status to First Class Fireman once more. The Line Engineer considered "that he was not competent to have charge of an engine", so back to the stoking and bad cess [luck] to the Line Engineer who had undoubtedly listened to the teller of tales.
Sometime during this year of 1881 a friend, Alexander Melville Durie, better known to RRS as "Owd Aelic" (just as RRS was "Owd Bob" to Alec), and neither of them more than 34 years of age, came across a newspaper item which he thought might be of interest to the Stevensons. It had been inserted by a firm of solicitors of Perth, Scotland, namely Robertson & Dempster. The Robertson half was a cousin, but of a different Robertson family from that of Margaret Burns. Robert Robertson and his son James continued this business from 1860 to 1900. The cutting survives and reads:- "If this should Meet the Eye of R0WLAND R. STEVENSON, aged 33 years, native of Perthshire, Scotland, son of the late Walter Stevenson M.M.F.C., last heard of 6 years ago as an Engine Cleaner with the South Australian Railways. If you will write to your Cousin, the solicitor of Perth, you will hear something to your advantage of the Glen-Darrick Property."

The code word of Rowland which RRS had also given as his first name when he entered the Railway Department had at last proved to be of value. The estate of Captain Walter Stevenson was in the hands of these lawyers for more than 20 years after his death netting them a steady profit, and their dilatory behaviour can be partly explained by the need to wait seven years for the Captain to be declared officially dead as he was lost at sea. The time having elapsed it was next necessary to trace the beneficiaries, the sons Malcolm and Robert. No doubt by the time they had traced RRS to South Australia he had left, as his Aunt Jane Clark so succinctly described, for the "Northern Territories of New Zealand". RRS had no sooner returned to Adelaide (1870) than Malcolm also was lost at sea which entailed yet another wait of seven years, but there is no explanation for the third period of seven years before an attempt was made to find RRS.

According to the sons he eventually benefited by about £2,000 [$4,000] with several accounts to be paid to the lawyer cousin, one seen by Keith, the youngest son, many years later was for £200 [$400], but most of the papers concerning this welcome legacy were destroyed by the wife of son Stuart who inherited them, as she thought such items made her house untidy. The writer contacted the still lively firm of Robertson & Dempster hoping that their records were still available, but all paper work to the year 1900 was handed in to Salvage during the 1939-45 war. Although Robertsons no longer were part of the firm some still live at Perth, Scotland, according to the Dempster half but when I requested the address he wrote curtly that they were not the kind of people to be interested in Australian connections, so another hoped for avenue was closed in the quest for information concerning the Stevensons.

There are a few penciled lines on a scrap of paper written by RRS in after years:- "Dear Blaine, You will wonder where this money came from, it came from your grandfather whom you never knew".

RRS had brought Maria and the children from Kadina to Park Street, Bowden, close to Adelaide. It was then a quite respectable working class suburb which in due course became a very run down one, so that to call anyone a "Bowdenite" was to infer that he was a very rough type indeed. At this stage most houses are occupied by either Greek or Italian migrants. Harriett Clara Stevenson was born at Park Street in February 1882, Aunty Winter and Maria's sister Clara Inglis being both honoured. RRS had given up suggesting girls' names and he got around these two which were not to his liking by calling the baby Hetty (not unknown in Scotland) and Hetty she remained all her life so that it was often thought that her name was Henrietta. Ada he called "Maggie" and to him Florence was "Flora" but these names did not survive childhood.

Engineman (1882)

For RRS the year 1882 was free of chastisements and he was again promoted to Spare Engineman. It was during this time that some of his belongings, including the all too few letters from his mother, were destroyed by fire. Whether his sea chest containing his closest links with Scotland and his father's Highland costume were also burnt, or whether these things had been at Linton when the bushfire passed through is not now known. The sons said that the kilt and plaid of Royal Stewart tartan and the accoutrements and ornaments were valued at £300 pound ($5600), perhaps an exaggeration. Only one item from Scotland remained, a "pebble" broach, given to Maria. This was of silver set with semiprecious stones found in Scotland and a typical Victorian period piece. It now belongs to my sister Betty Muller.

On May 1st. 1882 RRS was notified that he must proceed to Kingston on the southern coast at Lacepede Bay, 293 miles from Adelaide, and Maria with the three children now aged 4, 2, and a few months, plus all their household goods had to be conveyed there from Bowden. How she travelled is rather a puzzle as the rail link from Adelaide had as yet not gone further than Nairne (28 miles) and although commenced toward Bordertown in 1883 it was three years in the making and the first Adelaide to Melbourne train did not run until January 20,1887 to pass through Bordertown and Wolseley just beyond. It was from these two country centres that were still too small to be called towns that the narrow gauge track wandered off south to reach Kingston via Naracoorte with a branch to Mt.Gambier further south again. It was a railway system all on its own in this southern part of the state with no connection with any other when RRS arrived.

The line, built for freight, had reached Kingston in 1876. The trains soon had the reputation of having square wheels, so rough was the journey until the widening of the gauge between 1955 and 1959. The stone ballast for this narrow gauge line was quarried from a property near Naracoorte, where by odd coincidence, a future daughter-in-law of RRS, wife of his son Keith, spent part of her childhood.

Bordertown (1883)

As there had been a small port at Lacepede Bay from the early days it is possible that Maria and company, and earlier the materials for the railway were shipped to Kingston. No sooner were they settled close to the sea (so healthy for the children) than RRS was ordered on July 17 of 1883 to Bordertown. Maria was still at Kingston in September when their fourth child and eldest son was born. This time RRS had his say with the naming and Walter (for the Captain) and Rowland (that talisman of a name) were firmly attached to the new infant.

RRS was to be centrally stationed for many years at Bordertown where the turntable and running sheds for the "square wheel" trains were sited. His engines were WX class, type 2-6-0, and three of them built by Beyer and Peacock in 1876 were numbered 18, 37 and 56. No. 18 and another (No. 9), resplendent with brass commemorative plaques, are now housed at a little park near Naracoorte and in 1960 three of the great-grand children of RRS were photographed with them.

In November of 1883 RRS was fined one days pay for Insubordination which was nothing worse than failing to show as much respect to the visiting Inspector as that worthy deemed was due to him. Nine trouble free years followed, at least no tale bearers were active.

That Maria, with appendages, was railed from Kingston to Bordertown there can be no doubt though one cannot believe that she would actually enjoy the journey. She made yet another home of a railway cottage though perhaps with wistful thoughts of the now distant seaside.

Ronald Robert came along next, at Bordertown, in December 1885, and does one detect the voice of Maria in the already fashionable name of Ronald or was it an echo from the boyhood of RRS when his friend drowned beneath the ice one winter day at Paisley and he so narrowly escaped.

Six years earlier he had been accused by the L.E. (who could have been either the Line Engineer or the Locomotive Engineer, the record is not explicit) of not being competent to be in charge of an engine and had him demoted. On September 15, 1887, RRS gained a Certificate of Competency after passing an examination in all electrical signalling and a second concerning Westinghouse Air Breaks.

When Stuart Henry made his appearance at the "Locomotive Cottages, Bordertown (according to the huge old family Bible) in February 1888 the family was divided neatly into 3 girls and 3 boys. This was the year when Margaret Burns died, at the end of October of cancer of the bladder. She only discovered her terminal illness after buying a steamer ticket home to Scotland and the journey was never taken. She purchased this ticket in the name of Margaret Stevenson, not Burns, as though she were aware that in Scotland her legal name would be Stevenson, but the American descendants cannot agree about this and merely remain mystified. RRS described how the news reached him to James, the second of his three half-brothers, although directing his thoughts to all three.

Loco, Dept.
Bordertown, S. Australia
28th. December 1888.
Dear Brothers,
I just received a letter from Mr. George C. Coffin, Attorney of Broadway, New York, informing me of Mother's death, it came to us like a thunder clap and has wrecked all the fond hopes I have cherished within my breast for years of some day being able to come to New York to see Mother before she died and also you whom I have hered of but never seen, but I trust that God will spare me to see you yet and also the Silent Grave where our dead Mother lies.
You do not know dear Brothers what I would have given to have seen her before she was called away from this world of sorrow, but let us pray God that wee will meet her in the world where there is no parting and sorrow is unknown. I will ask you to write Dear Brothers as soon as this comes to hand. I have much to say that I cannot say in this as I do not know if it will reach you safely. I am writing in the hope that Mrs. Wingate will be able to deliver it to you,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
Robert Rowland & Viola Stevenson.

This letter was written on mourning stationery with a deep black border At the same time he wrote to the solicitors who looked after the Adelaide end of all the business concerning the estate of Captain Walter Stevenson.

Loco. Department.
Bordertown,
28th. December 1888.
To Messrs. Stock & Smith,
Solicitors,
Adelaide.
Dear Sirs,
Yours of the 24th, inst. just to hand today, asking who sent me the papers. They came from G.C. Coffin, Solicitor, no. 234 Broadway, New York, who is Attorney to Robert Auld, the Executor of the Will of the late Margaret Burns. No letter came with them. The late Margaret Burns is my Mother. I am the second eldest son of her first marriage to my father, the late 'Walter Stevenson of Paisley, Scotland. My Mother was married to the late John Burns about the year 1860. Their offspring John, James and David Burns are my half-brothers whom I have never seen as my mother after her second marriage left with my step-father to live in New York, and my brother and myself remained in Paisley with our Aunt, my Mother's sister.
The last letter I received from my Mother was in 1883, I think. I was then residing in Kingston. I wrote to my Mother 18 months ago and I presume that is how Mr. George C. Coffin who is Attorney to Robert Auld, the Executor of my Mother's Will, got my present address, as the papers came direct to me from his office.
I have a friend in New York I could ask you to correspond with on the subject. I have looked everywhere I can think of, but have failed to find the last letter I received from my Mother. I have no recollection of destroying it, although all the previous letters I got from my Mother were destroyed by fire. I would like to get a copy of my Mother's Will. I suppose it could be obtained from the Executor or the Attorney.
Yours faithfully,
R.R. Stevenson.

The friend in New York who looked after the interests of RRS was Mr. H.S. Shippy of John Roeblings Sons Co. of 117-119 Liberty Street, New York.

It can be seen that RRS dealt gently with his mother's past history and was most careful to give no slightest hint that might possibly mar her good reputation. In giving the date of 1860 as that of her remarriage, of which no trace could be found by the Burns descendants, he either did not know or avoided their dates of birth which were John 1854, James 1856, David 1861 and that she left Scotland in 1852 when Walter Stevenson was still very much alive.

Meantime the Law Journal, and Register of New York Weekly, from November 1st. 1888, for six consecutive weeks published the following Citation:-

To Robert H. Stevenson,
Loco. Dept. South Australia.
From G.C. Coffin,
Attorney,
234 Broadway,
New York,
To Robert Auld, Executor.
In the Last Will & Testament of Margaret Burns late of New York, deceased, has proved at the Surrogates Court in the County of New York on the 29th, day of October, 1888, to Rastus S. Ransom Esq. Surrogate, that John, James and David Burns and Robert R. and Malcolm Stevenson are the only heirs and next of kin of the said Margaret Burns.

Naturally RRS did not see a copy of this Citation until much later. The Burns sons were able to identify themselves at once, Malcolm was dead and RRS at the other end of the world, and Robert Auld was highly suspicious of his existence. He set out a schedule which in part said:

1. John Burns, a son who resides at 560 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
2. James Burns, a son who resides at 213 East 102nd. Street, New York.
3. David Burns, a son who resides at 213 East 102nd. Street, New York.
4. Robert R. Stevenson, a son, a resident at some point in Australia.

A person claiming to be the said Robert R. Stevenson is said to reside at Border Town, South Australia, whether he is the person intended by and mentioned in the Will of the deceased: by the name Robert H. Stevenson I do not know. Dated February 12th.1889.

Auld wrote later:

I have never seen the person called Robert R. Stevenson referred to in said Will and mentioned in my Petition upon this accounting and in the late preceding Schedule. I was informed by the Testatrix shortly before her death that the person bearing that name and referred to in her was her son by a former marriage by her first husband and that he resided in North Adelaide, Australia as stated in said Will. I have been unable to find such person in North Adelaide but a person claiming to be the person referred to in and intended by said Will as Robert R. Stevenson, has been heard of at Border Town, South Australia. I have therefore upon information and belief alleged that said claimant is the son of the said Testarix referred to in her Will. Whether he be in fact such, I do not know, and I therefore submit my rights to the protection of the Court, leaving said claimant to make such proof of his identity as he may. So advised and as may be by this Court in the premises.

Through Mr. Shippy a firm of Solicitors named Brownlow & Lathrop acted for RRS so that he eventually received a share of his mother's estate.

Among the papers preserved by RRS was an account of the proceedings to the Surrogates Court New York with details of Margaret Burns' property. Margaret Burns died at New York, U.S.A. in the latter part of 1888. Robert Auld, Executor of her Will found it to amount to $5,421.48 in the Letters Testamentary issued to him on December 15th. 1888 being made up as follows:-

New York Savings Bank $661.77
Bowery Savings Bank $597.50
Emigrant Savings Bank $181.78
Greenwich Savings Bank $1,003.71
Franklin Savings Bank $566.74
East River Savings Bank $664.15
Bank for Savings, New York $1,348.83
Total $5,024.48
Draft Henderson Brothers to order of deceased
as Mrs. Margaret Stevenson $397.00
Accrued interest $74.63
_________
Full total $5,496.11

Margaret, a canny Scot, was making sure that in the event of one or more banks failing she would not be left without ready cash. The Executor also set out the expenses to be deducted.

Mrs. Annie Sands board and
nursing deceased $37.49
Serving Citations $4.50
New York Law Publishing (Journal) $9.80
New York Daily Register $12.75
Serving Citations $ 3.30
Fees to Witnesses (Mrs. Sands & Mrs. Green)
of Will and their fares $2.25
George C. Coffin legal services $90.35
John J. Cullen fees $15.00
Russell H. Roof fees $15.00
George C. Coffin
legal services on Inventory $28.70
Funeral expenses $98.00
Law Journal notices $3.21
_______
Total $319-65

These details have been set out for comparison with prices of the present time (1985). At that time the U.S. dollar was worth something less than 4 shillings Sterling. Even so, it was a remarkable effort on the part of Margaret Burns to have saved this sum by her own hard work as a boarding house keeper while raising three sons, after being deserted by the worthless John Burns.

This note in pencil by RRS - Papers handed by me today, January 28th. 1889, were the Citation from Rastus Ransom Esq. Surrogate of the City of New York, to the solicitor Mr. Stock, Adelaide. also a copy of my Mother's Will and a letter of instruction and declaration to be signed by the American Consul.

A second note dated 28/5/1889 stated that he had that day received £239/8/- [$478.80] sterling, being £252/16/6 [$505.66] less fees of £13/8/6 [$26.85] from Mr.W.F. Stock, of the firm of Stock & Talbot Smith of Clifton Chambers, King William Street, Adelaide. In present day figures the legacy would be worth about $35,000 (1985).

Letter from James Burns to RRS.

New York,
May 24th. 1889.
Dear Brother,
I received your letter of December 1888 informing me that you had received word of Mother's death. I would have written and told you but I did not have your address. When our Mother was taken sick I was away in California, but my brother wrote to me and I came home, and I stayed with her till she died. I think it very strange that you never answered the letter that she wrote you informing you of her sickness, for I heard that she wrote when I came home. When you write I would like if you thought I could get work if I was going to Australia, as I have a great longing to go there. No more at present,
but I remain yours truly,
James Burns.
Address:
329 East 106 Street,
New York City.

RRS replied:-

Loco. Department
Bordertown
13th. July 1889
Dear Brother,
Your long looked for letter reached me yesterday which is dated 24th. May. I was very glad to hear you say that you got home to see Mother before she died and I only wish that I had been there to see her before she departed from this world. I had hoped that God who has the keeping of all our lives would have spared her to us for a few years longer, but let us hope that wee will all meet our Dear Mother in that Land where there is no parting and no sorrowing after those we love. You, my Dear Brother, have known what it is to have a Mother's love bestowed upon you. My life when young was like a blank, for years my heart yearned for the love of her I was doomed never in this world to see again.
You say, James, that you think it very strange that I did not answeare the letter that Mother wrote informing me of her illness. I did answeare it, James, the day after I received it, but you must understand that the letter was laying in the General Post Office (Adelaide) 4 months before I received it, the reason of that was that Mr. Winter who the letter was sent in care of had shifted from Finniss Street North Adelaide to McLearn Street, East Adelaide, and the letter not having been delivered to him it lay in the G. Post Office 4 months before I got it. You must also understand Dear Brother that Border Town is 200 miles from Adelaide. I have been living here for 7 years.
So you can see that I cannot get a chance of getting to the city very often. When I answeared Mother's letter I sent it care of Mrs. Wingate, it was written nine days before I wrote to you, John and David. I wrote to Mother in May 1887 sending a photo of Viola, myself and Maggie (i.e. Ada Margaret). I sent the letter to my aunt Jennie in Scotland asking her to send it on to New York. I had not got Mother's address, but I never heard if she got it or not.
I got a letter from my Cousin James Clark last week, he is my Aunt Jennie's only son. He informs me that he has written to me 7 times within the last five years yet I only had three of them out of the 7.
You do not mention John or Davy in your letter. Are they well and living in New York or are they in some other part of America? Dear James, you ask me to let you know if I thought you could get work if you came to Australia. There is no doubt but what you would get work of some kind or other, but you did not say in your letter what kind of work you have been doing, nor if you are married or single, as for myself I am working on the railway here. If you come to Australia, James, wee shall make you welcome. I hope that you will write soon and let me know how you are getting on. I hope Dear Brother some day to see the spot where our Dear Mother lies. Hoping that this will find you all well. Hoping that you will write to us soon, Viola and myself close with kind love to you, John and David and sisters if you are married,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
H.R. & V. Stevenson.

Margaret Burns and her three sons are buried at Machpelah Cemetery, North Bergen, New Jersey and photographs of two headstones were sent to the writer in March 1976. They have only the names and dates of birth and death year of each and the stones are set in well tended lawn in the American custom.

In the midst of these latest happenings Maria was preparing for the birth of her seventh child and Blaine Reid arrived in due course at the end of March 1890. To this day no one knows why these two names were chosen. Blaine did not ask his parents and was himself of the opinion that they were taken from an American newspaper which featured politicians with these names. This is doubtful as the exchange of newspapers did not commence until later. Meanwhile the letters continued.

James Burns, the only link with the American half-brothers, did not reply until October and then was far from informative and the names of the wives of John and David were not given as RRS had requested.

New York City,
October 13, 1889
Dear Brother,
I received your letter and I was glad to hear from you. I suppose you will think I am a long time in answering your letter, but the reason I did not answer was that I was not settled, but I am settled now. I never saw the letter that you say you wrote to Mother. Mrs. Wingate never gave it to us during Mother's last illness. She longed many and many a time to see you. John and David are both married but I am single and have no intention of ever getting married. When you write please address James Burns, 500 Madison Avenue,
No more at present, but remain yours truly,
James Burns.

RRS must have enclosed this New Year greeting "to my Brother Davy, care of James" in an earlier letter. It is undated but has "Health, Peace & Prosperity" printed at the top.

My Dear Brother,
Just a line or two hoping this will find you well as it leaves us all here. I will be very glad to hear from you. I am not in possession of your address so I am sending a line or two in Jamie's. He has never told me if you are married. So I hope that you will send me a line or two and tell me the news as Viola and myself will then write to you,
So with love to all from all,
your affectionate Brother & Sister
H.R. & V. Stevenson.

The reply that RRS sent to James to his letter of October 1889:-

Loco. Department,
Bordertown.
15th. January 1890
Dear Brother,
Yours of Oct.13 was duly received by us and we were very glad to hear from you and that you were well. I was rather surprised to hear you say that neither you, John or David received the letter I sent to you in the care of Mrs. Wingate. As our poor Mother was gone before the letter would reach New York I thought surely Mrs. Wingate would give the letters to either you, John or David as I thought by the letter that I got from Mrs. Wingate that she must have been a very old and esteemed friend of our dear dead Mother.
One thing I want you to tell me James, has there been a stone placed over Mother's grave by you John and David. If there has not been one erected yet I will try and arrange to have one put there when I hear from you again.
The reason Dear Brother I have been so long in answering your letter was that I thought to have been able to send a photo of Viola, myself and the Bairns by this letter, but I find that I will not be able to get a chance of having it taken for another month or six weeks yet, so I will be able to send it almost before this reaches you.
Wee were disappointed when wee read your letter as wee expected to hear you say that you were coming to Australia and you would be made heartily welcome, but I suppose that you do not like to leave America as it is your birthplace. Wee would like very much to hear from John and David, and trusting that you will write a few lines very soon, allow me to remain,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
Viola & Bob

On February 4, 1890, a photograph of the Stevensons was posted to New York but as a later communication of RRS shows, the Burns did not receive it. Only one further letter from James remained amongst the RRS papers at his death, and it is dated 1904. However, the answers from RRS indicate the general trend of James' correspondence. He kept most of those that he received from Australia and when he died in 1929 the David Burns family took charge of them. Photostats were received by the writer in 1967/68. The next RRS missive was written on the day Blaine was born but he didn't get a mention.

Loco. Department,
Border Town,
31st. March 1890
Dear Brother,
I hope that this will find yourself, John, David and their famileys are all well as I am glad to say that this leaves Viola, the Bairns and myself at the present. I have sent you a photo of the Bairns, it is taken by a travelling photographer and it is not a very good one but still you will be able to see what they look like. You see James, Border Town is 200 miles from the city and I could not see my way clear to get them (the children) all to the city for some time to come so I got it taken when wee had the chance by a travelling photographer but some day wee hope to be able to send you a better one.
So in looking at the photo as you hold it in your hand you will see Clara on the left, Flora on the right, Ronald on the left, Walter on the right, Stuart in the middle and Maggie behind. The photo of Viola and myself was taken a few years ago, but as soon as wee can get a chance of getting another taken at the same place wee will send it on to you. Wee would like very much to get a photo of yourself John, David and their wives, but wee would like much better if you would take a trip to Australia and come and see us.
You know James you are single and you can travel about without having to think about the wife and Bairns. You must tell me what trade you, John and David work at. I am an Engineer an the railway here but the wage is very small. 1 only get 9/6d. [95 cents] per day of 10 hours. Is the wages any better in America? I hope that you will droop us a line or two as soon as this comes to hand and please to let us know if you got the photo alright and I hope James that you will send us all your photos as the Bairns all want to see their Uncles and Aunts and Viola and myself are very anxious to see our brothers and sisters. I must now close this short letter with love from the Bairns to their Uncles and Aunts and with kind love from your affectionate,
Brother and sister,
Viola and Robert Stevenson.

The answer to the above was a long time arriving and another year had almost passed before RRS wrote again. The 1890 letter and photographs described were returned to South Australia but must have been forwarded once more for the letter to have been in the American collection. James never did give the names of his sisters-in-law or those of his nephews and nieces. The present generation of Burns sent a little information but as it is not much better at corresponding than the old one, and like James ignores queries, the Burns history to be given later, is a sketchy one.

Locomotive Department
Border Town
30th. May 1891
Dear Brother,
We were pleased to get your long looked for letter. I am very glad to say that Viola, the Bairns and myself are all as well as can be expected at the present after all of us having been laid up with the influenza which has been prevalent all over the world. I hope this will find yourself, John and faimley, Davy and faimley, all well. I am so sorry to hear that you are not very strong as I know that it is sure to make you feel miserable at times.
We were very pleased to get your Photo - as soon as I handed it to Viola she said that is your Brother I know, for he is very like [your] Mother. On the 4th. February 1890 we sent you a photograph of Viola, the Bairns and myself, but we got them returned and also the letter I sent with them, from the General Post Office saying that you could not be found. They were addressed to James Burns 306 Madison Avenue New York City, that is the address that you gave me in your letter. Wee thought when they were returned that I must have addressed them wrong but wee will send them again when wee can get another chance to get them taken.
You see James I am an Engineer by trade and I am stationed at an out station of the Railways 200 miles from the City of Adelaide and do not often get a chance of getting to the city.
Wee were very glad to hear that you had placed a stone at the grave to [the] Memory of our Dear Mother. I will send you some money by the Mail which leaves on the 4th. August as a Share of the cost of the stone at Mother's grave. May Heaven rest her. I would like very much to see John Davy and yourself and I hope the day will come when wee will all meet.
Recollect James if you should come to South Australia that you are not coming to a strange country where you would have no one to take you by the hand or no one to make you welcome, because if you should think to come Viola and myself will be only too glad to make you as comfortable as we can. I could not say that you would get work that would exactly suit you on account of you not being very strong, but still you might.
Give our love to John and family and Davy and family and allow us to remain your Loving Brother and Sister,
V & RR Stevenson.
P.S. Please to drop us a line or two soon.

Although the repetition in these letters may be tedious reading they have been included in full to show both the difficulty experienced in communication and how deeply RRS longed for some kindness from his half brothers. One feels that John and David's indifference in never making direct contact or even sending the occasional message may have been due to resentment at having to share their mother's estate with a relative who was no more than a name to them. James perhaps had a pleasanter nature. Neither his letter nor his photograph remain. No doubt the latter was unmarked as to identity so was not kept by the Stevenson children.

Loco. Department,
Border Town,
25th. August 1891
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Just a few lines to let you know that wee are all well, except Viola, who has been suffering with a pain in her side for the last eighteen months and the Doctors do not seem to be able to give her much releafe. We hope that you are all well and would like very much some day to see some of you. I would like very much to be able to pay [a] visit to New York to see our Dear Mother's last resting place but I cannot afford the expense. You see James I could not leave the Bairns here as Maggie is too young yet to be able to look after the others and I could not leave Viola behind owing to her weak state of health but I hope someday to be able to see you all.
I send you by this letter a Post Office Order as a share of the cost of the stone that you had placed over our Dear Mother's grave. Wee would like very much to hear from John and David and think that they ought to droop us a line or two. When you receive this letter please to write at once and let me know if you get the Post Office order alright as I shall be very anxious until I hear from you. The Bairns all send their love to Uncles and Aunts and cousins. Viola and myself send love to John & family and Davy and family and yourself,
From your affectionate Sis, & Brother
Viola and Bob.

Loco. Department,
Border Town,
19th. March 1892
Dear Brother,
I have no doubt but what you feel angry with us for not writing to you sooner as wee now have got two letters from you since wee wrote to you last. Well, I must tell you that when wee received your last letter wee were determined not to write to you until we were able to send you our Photos. So you see James, that is the only thing that kept us so long in replying to your welcome letter. The Photo wee send you with this letter was taken last week in Adelaide.
Wee had to go to Adelaide with our eldest boy to Dr. Hamilton who performed an operation on his ear and wee were obliged to stay in the city for a fortnight with him so that the Dr. could see him. I was glad to hear that you got the Post Office Order all right and hope that this will find you, John, David and their faimleys all well. Wee should like very much to hear from John and David but I suppose they do not care about writing to us.
I was going to ask you if you could send us a newspaper sometimes as wee [would] like to see the American news. You must not think that wee have been neglectful, James, in not answearing your letter sooner. The photo is considered to be a very fair one but the one wee sent you that was returned I think was a better one.
Dear James, please to droop us a line or two when this comes to hand just to let us know that you have got it. Give our love to John & family and David and faimly and accept the same from your loving
Sister & Brother,
Robert & Viola Stevenson.

Almost twelve months passed before RRS wrote to James again, his excuse being that there had been a strike causing him to be on half time at work which makes rather odd reading, as he had considerably more leisure time than when working a ten hour day.

Locomotive Department,
Border Town,
lst. March 1893
My Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Wee received yours of the 4th. of July in due course. Wee were very glad to hear that yourself and John, Davy faimlys were all well and I am very glad to say that wee are all in good health at present. I was sorry to hear that you were out of work at the time you wrote but I hope you are in work again long before this.
I would be very glad James, to see you in Australia if I thought you could get suitable work and could content yourself here. Life in Australia I believe is very different to what it is in America. You see wee have not many large cities in Australia to be compared with the large cities in America so you will quite understand that it is very different from Yanky Land. There are no large factorys like there are in America or Scotland. Nearly everything of the manufactory is imported into Australia.
Wee were pleased to hear that David had been to Scotland. I have not had a letter from Cousin James Clark or Aunt Jennie for some time although I wrote to them several times since Uncel James died. The last letter we had from Paisley was from Cousin Katey Gray. I suppose Davy went to see her when he went to Paisley, also Sandy & Annie Gray, and also our other Cousins Jessie Millar, Jessie Robertson John & Willie. They were all in Glasgow when we heard from Paisley last. Our Aunt Mary, I have not heard from her for some years past.
James, I would like very much to see Paisley once more before I die and hope that the day will come when I will be able to see both America and Paisley. You must forgive me James for not answearing your letter sooner, fact is wee have had a great strike here at the Silver Mines and it has caused all the Engineers in the Loco. Department to be put on half time for several months past. But wee have all started to work full time again last week and things are beginning to look brighter and I trust that it will be a long time before wee have a great strike again.
I hope James that you John & Davy will write to us very soon and let us know how you are all getting on and allow us, with love to all from all, to remain,
Your affectionate Brother & Sister,
R.R. & V. Stevenson.

After nine years of unblemished record with the Railway Department RRS erred again and was fined one days pay for "damaging the eccentric gear on the engine for want of lubrication" on August 29, 1892, which rather spoilt his good record of 1889-90 for which he was awarded a bonus of £10 [$20] "Clause 59" having been brought in, apparently a system of rewards. Then on November 9, of 1892 he was cautioned to exercise care in future for running the train late from Bordertown to Kingston and for failing to account for loss of time on the daily (report) ticket. And thereby hangs a tale and had it been set out on the ticket the stern authorities, like their sovereign, would not have been amused. Alec Durie, already mentioned in connection with the newspaper cutting concerning the estate of Captain Walter Stevenson, had also been sent to work on the south eastern line and was also based at Bordertown and was usually fireman to RRS.

Alec was friend, crony and literally a silent partner. Except for an occasional "Aye" between puffs of (doubtless) evil smelling pipes, they seldom spoke being always in excellent accord. On this occasion of the mysteriously lost time, as they travelled towards Kingston there was an even longer silence than usual, and RRS, noting the diminishing steam, turned to make a request for more coal and found that he lacked a fireman. Alec, quiet as always, had fallen from the engine. RRS backed his train 14 miles (so he said) before he came across Alec striding along beside the rails, shovel on shoulder and quite unharmed. "Aye, I kenned ye'd be back," said Alec, and climbed aboard.

Alec had reached South Australia by the "Tanjore" on February 1st. 1877 from Scotland, with his wife Dinah, and children David, Jane and Mary and from 1885 owned a house at Rose Terrace, Wayville, close to the city. He named it "Craigie" and installed his family there while he continued at Bordertown.

RRS was not yet free of censure for 1892 as just a month later he was fined one day's pay for blithely sailing off from the Frances station in his engine and minus the train and had to again retrace his track, but the next three years saw him gaining another £30 [$60] in bonuses under that same Clause 59.

After the-letter of March 1893 already given which mentioned David Burns having been to Scotland, there was a gap of eight years before RRS wrote to America again. Ada Margaret. or Maggie according to her father, was 15 when the eighth child was born at the Bordertown Railway Cottage and having left that small country school was her mother's most able helper. The baby arrived prematurely in June 1893 and almost cost Maria her life and only the skill of the town doctor who was much experienced in such matters saved her. Alec had referred all along to the expected newcomer as "Wee Melville", being determined to have at least one Stevenson bairn named for himself. He and RRS and their train were all at the railway station of Keith when a message saying that a fifth son had been born to Maria came by the railway telegraph, so they "wet the baby's head" from that distance and RRS named him Keith Melville, but forever he was Wee Melville to Alec.