6 October 1900
OLD CHAPEL
SUNDAY SCHOOL CENTENARY CELEBRATION
There was a reunion at the Town Lane school
of farmer scholars, teachers and ministers to
celebrate its centenary, At 5,30pm, there was
an organ recital by Mr Eli COPE which was well
attended. "The place was packed and many people
could not obtain seats. The front of the platform
was lined with flowers and presented a very attractive
appearance. On the wall at the back was the appropriate
motto 'For Auld Lang Syne'"
Chapel warden, Alderman James KERFOOT
addressed the audience saying that "as a humble
descendant of James OLIVER, he was proud to hold
the place assigned to him. It was very gratifying
for him to note that a descendants of James OLIVER
were continuing active work in this school. (hear,
hear)"
Present at the party were former
ministers, John Page HOPPS, George Hamilton VANCE,
Philip H WICKSTEAD, Alex GIBSON, Lawrence SCOTT,
W C HALL, W TITTERINGTON and J MAGEE.
THE CARMEN'S STRIKE
Great Procession and Demonstration
A hastily summoned demonstration in support
of the striking carmen gathered at Ashton Town Hall.
The procession was headed by Hurst Village Reed
Band, followed by the banner of the Tramway and
Horsemen's Union, and set off to follow the tram
route to Denton.
"A considerable number of women
and girls falling into line as Denton was approached.
At the Denton Car Depot, the band struck up 'the
Death March' and the processionists uncovered.
Then there was a storm of grease and hooting."
On the market ground, Mr T MALLIEU,
president of Hyde Trades Council, spoke at length
on the history of the Free Labour Association.
Mr GAMBLE of the Felt Hatters Union moved "That
this meeting considers the demands of the electric
carmen to be just and reasonable and pledges itself
to support them until they obtain their rights."
This was seconded by Edward BURKE.
Drivers who broke the strike were
often pelted with stones and mud and their tramcars
needed police escorts. One Joe MATLEY, a driver
for the Hyde Electric Tramway Company was found
guilty of assaulting the police and throwing missiles
and fined three pounds by Ashton Police Court.
THE GENERAL ELECTION
There was a general election taking place a
hundred years ago. As mentioned in a previous summary,
this took place over several weeks, rather than
on one day. I wrote last of Matthew White RIDLEY
who had the young Winston CHURCHILL speaking in
his support. The Conservative was elected MP for
Stalybridge this week in 1900, but with a majority
whittled down to just 81 votes over Liberal candidate,
John Frederick CHEETHAM. "I must say we have had
a good fight and I am happy to say, a fight conducted
with perfect good humour on both sides," said RIDLEY.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO A BREDBURY
MAN
William LEIGH, 65, a tinplate worker of Yew
Tree Farm Bredbury, died from his injuries after
being run down by a brewer's dray. PC MASSEY said
he was on duty and saw the deceased crossing the
road in the direction of the park gates, He then
noticed the dray in the charge of Moses PICKFORD
turning out of Newbridge Lane into New Zealand Road
and shouted out a warning. "The deceased turned
around and looked in my direction and seemed to
see the horses. Then he turned back to go towards
the Park Hotel. His back was to the lorry and the
off-horses knocked him down and went over him."
The horses stopped and the MASSEY
"called to the driver who backed the horses, but
they plunged and trampled on the man again." LEIGH
was pulled clear and there was a large wound on
his right arm. Conscious and coherent, he was
taken to hospital where he died two days later.
"A lad named William ACKERS,
14 years of age, employed at the Bradford Colliery
and living in Forge-lane, Bradford, was on Wednesday
morning crushed by a wagon whilst at work in the
pit. His head was badly injured and he was removed
in a serious condition to the Royal Infirmary. The
unfortunate youth died at that Institution on Wednesday
afternoon."
And finally, there was a furious
row between the coroner and a witness over a dead
man's reputation. The body of Benjamin TRAVIS, 56
year old engineer from Dukinfield, had been found
by a boatman early one morning in a canal in Ashton.
An argument started between the coroner and Mr TRAVIS'
son as to whether the deceased had been drinking.
The coroner said: "I have asked
you six times now, yet you continue to make a
mystery of it. Did he come home drunk? I have
had enough of it. Look here, you must not be rude,
I am not here to take any impudence, and don't
let's have any more of it. You have been very
stupid up to now."
The incident got so steamed
up that the reporters of 1900 were asked not to
print any further details.
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