5 July 1902
AN ASHTON SOLDIER’S DEATH IN SOUTH AFRICA
Melancholy Incident
An official notification from the War Office has
been received during the past week of the death
of Arthur BOLLAND, 22, Whittington-road, Ashton,
lance-corporal in the 8th King’s Liverpool
Regiment, which took place at Elandsfontein on
June 19th, from enteric fever. Deceased was 27
years of age, and had completed nine years’
service in the army. He went out to South Africa
at the commencement of the war, and was shut up
in Ladysmith during the siege and had some very
trying escapades. He took part in the historic
battles of Colenso and Spion Kop, and was present
at several smaller engagements.
Previous to joining the army, he worked as a collier
at the Dukinfield Coal Co., and was highly esteemed
by his colleagues. He was also formerly a member
of the Ashton Volunteer Battalion, in which he
was admired for his smart, soldierly qualities.
Six of his nine years’ connection with the
army have been spent on foreign service. A pathetic
incident is that about the time of his death his
father, Mr James BOLLAND, engineer at Messrs.
W> HALL and Sons, Bentinck-street Ironworks,
received a letter from him in which he said he
was enjoying the best of health.
OPENING OF ASHTON NEW TEXTILE
SCHOOL
To-day (Saturday) is to be a “red-letter”
day in technological matters in connection with
the borough, the occasion being the opening of the
new Textile School, which has been erected at a
cost of about £6,000 on a site adjoining the
Heginbottom Technical School. The event is to be
marked by a luncheon in the Town Hall at 1 p.m.,
followed by a procession of members of the Town
Council, Corporation officials and gentlemen of
the borough, to the Textile School, which will be
opened by his Worship the Mayor (Councillor J. S.
POWNALL).
The new Textile School is well equipped and attractive,
and its opening will doubtless give a strong stimulus
to industrial teaching in the district. The new
school will supplement, and not supplant the old
one. There has long been need for extension in the
practical side of the teaching. The classrooms in
the Heginbottom school are too small to hold all
the students, and classes have been held in the
Town Hall, at some inconvenience to the municipal
authorities. The number of students has doubled
within the past six years, and last session there
were 1,200 on the registers, and 900 individual
students.
The instruction in spinning and weaving has been
mainly theoretic hitherto, although it is true that
a few spinning machines and also looms are used
by the students. Next session the students of Ashton
and the district will be will be able to enter one
of the finest schools of spinning in this part of
Lancashire. It occupies the ground floor of the
new building. The spinning-room measures about 80
feet by 60 feet, and the weaving-room 40 feet by
40 feet.
A great part of the valuable machinery which fills
these rooms has been given to the school by three
townsmen. The equipment is up to date and complete
in every way, and comprises all the processes of
spinning and weaving, so that a bale of raw cotton
brought into the spinning room can leave the looms
as a piece of finished cloth. In the spinning department
there is an elaborate series of machines, into the
first of which the cotton is put, and it comes out
of the last in the shape of “laps.” Without
having been once touched by hand.
The aim is to give the students a thorough knowledge
of all the methods of the manufacture, without limiting
them to the local work and customs. On the first
floor there are six good classrooms. The largest
measures 60ft. by 40ft., and 40ft. by 29ft. One
of the smaller rooms is to be used for the cookery
classes, and in the others teaching in machine drawing,
building construction, commercial subject, &c.,
will be given.
MR ARTHUR HOLLAND, OF ASHTON
Some of our readers will be interested to hear that
Mr. Arthur HOLLAND has accepted an important post
with a large firm of London shippers, and will this
month go out as their sole representative in China.
Eventually he will be located in the district in
which he laboured as a missionary for two years,
and it is his intention to devote some portion of
his time gratuitously in connection with the London
Missionary Society. Mr. HOLLAND wrote several letters
to the Reporter during his stay in China. He will
take the overland route to Marseilles , and board
the P. and O. s.s. China there on August 1st.
CORONATION OUTING TO ASHTON
POOR CHILDREN
With characteristic kindness and consideration the
Mayor of Ashton (Councillor J. B. POWNALL), along
with Major BRADLEY and others responsible for the
Coronation celebrations at Ashton, arranged a treat
for the little folks in the shape of an outing to
Greenfield on Saturday afternoon. Tickets for the
outing were given to about 600 children, who assembled
at Charlestown station in time for the special train
leaving at five minutes to one in the afternoon.
Over and above the number stated, about 50 or 60
little mites who had not received tickets attended
at the station, and they had such longing eyes and
beseeching looks, and seemed so much to want a day
in the country, that just before the train started
the men bundled them into the carriages along with
the rest, to their intense delight, so that not
a single one was left on the platform.
At Greenfield tea was provided in a field near St.
Mary’s School, kindly placed at their disposal
by the Rev. E. POWELL. A number of ladies assisted
at tea, and the Mayor and Mayoress, along with Councillor
and Mrs BARLOW, Mr. And Mrs. S. NEWTON, Mrs. POLLITT,
Mrs. J. W. POLLITT and others drove to Greenfield,
and applied themselves to the work of entertaining
the juveniles. Each of them were given a packets
of sweets by the Mayoress, and when all had enjoyed
themselves to their hearts content they were drawn
up in procession, and marched to the station in
time for the 8.12 p.m. train.
On arrival at Ashton, they marched to the Town Hall,
and assembled on the steps in order to sing “God
save the King,” which they did very effectively,
after making one or two unsuccessful attempts. Major
BRADLEY called for three cheers for the Mayor and
Mayoress, and Major BRADLEY. On the departure of
the children for their homes, the ladies and gentlemen
who had so kindly assisted to make the outing a
success were invited into the Mayor’s parlour,
and the Mayor formally thanked them on behalf of
the Coronation Committee for their services.
THE SMOKING NUISANCE
Sir,– I was very pleased to read Mr. HOUGH’s
letter in your last issue in reference to the effect
that the smoke emitted from our factory and workshop
chimneys has on the vegetation. I would also like
to call the attention of our local governing power
to the effect it must have on the children we are
compelled to rear and bring up in this putrid atmosphere,
and also to suggest to them that the best celebration
they could possibly give us in this the Coronation
year would be to insist that this nuisance be abated,
so at least a portion of his Majesty’s subjects
may have air to breathe as near as possible to what
God intended for us, and have vegetation in our
midst similar to what our more favoured neighbours
have who are able to live in country districts.
Hoping this matter will not be allowed to drop and
that some abler pen will take this matter up.–
Yours truly,
W. BEAUMONT, Ashton.
WATERLOO COAL DEALER FINED
A coal dealer, named David KERSHAW,
was before the Ashton County justices on Wednesday
charged with having sacks of coal on his vehicle,
short weight, also with not having metal labels
on the sacks.– Inspector CLARKE said that on
June 13th he met defendant’s lurry in Waterloo
laden with sacks of coal. He stopped him and told
him he wanted to weigh the sacks. He weighed 11
sacks and they varied from 10lbs. down to 1_lbs.
short weight. The total deficiency in 11 sacks was
37_lbs. Six of the sacks were without labels.–
Defendant pleaded guilty, and said the sacks were
old. He paid a man to load the lurry and did not
weigh the sacks himself.– The bench imposed
a fine of 1s. and costs.
ASHTON AND STALYBRIDGE HAIRDRESSERS’
UNION
Advance in Shaving
The members of the Ashton, Stalybridge,
and District Hairdressers’ Union having unanimously
decided to advance the price of shaving from 1d.
to 1_d., this resolution came into operation on
Tuesday last. There have naturally been some murmurings
amongst certain customers that the advance is inopportune
in consequence of the bad state of trade, &c.,
but these will no doubt gradually fall into line.
QUARRELLING WITH HIS WIFE
Richard REMINGTON was before
the Ashton County Justices on Wednesday, charged
with committing a breach of the peace at Waterloo
on June 16th. Defendant pleaded not guilty.–
A constable deposed to having to put defendant in
the house on account of his creating a disturbance.
He came out of the house again and wanted to fight.–
Defendant said he was only having a few words with
his wife. The magistrates bound defendant over to
keep the peace for three months.
SWING FATALITY AT ASHTON
A sad accident, which unfortunately
resulted fatally, occurred on the West End Playground,
Ashton, on Thursday night. A boy named James DALE,
aged 11 years, living at 36, John-street, Ashton,
went along with a companion to the playground and
commenced swinging. Whilst doing so DALE fell from
the swing and alighted on his head on the ground.
He was lifted up in a dazed condition and taken
to his home, where it was noticed that there was
a bruise on the side of his head. He was taken to
bed and Dr SMITH sent for. The following morning
the boy was seen to be in a precarious condition
and suffering much pain; and Dr SMITH was sent for.
Death took place at 10.20 p.m.
SUDDEN DEATH AT BRADSLEY
Pensioner’s Sad End
Some consternation was created in Bardsley on Wednesday
morning by the sudden death of Lawrence KENNEDY,
5, Albert-street, labourer at Parkbridge Ironworks.
Deceased was 62 years of age, and was an army pensioner.
He terminated work on the Wednesday previously for
the Coronation holidays, and should have been back
at his post on Monday morning. On Tuesday he went
and drew his pension, which, we understand, amounted
to about £6.
He failed to put in an appearance at his work, and
appears to have been drinking heavily, and spending
the pension money extravagantly. On Wednesday morning
he asked a neighbour named Mrs. PHILLIPS to cook
him some dinner, and she prepared a dish of stewed
kidneys, of which he partook heartily about 11.30.
He showed great relish for the meal, and thanked
Mrs. PHILLIPS afterwards lying down on the couch.
He had not been laid down many minutes when he placed
his hand to his breast, and suddenly expired.
The inquest was held at the Black Diamond, Bardsley,
on Thursday afternoon by Mr. J. F. PRICE, district
coroner.
Mrs. KENNEDY, wife of the deceased, gave evidence
and said her husband was a pensioner and belonged
to the 2nd Manchester Regiment. He had had very
good health, and followed his employment up to the
previous Wednesday, and ought to have returned to
work on Monday, but did not feel well. The reason
he did not go to work was that he was to draw his
pension the following Tuesday. The pension amounted
to £6 1s. 9d., and witness went with him to
draw it.
They afterwards went down to Ashton, and called
at the Dog and Partridge, and had some beer. They
went to the fish market and bought some fish, and
had another glass of beer, returning home sober
in the afternoon. On reaching home they sent for
a pint of beer into the house and retired to bed.
They both got up at five o’clock on Wednesday
morning, and again went down to Ashton to look for
a son. Each had a glass of beer, and returned home
and went to bed. She did not remember when deceased
died.
The Coroner: How is it that you cannot remember
what took place? No answer.– Were you having
a drink and could not remember anything about it?
No answer.– Tell us the truth. Witness: That
is so. I cannot tell if it was 8, 9, 10 or 11 o’clock.
I went upstairs.– Why did you go to bed? I
had not had much sleep all night.– Where did
you leave your husband? – On the sofa downstairs
as he was poorly. Had you no idea of the time? No.
(Witness here fainted, and had to be carried out
of the room by Sergeant DOVE and Constable NEWTON).
Bridget PHILLIPS, wife of Thomas PHILLIPS, collier,
said that she first went to deceased’s house
about eight o’clock on Wednesday morning. It
was her custom to go to the house, as they were
old friends. There was no beer at that time in the
house. Witness cooked deceased’s breakfast
whilst he was sitting on the sofa, the wife being
in the kitchen. Neither of them were sober. Witness
cooked a mutton chop and some kidneys, and deceased
ate it greedily.
Mrs KENNEDY went out for a pint of beer, and after
eating his breakfast witness saw deceased put his
hands to his chest as if he had some pain. She had
noticed his eyes appear strange for a day or two,
but his health appeared good. Witness had seen him
put his hands to his chest like that before. Witness
went for some beer, and when this was drunk she
left him at 11.30 a.m. He was then in a kneeling
position, one hand being on the couch, whilst the
other was on the floor.
She lifted his head and looked into his face, which
was darkly coloured, and his mouth was wide open.
She got him on the sofa and went upstairs to his
wife, who was in bed. On returning, she placed her
hand over deceased’s heart, and felt it beat
once, after which he expired. Deceased was teetotal
up to Coronation Day. She did not know that he had
only a halfpenny in his pockets out of the pension
money.
Maggie HOWARD, wife of John HOWARD, stonemason,
Lees-square, Bardsley, deposed to deceased coming
to her house on Wednesday morning to look for his
wife who he said had taken his purse with 18s. in
it. Witness went with him and accompanied him home,
and afterwards left him lying on the sofa. They
had only one pint of beer between them. Deceased
had been drinking ever since Coronation Day, and
he got up at six o’clock on the morning of
his death and commenced drinking.
Constable NEWTON said that both Mrs. PHILLIPS and
Mrs. KENNEDY had been drinking. The Coroner: There
is no doubt about that. There was only 18s. left
out of £6 1s. 9d. They must have had a good
drinking bout.– Sergeant DOVE: I understand
that £4 was paid to one place.– The Coroner:
They must have had a good drink.– A Juryman
said he had seen a lot of it going on.– The
Foreman said it was an unfortunate thing, as deceased
and his wife might have been very nicely off. The
jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes,
accelerated by excessive drinking. |
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