12
July 1902
ASHTON CORPORATION EMPLOYEE RUN OVER AND KILLED
A sad fatality occurred in Stamford-street, Cockbrook,
Ashton, about midnight on Monday, the victim being
Charles DUNNING, aged 53 years, residing at 109
Holden-street, Ashton, and employed as a carter
for the Ashton Corporation. Deceased it appears
was engaged in the removal of refuse from Higham
Fold, Cockbrook, and left there about 12.20am in
charge of a horse and cart heavily laden with refuse.
He was walking at the time.
Constable DIXON, whilst on his beat, found the deceased
lying on his back on the tram rails in Stamford-street.
He was then alive, but immediately afterwards took
one gasp and expired. Constable DIXON sent for the
horse ambulance and deceased was taken to the surgery
of Dr HUGHES, who pronounced life extinct. It is
conjectured that deceased was attempting to on to
the shaft of the cart, and that he fell off and
the load passed over him.
Mr POTTER, the Sanitary Superintendent, wished on
behalf of the Sanitary Committee, to convey to Mrs
DUNNING and family their deepest sympathy for them
in their sad bereavement. He also wished to say
that the deceased had worked under him for fifteen
years, and during that time he had always been steady,
and attended to his duties.
The inquest was held in the Court-room, Town Hall,
on Wednesday evening by Mr E BIRCH, deputy coroner.
– Samuel BROWN, foreman carter in the employ
of the Ashton Corporation, said that the deceased
left the Corporation Yard at 11.30pm on the 7th
inst. About 12.20 midnight witness was driving a
horse and cart to Cockbrook, and met deceased’s
horse and cart returning. He did not notice any
driver. On going a few yards further he saw deceased
lying in the road near the Co-operative Stores.
Constable DIXON was with him.
Constable DIXON deposed to finding deceased on his
back on the tram-rails, Stamford-street, near to
Currier Slacks. He was alive, but when witness got
to him he appeared to take one gasp and expired.
Witness telephoned for the horse ambulance, and
deceased was taken to the surgery of Dr HUGHES,
who pronounced life extinct. Deceased’s left
arm was fractured, and there were injuries to the
head and left hip. The jury returned a verdict of
accidental death.
AN ASHTON MAN’S BRAVERY
Presentation at Waterloo
The spondee held in connection with the Waterloo
Coronation celebrations were not completed on Coronation
day, and were continued last Saturday in a field
at Waterloo, and during their progress an interesting
ceremony took place in the shape of a presentation
of a Royal Humane Society’s certificate to
Wm LOWE, hawker, of Ashton.
About 5pm on the 3rd May, 1902, May THOMPSON, of
Oldham-road, Waterloo, attempted to commit suicide
by jumping into the canal at Bardsley. Wm LOWE was
passing along Oldham-road, and on being told what
had happened ran along the canal bank to the place.
A number of people were already there, but did not
render the woman any help. LOWE at once jumped into
the water, and at great risk to himself, the water
being ten feet deep, rescued the woman, and brought
her to the canal bank and conveyed her home to her
friends.
Sergeant DOVE, on hearing the particulars of the
case, made full enquiries, and concluded that LOWE’s
conduct was worthy of some acknowledgement, and
reported the particulars to the Royal Humane Society
in London, who forwarded the certificate.
Councillor H JOHNSON made the presentation in eulogistic
terms, and said that during the last seven years
there had been 29 drowning cases at this particular
place. The total for the townships of Waterloo,
Bardsley, Woodhouses, and Littlemoss was 46 drowning
cases, 61 deaths from other causes, 107 inquests,
14 rescues from drowning, and two Royal Humane Society
certificates presented. The recipient acknowledged
the presentation in suitable terms
THE WEST END PLAYGROUND
FATALITY
An inquest was held at the Rose and Crown Hotel,
Ashton, on Tuesday forenoon, by Mr E BIRCH, deputy
coroner, on the body of a boy named James DALE,
36 John-street, Ashton, who met his death as the
result of an accident at the West End playground.
Frederick JONES, aged 10 years, a companion of the
deceased, gave evidence in which he contradicted
a statement made that deceased was swinging when
some bigger boys came on the scene, and one of them
pushed him off, and he fell on his head on the ground.
The reason, he said, that he made that statement
was that deceased told him on the way home not to
tell his mother how the accident happened.
The real facts were that they were playing “tick”
on the parallel bars, when deceased did not quite
get hold with his right hand, and fell to the ground,
alighting on the right side of his head. The jury
returned a verdict of accidental death.
HURST
PERMISSION TO SELL.– At the Ashton County
Police Court on Wednesday, Mr J HURST applied on
behalf of Ralph KENYON and John DUXBURY, executors
of Ralph KENYON deceased, for permission to sell
at the Old Nook Inn, Hurst. Granted.
HURST BAND CLUB.– On Tuesday evening
a smoking concert was held at the above club by
the Ashton Lyric Glee Singers. The first part of
the concert was given on the bowling green and afterwards
in the billiard room. Mr Tom PLATT occupied the
chair, supported by Mr Alfred ADAMS, the president
of the club. Mr PLATT presented to the club a gold
medal to be bowled for by the members. The Lyric
glee singers gave a varied selection of glees, songs
&c, in a most artistic manner. Mr Will CHARLTON’s
humorous selections created roars of laughter, and
Mr John GARDNER was an excellent accompanist.
WATERLOO AND BARDSLEY
ALLOWING HORSES TO STRAY.– Charles WHITEHEAD
pleaded guilty, at the Ashton County Police Court,
on Wednesday, to allowing two horses to stray at
Waterloo on June 14th, and was fined 5s for costs.
BREACH OF THE PEACE.– Alice TAYLOR pleaded
guilty at the Ashton County Police Court, on Wednesday,
to committing a breach of the peace at Waterloo
on June 14th, and was bound over in 40s to keep
the peace for three months.– Harry LOFT and
Alfred BLAKE were also charged with committing a
similar offence on June 18th.– BLAKE appeared
and pleaded not guilty, and LOFT failed to appear.–
The magistrates issued a warrant for the arrest
of LOFT, and the case was adjourned until the warrant
was executed.
ACCIDENT TO A GIRL.– A regrettable accident
occurred in the playground of the Christ Church
Branch School, Waterloo, on Tuesday afternoon. It
appears that alterations were being carried out
in connection with the school, and a quantity of
planks for scaffolding purposes were lying in the
yard. A number of day school scholars were playing
in the school yard, when one of them, a little girl
named DITCHFIELD, residing in Newmarket-road, Waterloo,
mounted the planks, and whilst doing so fell to
the ground, and fractured her arm in two places.
A doctor was sent for and attended to the injured
arm.
LAMBS OR SHEEP.– Samuel MATHER pleaded
not guilty, at the Ashton County Police Court, on
Wednesday, to a charge of allowing eight sheep to
stray at Waterloo on June 8th.– Constable KNOWLES
stated that at about twenty minutes to one on the
morning in question he found eight sheep straying
in Oldham-road, Waterloo, and h put them into a
field and learned that they belonged to the defendant.
Defendant said he had nine lambs turned out in a
field, and left them all right in the field at nine
o’clock at nigh, and they were there at six
o’clock in the following morning.– The
Magistrates’ Clerk: There is no great distinction
whether they were lambs or sheep. They were straying.
(To Constable KNOWLES): Were these lambs or sheep?
They were biggish ones.– Who claimed them?
Samuel MATHER. The sheep were put back in the same
field as they came from, but I did not know.–
Defendant asked for an adjournment for a week to
enable him to produce a writ, and the magistrates
granted the request.
THE ABOLITION OF ALMA BRIDGE
TOLL BAR
Banquet at the Dukinfield Town Hall
Click on image for bigger picture |
On Thursday evening a banquet
to celebrate the purchase of Alma Bridge by the
County Councils of Lancashire and Cheshire and the
Corporations of Ashton-under-Lyne and Dukinfield,
and the freeing of the bridge from toll, was held
in the Dukinfield Town Hall. Covers were laid in
the Council Chamber for some 60 guests, and the
catering was in the capable hands of Mr and Mrs
T BORSEY, Astley Arms. The room had been tastefully
decorated by Mr Joe FISHER, and presented a charming
appearance. The Mayor of Dukinfield (Councillor
W E WOOD) presided.
The Chairman proposed “His Majesty the King,”
and ventured to say that he did not remember a time
when this toast could be drunk with greater acceptance
than upon an occasion like this, and at a time when
his Majesty had been suffering so long from a serious
illness.– (Hear, hear.) With regard to the
Prince of Wales, he believed he would make a worthy
successor to the King, but they all hoped that day
might be far distant.– (Hear, hear.) During
the illness of the King the Prince of Wales had
performed his duties in an admirable manner, and
had been ably seconded by the Princess.– (Applause.)
Mr J O LAWTON proposed “The Army and Navy,”
and said he yielded to no one in his admiration
for the services. He complimented Colonel EATON
and the battalion he commanded on their excellent
services during the South African war by the various
sections they had sent out. He also complimented
Colonel EATON upon having received the distinguished
honour of a C.B. at the hands of his Majesty the
King.– (Hear, hear.)
Colonel EATON, C.B., responded to the toast, and
said there was a time when perhaps he might not
have felt justified in replying to this toast, but
now the volunteers had become, as it were, an integral
part of the army he might fairly reply, although
they preferred to put it “the Imperial forces
of Great Britain.” He was very much obliged
to Mr LAWTON for the kind manner in which he had
proposed the toast, and especially for the manner
in which he referred to the distinction his Majesty
the King had been pleased to confer upon himself.–
(Hear, hear.)
Click on image for bigger picture |
He took it that it was an honour
to the corps which he had commanded during the last
17 years, and been a member of for nearly 40 years.–
(Hear, hear.) The battalion had played their part
in the recent war. They had sent out 109 men and
six officers, and his eldest son was commanding
a company there now. He did not think any towns
in the country had done better than Ashton, Stalybridge
and Dukinfield, in sending out men to the front.
They had all done their duty admirably.– (Hear,
hear.)
Alderman H PRATT proposed “Success to Alma
Bridge.” He said they felt that a stumbling
block had been removed from the bridge by the removal
of the toll bar. He sincerely hoped that other bars
in their district would be removed.– (Laughter.)
He meant bars that were detrimental to the health
and happiness of the people who lived in their midst.
There was the bar of insanitary dwellings. That
was a bar which they would be delighted to see removed.–
(Hear, hear.)
They knew that some of the homes in which people
had to live were not healthy homes, and they all
hoped that the infantile mortality would be considerably
reduced. He hoped before long to see the electric
tramways running over Alma Bridge.– (Hear,
hear.) He had no doubt that the Corporations of
Ashton-under-Lyne and Dukinfield would be able to
come to some amicable terms and carry out a workable
scheme, whereby the bridge might be very successful
in carrying passengers from Ashton to Dukinfield
and vice versa.– (Hear, hear.)
Councillor STAFFORD said it was one of his proudest
moments to be in at the “wake” of the
toll bar. The Mayor had cautioned him not to commit
himself, but he was quite prepared to take care
of himself. He hoped he should not say one angry
word that would hurt anyone’s feelings. The
Mayor had truly said they had done some spade work
in the past, and he was glad that the toll bar was
not only abolished but demolished.– (Hear,
hear.)
It was like Tom BOWLING, it had gone aloft.–
(Laughter.) Perhaps it might have been done in a
different way than the East Ward thought.–
(Laughter.) He had never had to admit yet that there
were wiser in any other part of town than in the
east.– (Hear, hear.) Perhaps the Mayor would
have to decide what should be done with the relics
of the toll bar, such as the hinges, screws, funeral
cards &c.– (Laughter.)
There were many people in the town who ventured
to say that he had been at the bottom of all this.
However that might be, he thought everyone in the
town now rejoiced that it had been done, and were
only too delighted that the obstruction had been
removed and an end put to private monopoly in the
town. It was surprising that it had been allowed
to exist for so many years.– (Hear, hear.)
County Councillor G H KENYON proposed “The
Guests.” He said he was old enough to remember
crossing the river on stepping stones where Alma
Bridge now stood. He had done it many times. He
could also remember standing on the new bridge looking
with something like wonder when the river was in
flood.– (Hear, hear.) There had been a great
change in other respects, in the streets, roads,
bridges, sanitary arrangements, and their new Town
Hall.– (Hear, hear.)
He was glad that Mr BULL was present to represent
the guests, and he was connected with the roads
and bridges of the county, it was fitting he should
respond. They were celebrating the abolition of
the toll bar. He did not know of more than two others
in the country existing upon county roads. He thought
there was one at Wallesey and another at Henley-on-Thames.
In the midst of a commercial community like this,
toll bars were out of place, and they were all delighted
to see the Alma Bridge toll bar removed.– (Hear,
hear.)
Mr BULL responded, and said he hoped to see more
of the people of Dukinfield during the construction
of the new bridge at Whitelands.– (Hear, hear.)
BUGLER DUNNE AT ASHTON
Dr E LAWRENCE’s electrograph exhibition is
at present on a visit to Ashton Market -Ground.
The exhibition opened yesterday (Friday), and will
continue to-day (Saturday) and Monday. Apart from
the meritorious items constituting the ordinary
programme, there is an additional and undoubtedly
very great attraction in the person of Buglar DUNNE,
the plucky youngster whose heroism at the battle
of Tugella(?) on the occasion of one of the most
fiery ordeals in the history of military powers
– the terrible operations under General BULLER
at the most trying and critical period of the late
war in South Africa – excited the wonder and
admiration of the Kingdom, and the outcome was that
he was commanded to appear before Her late Majesty
Queen Victoria at Osborne, and received at her hands
a new bugle to substitute the one which he lost
during those ever memorable charges, also a sort
of khaki, and a portrait of Her late Majesty.
He was then but a lad of 14, and in consequence
of wounds received from shrapnel shells in the arms
and chest he was invalided out of the army, one
chest wound having caused a valvular affection of
the heart, which precluded him from blowing his
bugle and put an end to his promising military career.
Even after receiving his wounds at the battle of
the Tugela, it is said this plucky youth pressed
forward and continued to do his duty. Amid a perfect
hail of lead he was ordered to sound the advance,
but on trying to raise the instrument to his lips
he found that a shrapnel bullet had prostrated his
right arm and rendered it useless.
he paid no further heed to this for the time but
simply used his left hand, sounded the call required
of him, and plunged into the water and began to
wade with those who were as yet fit and well, although
he was burdened with 28lbs of ammunition. On the
way across he received a second gunshot wound in
the left breast, which set up the vulvular affection
of the heart before referred to.
The bugle presented to Bugler DUNNE by Her late
Majesty, Queen Victoria, bears the following inscription
on a silver plate:– “Presented to Buglar
John Francis DUNNE, 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fussiliers,
by Queen Victoria, to replace the bugle lost by
him on the field of battle on 15th December, 1899,
when he was wounded.” Buglar DUNNE was granted
a shilling a day for twelve months. |
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