The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-01-24 00:00:00

make inquiriem respecting the health of some person..
A boiler was left over the fire, for tire perm.* if
conking dinner, and the child went to use the lid off,.
when unfortunately her clothes csught fire. Her cries,
attracted the attention of some neighbours where th 7
found the poor child almost envelq,ed in flatti s, They
succeeded in putting Viem nut, but the girt wee
seriously burnt that she died the next day from Cr
injuries received.
RING WOOD.—A SELP-APPOIATED JOSTICE.—Q in
the owner informs on that a wick or two ago a o. rain
rev. gentleman, residing within • 100 miles of the above
town, heard thet four of his pariahioners had over-
stepped the bound. of propriety—in fact, had got &rink.
He bent for them, and after suitable admonition, re-
quired them to pay the usual penalty for such Offen. C.
ss. each. He then handed 21. 6d. over to his 6qt, and
the remainder he appropriated to the mission
thereby showing an earnest desire to convert the blacks
lay the condemnation of the whites.
SALISBURY.—L.PrzEaRY Istrrirn'flon.—The Bev,
H. W. Mayow,incumbent of St. Mary's,Westßrompton,
is announced to lecture at the Assembly Rooms, ob
Friday evening next, on "The Plays of Shakespeare,
with some attempt to place in order of merit ties
greatest four playa"
The confirmation of her Royal Highness Princess/
Louise took plaoe on Saturday at Whinpingham Chuck,
by his grace the Archbishop of Canterbury.
k A CINTENANIAN.—There in at present living at
Twizel an old woman, named Margaret Patterson. who
has attained to the reniarkaMe age of 102. With the
exception of hearing all her faeultiea are still good.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. —The committee appointed
by the Chamber of Stuttgardt to ezamine the motion,
of M. Buller for the abolition of the puniehment of
death, has decided, with only one dissentient voiee, int
favour of the abolition.

WELLS.—THE LITE EDMUND DAVIES, Esq.—
Within the last few weeks a well-executed tablet bar
been placed in the nave of Wells Cathedral to the
memory of this much respected and deeply lamented,
gentleman, The memorial waa suggeited and ham
been carried out at the expense of the Bishop, the
Dean and Chapter, the three Archdeacons, and nearly
the whole body of the clergy of the diocese, in re.
membrance of one who for so many years conducted
the many ecclesiastical functions of his large diocese
with a prudence, courtesy, and talent which
endeared him to all who in clerical matters so con.
tided to hisjudgment and discrimination. He went
down to his grave in the midst of his days, beloved
by hi, friends, respected by all, and without a
blemish on his honour. The following is • copy of
the inscription on his monument, which is not a whit
more flattering than his character deserved

M. S.
EDMUNDI DAVIES.

Qui ab uno alteroque hokum.) Dimmer* Epiaoopce
iu cousilia et mitosia adscitits annos xvii. Ideal
anima v DOC&130 Canonicieque comprobantibns Clerici
capitularie flinches numere. Ut Ecclesiostioi jurie et
rerum peritus mania ecite, prudenter accurate, ut vir
bonus et benignus fidelitur et comiter peragebat.
Clerus populusque colatie petmliis. P.C. Obiit Bvo
Augusts die anno sacro mdccclxiii, nettle annos

WESTON-SUPER-MARE. SPORTING.
Tuesday a trotting match between Mr. Dibble'.
(Banwell) Maid-of all-Work, and Mr. Fry's grey
gelding for £lO, came off at Cross, in the presence.
of a great number of spectators, who evinced much.
interest in the match. Maid-of-all-Work was the-
favourite, and the result showed that layers were-
right in their calculations, as the "maid" came int
an easy winner by about 40 yards. The distance,
was between 12 and 13 miles; time, 48 min. The'
winner was steered by the owner, Mr. Dibble; and'
the grey mare was under the control of Mr. Fripp.,
(Badgworth.)

EVERCREECH.—M LTTIJA L Lid FIVOYININT.
SOCIET V. --On Monday an excellent lecture war
delivered in connection with this society by Dr.
Banks, at the National Schoolroom. The Hon. on&
Rev. E. P. A. Talbot occupied the chair. The-
subject chosenfrforl,the lecture was " Means to err
End, or perfection of the works of Nature,"
illustrated by the magic lantern, and with numerous
diagrams from the microscope. The lecture was
received with much attention, and a very interesting
and pleasant evening was spent. A hearty vote of
thanks to Dr. Banks was given at the close of the
meeting.

A STRANGE OCCURRENCE. —The talk of this
village for the last ten or twelve days has been con-
cerning the strange, mysterious diaappearanoe of •
little pony belonging to Mr. W. Roles, grocer, of
this village, from a field al Mitten Clevedon. It
appears that Mr. Roles placed the pony in the field'
on the 4th inst., but on going to the field the next
morning it was gone. Diligent search was made la
all the surrounding fields, and an old heap factory,
which is trembling in ruins, adjoining the field,
was searched and researched, bat no tsace el As
missing animal was found. The piney was cried
at all the surrounding market towns, and advertised
for several days in the Hue and Cry. In fad every
means that could be devised were tried in order to
find the animal. On Monday last the owner, on
going round the above-named factory, was struck
with astonishment on seeing the nose of the animal
protruding through an aperture in the wall of a coal
shed, underneath the engine house. The place of
confinement was about six feet long by four feet'
wide and about six feet high, and the only entrance'
to the place was about three feet square. The poor.
animal was much emaciated, but was able to walk w
distance of a mile to its owner's residenoe. It Is
therefore conjectured that it must have been placed
there very recently and with great difficeity, as it
seems almost impossible for it to be got through such'
a small opening. In fact the wall had to be rale&
down in order to free the animal.

MIDSOMER NORTON.A-Rxsinno Room.—Ther
annnal tea meeting in connexion with this roonv
took place in the Market-hall, on Monday evening,
the 16th instant, and there was a larger attendance
than usual, 170 being present. The vicar's family
kindly added to the evening's entertainment by
giving some good vocal and instrumental musio.
MOTHERS' TEA M KITING. —The Rev. Prebendary
Mayne gave a tea to all the mothers of the scholars
attending the parochial Sunday and day schools, to
the number of 117. The lady teachers of the schools
were present, and presided at the tables. After tea
the vicar addressed the parents, particularly point-
ing out to them the necessity of sending their
children regularly to school, and setting them good
examples at home. The family of the vicar again
contributed to the pleasure of the evening by sing-
ing, in which the mothers themselves took part.

PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL.-011 Suuday
evening, the 16th instant, after Divine service, the
organist, the%choir,9 theilechool-master, the pipit
teacher, presented to Mr. W. 0. Mayne a bud--
somely • bound copy of "Mercer'. Hymn-book," sot
with tunes, u a slight acknowledgment of the abte.
manner in which he has endeavoured to increase the,
proficiency of the choir, and u a porting gift
previously to his leaving his father's house for
another home.

yArroN. —ANOTHER GHOST STORY. —For the
last few days the good people of Yatton have been
in such a state of open.monthed amazement relative
to certain peculiar goings on in their midst, that had
the heights of Cadbury suddenly betaken themselves
to Lower Claverbam, or Cleeve Toot reared its dizzy
summit in Kenn Marshes, the astonishment could
scarcely have been exceeded. They have discovered
that a mysterious agency is at work in their pariah,
and high and low, clergy and laity, have as yet been
unable to explain the matter. On tbe‘road,leading
from Yatton to Cleave, and not far from Hollow
Mead, is • detached cottage, inhabited by a family
named Beacham, and it appears that a few nights
ago one of the children, • little boy, was hexed by
his parents, whilst in bed, making • noise as if
driving away a cat or dog. He complained that
something was scratching at the bed clothes, and a
search was made for the intruder, but its where-
abouts was not apparent. On thefollowing night
the scratching was continued, and now a loud
rapping succeeded that was!plainly/heard by air
the house. Puzzled as to the reason of the noises,.
the Beacham@ mentioned the 'isubject-to the neigh'
boare, and they having visited the premises, beard
the noises likewise, and, after a rigid investigation,
acknowledged themselves unable to solve the
mystery. As might be expected, an affair of this
nature soon spread through the whole of the village,
and crowds flocked together to listen to the raps,
which became louder and louder. Nor was the
excitement confined to the bumbler class, for the
vicar of the parish, the Rev. H. Barnard, and Mr.
Hard, amongst others, proceeded to the spot, and
having listened to the rappings and scratching.,
confessed themselves in the dark as to the reason for
the disturbance. On Sunday, to crown the ghostly
noises, shrieks and wild laughter were andible,whiles
the rape continued unabated. One pecoliari.y i.
this matter is that the sounds are more frequently
heard in the morning than at night, and before
breakfast-time the cottage is filled by startled
villagers, who listen to them with breathless
astonishment. It is almost needless to add that the
dwelling has been well searched, and there being no
other house near, the difficulty of aooounting for the
manifestation ia increased. Sometimes there will be
heard a sharp series of rape resembling the clapping
of hands, and then the sounds will seem to be like
violent blows struck with a stout stick, and the
scratching prevails ooestantly. The affair somewhat
resembles that referred to in an old ballad :
There's a going before, and • coming behind,
And a following slowly after;
A looking for what we ne'er shall find,
And shouts of unearthly laughter.
The boy with whom the matter commenced is
regarded with mingled feelings of awe, pity, and
dread, as in sonic measure the cease of the uproar.
and sure enough where he is, although narrowly
watched, it would be quite idle to exclaim, " Cease
chit knocking." Old ghost stories almost forgotten
are now once more rife in Ystton and its •icinity,
and relations of the marvellous prevail at every
fireside. The rural population for many miles
round have suddenly become decided converts
to spirit-rapping, and would, doubtless, consider
the Davenport tricks as evidence of supernatural
agency.

Printed and published for the Proprietor, by CRLILLIII
Wurrnazan Miudaitri, otAtasehester, Printer, at ths
Ottioe of The Dorset Conway Express, Churehetreet,
Porebeetee, Tuesday, January 24, 1885.

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