The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-05 00:00:00

AN AMUSING SCENE IN A CHURCH.

There was an amusing scene in the centre aisle of
a London church on Sunday evening (says the ,Echo).
One of the sidesmen was seen to go and whisper to
the vicar's churchwarden and draw his attention to
the end occupant of one of the sittings. The church-
warden glared at the occupant, and whispered back to
the sidesman. Then there was a lapse of time, during
which the service went on and the churchwarden
seemed to be stringing himself up for an unpleasant
duty. Finally he went carefully along the aisle and
bent down behind a buckishly-dressed individual
with the stiffest of dog - collars, wispiest of ties,
and most irreproachable of shirt fronts. Beard,
whisker, or moustache the youthful dandy had
not, but the head of the hair was crisp, short, and
close, so much as could be seen for the natty deer-
stalker hat kept upon the head. Then there was a
whispered inquiry plainly heard through all around,
"Is there any reason why you should keep on your
hat ? " Buzz, buzz, buzz came in answer, very low,
and not in a bass voice. What was said did not
happen to be audible ; but tho churchwarden went
back to his seat with slightly heightened colour, for
he had made the discovery that he and the sidesma,n
had made a mistake. In fact, when the congregation
were leaving church, it was observable that as the hat.,
collar, shirt-front, and tailor-cut coat wearer walked
down the aisle, the masculine costume ended at the
waist.

Shortly after nine o'clock on Monday morning,
Major the lion. C. C. Chetwynd, of Gothic-lodge,
Worthing, met with a fatal accident at Worthing
Railway Station. He had intended to go to Brighton
by the 9.14 train, .and arrived at the station in good
time. After leaving the booking office, he made his
way to the platform to pass to the opposite side. The
subway which runs below the platform was crowded,
and to escape the crush Major Chetwynd went down
to the end of the platform. in order to go over the
rails, the crossing at this point being used by
Lt.:A.., fur (Sc
down train had already run into the station.
and its engine had been taken off and attached
to the other end in order to shunt the carriages.
It is believed Major Chetwynd, hearing the up train
eNroaeli, stood in the 4ft. way behind the down
train, and the noise of the up train coming in prevented
him from hearing the other train move. Before he
could get out of the way he was knocked down. All
the carriages cleared him, but he was dragged on to
the rails by the ashbox of the engine. The train wal,
going very slowly at the time, and the driver, feeling
that his engine had passed over something, at once
stopped and jumped down. When picked up Major
Chetwynd was perfectly conscious, although his arm
was severed above the elbow. His right hand was
also dreadfully mutilated and his fingers were cut off.
The stationmaster had him conveyed at once to the
Worthing Infirmary, but no hope was given of his
recovery, and he died at 11.20. The Hon. Charles
Cornwallis Chetwynd was in the 51st year of his
age. He was formerly Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion
Sussex Rifle Volunteers, retiring from that post in
1882 with the rank of major. Major Chetwynd, who
was at one time in the 10th Foot, was brother to the
present Viscount Chetwynd. He leaves a widow and
seven children.