The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-07 00:00:00

THE JOHN VAUGHAN STATUE.

On Monday, at Middlesborough, Sir Joseph Pease,
M.P., unveiled a bronze statue of the late Mr. John
Vaughan. Thousands of persons assembled to wit-
ness the ceremony. Among those present were Lady
Pease, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Pease, Mr. Henry Fell
Pease, Mr. Isaac Wilson, M.P., Mr. Joseph Dodds,
M.P., Colonel and Mrs. Sadler, Major Elwon, Mr.
and Mrs. J. T. Belk, Mr. Carl Bolckow and the
Misses Bolckow, and the Mayors of Middlesborough,
Stockton, and Darlington.
Sir Joseph Pease, who was received with cheers,
unveiled the statue, after which he delivered an
address, in the course of which he said: It may be
that what I am about to say is a matter of history
to many, but it is a matter of almost recent memory
to myself, that John Vaughan, with the firm of
which he was so distinguished a partner had his
troubles, his trials, and his difficulties, and if we erect
a monument of this character to-day, it is to show to
the generations to come that such difficulties are
surmounted only by fortitude, by hard work, by
patience, by perseverance. This is one of the'moral
lessons which that statue is to teach the people of
Middlesbrough to-day. In bringing this memoria
before you the subscribers had more reasons than
merely to commemorate the history of your own trade.
Let me point for a moment to that history, for it is a
most remarkable one in the lives of most of those
here before me. The iron ore lay hid in those blue
hills I can still see, though the houses nearly obstruct
my view. The matter of merely picking up a piece at
Skinningrove proved an important discovery. The
ore was found by that man to exist stratified in
huge quantities over countless thousands of acres.
He brought it into manufacture, capital flowed
into the district, labour was called for by capital,
and thousands came to Cleveland with a more certain
hope of the future than the thousands who have gone
over to the gold fields of Australia, or to develop the
silver mines of South America. The chemist, the
mechanic, and the artisan have followed, and
machinery and apparatus unknown to John Vaughan
have come in the train of the discovery in which he
took so remarkable and so early a part. While we
see the results, we look back on the days that are
past, and we almost wonder at the foresight of the
man who built the foundation on which so many
thousands that I see before me this day are now
depending for their daily bread. But Ido not for-
get that Mr. Taughan's connection with this town
has been also a municipal connection. In the early
development of this borough he took that earnest and
hearty interest which characterised all his work.
You see before you to-day the statue of your
third Mayor. More than that, I recall the fact
that to John •V aughan, Henry Bolckow, Isaac
Wilson, and Joseph Pease you are indebted for
the improvement of the River Tees. Those four men
made a harbour out of what was a small river trickling
into the sea, and it will increasingly become a harbour
for the mercantile marine of the world. Speaking of
these things, I cannot forget that at this moment a
considerable amount of distress exists in this district..
These are words easily said, but they mean a great •
deal in many a cottage home, when bread is wanting
and the comforts of life are decreasing, and when
many an honest man has to go across the sea to earn
the bread that he would be ready to work hard for at
home. But if the career of John Vaughan means any-
thing, it means that when in the midst of difficulties
and trouble he worked heartily, and looked forward
with hope to the future. He looked up to
God for his blessing and took courage. In times
like these you can feel that the foundation of your
trade is a solid foundation, and that you are able to
compete with the markets of the world. That
should enable you at a time like this to take the
lesson that it was intended by the committee and the
subscribers to these statues should be taught, in erect-
ing in your market-place the figures of the great men
who are gone. I feel that my task is almost accom-
plished, but your task and the task of the people of
Middlesborough is but begun. This statue will
shortly be handed over to your municipality, and
as you look at it and see the features of the founder
of the great industry on which you live you will be
reminded of his labours and of his great example.
Mr. Carl Bolckow, the nephew of the late Mr.
Bolckow, concurred in the sentiments expressed by
Sir Joseph Pease.
Mr. John Morley, who accompanied the late Mr.
Vaughan on the memorable discovery of the rich
seam of ironstone, gave an account of their search.
The chairman then presented the statue to the
town of Middlesbrough.
The Mayor (Mr. Alderman T. Hugh Bell) grace-
fully acknowledged the gift, and cheers for Vaughan
and Mr. Thomas Vaughan concluded the proceedings.

Mistress (to new cook) : "Now, Sarah, if you are
strictly honest and economical, I will give you some-
thing extra per month." New cook: "Thank you,
ma'am; I will think over it, and let you know in the
evening." •
It is said that Molique, though so long amongst
us, used occasionally to make funny mistakes in his
English, when excited. A story is told that °lnoue,
occasion, finding that he had driven for some distance
in a wrong direction, and being anxious to know
where he was, he astonished the coachman by
putting his head out of the window and shouting
indignantly: "Who am I?"

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE IN '
VIENNA:.
The Vienna correspondent of the Standarel, in a
telegram dated Tuesday night, says: • . -
The suicide mania here culminated yesterday in
a most horrible scene in the beautiful Stadt-park.
An unfortunate wretch had deliberately concealed
himself, and after stuffing all his clothes and pockets
with paper soaked in petroleum, set himself on fire.
When discovered he was ablaze from 'head to foot.
He was taken to the hospital, where death speedily
put him out of his misery. The body was, of
course, utterly unrecognisable, and has not been
identified.

The two days' holiday has added ten mowt. to the
list of Vienna suicides, amongst them ;eing a
widow of eighty-four, several girls and boys, and one,
policeman.