The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-07-05 00:00:00

viz, May 19—no aFter-damp has been seen in this loved so well that first memory, and then tradition.
part of the colliery for fully three months. will for many years to come associate his name with
the ideal of public services and private worth.
GLASGOW, Thursday Night.
Mr. G. Harward said :—I will makeit, sir, my
Only three bodies are retnaining wile:covered.
The explorers have all but finished their work. special duty to convey to Mrs. Harward ind the
comparatively email amount of dara2ge sustainedTbhve owt(hm.edrs mwehmi
cbhe rhea ov fe of ualrlefr
friolymayt
otrasHmo(n.roei,irtl: ealucir
the woi kings, as well as the fact that few of the men feel sure that your eloquent expression of sympathy
are burned, but had succumbed to after-damp, also will cheer and suppc.rt them in their sorrow. I also
points to the conclusion that the explitsicu was not feel that I should be omitting to do what they would
ore of great severity. Curiou-dy encngh the men
of wish me to do were I not, at once, to tender you on
aken out alive wt•re found at the extreme end
their behalf, warm and grateful thanks.
he levtl, ht,yon I wheni the dead men were found. Mr. G. Perry said:—l am, sir, I feel sure, expres-
sing the sentiments of my professional friends if I
say that we all concur in the tribute your Honour
has so justly paid to the memory of the late
registrar, Mr. Harward. It is difficult, after having
had him with us for so many years, to realize the
fact that we shall have him no longer here, but the
more we do realise the melancholy fact the more
we shall realize the loss we have sustained. Per-
sonally I shall much feel his loss. It is now more
than thirty years since I first entered his office ag a
pupil of Ws then partner. I was received by him
with his characteristic kindness, and from that day
to the last interview I had with him a few weeks
since I received unvarying kindness and friendship
at his hands. Of him in his capacity of registrar of
this court I would say that all, as well advocates as
litigants, will be ready to bear their testimony to
the ability, conscientious care and courteousness
with which he discharged his duties. In him we
have lost an excellent officer of the court, and a
courteous and Christian gentleman.
The High Bailiff, Mr. C. Evers, said :—With'your
permission, sir, I should like on behalf of myself
and the clerks and bailiffs of the court to say how
heartily we concur in the remarks so kindly and
ably expressed by you, and to say how much we re-
gret the loss of one with whom we have been so
long and intimately connected.

The report of the explosion in High Blantyre pit
was he ird about nine o'clock on Wednesday nighr,
but as few persons were at the pit heed during t ,e
night the news of the accident did not spre id rapidly.
The day shifi had been withdrawn at six &clock,
when 140 men, who formed the night shaft, entet ed
the mine. Of these, 109 were working in a part of
tee colliery where the effects of the explosien were
not felt, hut twenty-one mev, brushers," were
engaged clearing the roads in the Ell mine for the
working miners when an explosion of firedamp
occured. The manager and other heads of depart-
ments were soon made aware of the explosion, and
under their superintendence an exploring party was
hastily organised. They descended No. 3 pit, which
communicates with No. 1, in order to get to the
place where the brushers Icid been working. They
proceeded to the bottom of the shaft of No. I pit, a
distance of a quarter of a mile, and then passed a
considerable distance beyond. They found the
workings badly filled with gas, and the path difficult
to penetrate in consequence of falls from the roof
causect by the explesion. After great efforts they
reached five of the nearest men, whom they feund
alive. They conveyed them rapidly to the surface,
where they received the assistance of doctors, who
by this time were in attendance. The bodies were
not reached till five o'clock. By three o'clock in the
afternoon twenty-six of the dead had been recovered.
Most of them m ere found lying upon their backs,
and appeared to have been trying to reach the
bottom of the shaft, when they were overtaken by
the fatal gas. Of the five taken out alive, one died
on reaching the bank. Two so far recovered that
they were able to be taken home, but the tecovery of
the other two is doubtful. 1 ate in the afternoon
there were still five in the mine, and as it is certain
that they connot be alive, the total number who
have perished is 27. The bodies were not badly
burned, death being generally the result of suffoca-
tion. They were laid down in the joiners' shop,
and when identified were placed in coffins, and
removed home in a spring van The killed are :
James Lafferty, overman; John Newtown, roads-
man ; Patrick McGuire, brusher ; Peter Berry,
brie-her; Patrick McGubbon, John O'Neil, John
McGuigan, Michael Howard, Robert Mulin, John
Nfurphy, John Harvey, Alexander Symington,
Bernard O'Brien, Edward Jordan, Jame. Bryson,
brusher, Thomas Duffy, Henry Duffy, John Malone
Piierick Vailcty, Alexander McAr.hur, Thomas
Irvine, Richard Rutin, Wilson, Edward Thomson,
and Patrick Lynch. The survivors are Charles
Lafferty, James °well, Bernard O'Neil, and Bernard
Caires. They cannot state that the whole thirty-
one ran for their lives. The survivors were rescued '
by the explorers beeuse they get farthest away
from the place where the explosion occurred. The
brushers who perished used gunpowder in blasting
stone work, an occupation in which some of them
were engaged when the disaster happened.

A marriage is arranged between the Hon. and
Rev. Arthur Temple Lyttelton, brother of Lord
Lyttelton, and Warden Designate of Selwyn College,
Cambridge, and Miss Kathleen Clive, daughter of
Mr. George Clive, J.P., of Peristone, Foy, Hereford-
shire, and younger slster of Sybella, Lady Lyttelton.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Mr. R. L. Freer, Sarah Emily
Cochrane was charged with being drunk and dis-
orderly at Wollaston, on Sunday morning last. Mr.
Waldron defended and said that defendant was
charged wih a similar offence at Brierley Hill on
Thursday. A certain course was there taken and
defendant paid the costs. It appeared to him to be
two charges for the same offence.—Mr. King: The
case must be called on in the usual was'. Mr.
Freer: I know nothing of the case beyond that a
p rson is charged with being drunk, and the case
must go the same as any other. Police. constable
Smith said about one o'clock on Sunday morning he
heard a great noise and found the defendant at
Wollaston. She was very drunk. He ordered her
home and she opmmenced knocking at her own
door, but afterwards returned and made a great
noise. Fined 5s and costs.—Mary Ann Russell was
charged with a similar offence on the same date.—
Mr. Waldron defended and pleaded guilty.—Police-
constable Smith said the defendant went to Mr.
Henry Cochrane's house with her sister, the previous
defendant, and broke one of the windows. She re-
fused to go home when requested and he had to lock
her up. Fined 5s and costs.—William Mansell was
charged with being drunk and disorderly on the
28th ult, at the Lye. Police-constable Widdo we
proved the cdse. Fined 2s 6d and costs.—William
Heath was charged with a similar offence at Cradley.
Fined 2s 64 and costs. Alfred Woodhouse was
fined 5s and costs for a similar offence at the Lye.
Witoi.Ener SMASHER3.—John Dean and Joseph
C-ock et were brought up on remand charged with
passing bad money, on the 25th ult. Mr. 0, W.
Collis defended Dean, and Mr. Waldron dufended
Croeket. Ann Skidmore repeated the evidince
given last week. Zephra Hayes said that Dean
came to her house, the Swan Inn, Lye, on the 26th
ult. Crocket came with him and called for some
rum and ginger beer, and gave her a shilling to pay
for it. The ,hilling was a bad one. Dean then
gave her a shilling to change, as he wanted to pay
a boy for holding his horse. She did not like the
looks of the money. She had her suspicions that it
was not good Henry Tomkius also gave evidence
as to seeing the two prisoners together. Clara
Batham said the two prisoners came to the Castle
Inn, Baldwin's Lane. Crocket gave her a two
shilling piece to change. She gave it to her mistress
who went up stairs to get it changed. Hannah
the landlady, proved receiving the two shilling
piece and went up stairs to get it changed and put
it into a box. Did not think at the time it was a
bad one. Police-sergeant Payne said he received
three shillings from Mrs. Cruddington, on the 27th
nit; on the same date 2s. from Mrs. Hayes ; cu the
same date received a two shilling piece from Mrs
Hill, and producei them. He knew the money
was the same, having marked it. Henry Douglas,
silversmith, said all the money produced was
counterfeit, and all lighter than silver. Superintond-
eat Wheeler said that Dean sent for him on the
2nd July, and before he said anything cautioned
him. Police-sergeant Payne then took down in
puicil the statement made and the statement pro-
duced written in ink was the same. Mr. Collis and
Mr. Waldron objected to the statement being read,
but it was overruled, as the statement produced was
read to both prisoners and signed by Dean and was
to the effect that he had bought a horse at Broms-
grove fair, and eft erwards chopped it for a pony and
ti.at the bad silver he had was given to him for the
pony At this stage, Mr: Waldron asked if there
were any other cases agatest his client. Mr. King
sada these were several other cases against Dean
fer p sate g money at Edward's, Kelly's, Allchurch's.
and others, and the prisoners were remanded for a
week, bail refused.
STEALING PLANTS.—Before C. P. Noel and R. L.
Freer, Esqs., W. Burke was charged with steal-
ing plants. Witnesses were called to prove the
case. Rev. G. Gilba,nks proved that he had lost a
namber of pinnts, and believed the two produced
were his property, but could not swear to them.
Did not with to press she case. Fined 7s 6d, to in-
clude costs.
Rations Danrmo.—John Casswell and John
Whitaker, of Cookley, were charged with riding
furious at Lower Clent, on the 24th ult. Police-
constable Wallace proved the case. Defendants
pleaded guilty. Find 5s and.costs.
Serroor. BOARD PnosEounows.—Benjamin Weston
was summoned by W. Jasper, for neglecting to
send his daughter to school. The case was proved
and the case was adjourned for 14 days.—Edwoted
Garbett was fined 5s for not sending his daughter
to school, having been previously convicted.