The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-23 00:00:00

PATHETIC INCIDENTS.

A pathetic incident narrated in connection with the
catastrophe was witnessed in the vicinity of the hall.
A lad was sitting on the kerb near Murton-street,
crying, when a passer-by inquired the cause of his
grief. " Why, sir," he said, " I was in the place
there, and when I was coming out a boy that was
dying bit my band, and that's him," pointing in the
direction of the corpse of a poor child that was lying
near.

While the task of identifying the bodies was pro-
ceeding one poor man had some difficulty with the
cordon of police and soldiers who guarded the doors.
At last, having got through it, he declared he knew
his little boy was there, and only hoped he could get
him away. Before he proceeded 20 steps into the
place he came upon the body of his son, and the effect
upon him was of a most painful character. The man
threw his arms above his head, and shouted "My son
is dead—my son is dead? I will never more go home
never more ! " He turned round and rushed away,
and some people, thinking that he was likely to do
mischief to himself in his excited condition, followed
him and took him in charge.
One incident in the hall is related as follows :—A.
man and his wife rushed in. The man eagerly scanned
the faces of the dead, and without betraying any emo-
tion said, with his finger pointed and face blanched,
"That's one ;" and passing on a few yards, still point-
ing, "That's another;" and walking further on and
pointing to the last child in the row, uttered "Good
God, all my family gone!" and staggering back cried
out "Give me water, give me water I " His face
seemed to turn into deep furrows at once, and his eyes
sank, his heart seemei as though it would break, as
he could not find tears to relieve himself.

A. little girl called Margaret Roper, who was
killed, was present with her brother and sister, who
were saved. The two sisters clung together as long as
pol,ible. and the last words of the one who perished
were, "Tell mother not to cry. lam going to father.' 7
Their father and two brothers were killed in Seaham
Colliery explosion.
Whilst Dr. Walker Beattie was hard at work
attending to the sufferers in the Victoria Hall, a
strong man up in the dress circle, who was looking for
his children amongst the dead, identified two of the
bodies as those of his boys, and was so overcome that
he fainted away, and happening to be leaning over the
front of the dress circle at the time, he fell right over
"the breast" upon Dr. Beattie below, but fortunately
suffered no injury, owing to his fall being broken by
Dr. Beattie. -

Shortly after it became known that a terrible
calamity had occurred, a little girl, quite a child in

appearance, was met proceeding along Tatham-street,
carrying a dead infant in her arms. A gentleman who
witnessed the melancholy sight took compassion on
the girl, and at once secured a cab and sent her home.
A young nurse girl, who had gone to the perform-
ance with two children, was reported to have been
killed along with her little charges; the corpses of the
latter were carried home, and while the family of the
nurse were mourning for her, to their astonishment
she walked in.

An agonised mother formed one of the distracted
parents that besieged the Palatine Hotel, desiring to
see the dead. On returning home, however, after a
hopeless search, the poor woman found the little
urchin playing in the street.

The case of a highly-respectable family in Monk-
wearmouth was most pitiable. Two of the children
had been permitted to go to the Victoria Hall, but
shortly after le Irning the news of the dreadful cala-
mity the parents were consoled with a message ta the
effect that their dear ones were quite safe. The thank-
ful parents had just regained their composure, and
began to thank God for the great mercy that had been
vouchsafed to them, when a cab drove up to the door
and the dead bodies of the children were delivered to
the grief-stricken parents.

A man was seen emerging from the Victoria Hall
with a little dead girl in his arms • the child's long
hair floated over her shoulders, and her pallid face was
washed by the tears which rolled down the cheeks of
the father as he kissed the cold face of his child, and
bewailed his bereavement in tones that went to the
hearts of the bystanders.
Very singular cases of false identification took place.
Fathers and mothers entered the hall, wept over the
bodies of their children, and took them home in cabs,
only to return with them again very shortly. The
children so taken away were found not to be those
sought, the parents in several cases being overjoyed to
find their little ones awaiting them safe and sound at
home.

There were painful scenes in several Sunday schools
on Sunday. In one school nearly 30 of its scholars
had been killed. The superintendent quite gave way
under the sorrow of the occurrence.

Dr. Abrath says that on arriving on the scene of the
calamity, about an hour after its occurrence, he found
a child named Ada Smith, who parents resided in
Northumberland-street, lying in Dr. Potts's surgery.
A sister was among the dead. As speedily as possible
he had the child removed to the Hospital for Foreign
Seamen, and by means of electricity succeeded in sus-
taining the action of the heart. Next morning Miss
Smith was in a fair way of recovery.

At the request of the Home Secretary the Mayor
sent him an account of the disaster, and received from
him a second telegram to the following affect in reply:
—" Your telegram received. Send any further par-
ticulars you may have. The Queen has been informed,
and is deeply grieved."

On Monday morning the following was received
"From Sir Henry Ponsonby, Balmoral, to the Mayor
of Sunderland.—The Queen is terribly shocked at this
awful calamity, and her heart bleeds for the many
poor bereaved parents. She prays that God may
support them. Her Majesty is most anxious to hear
how the injured children are."—The Mayor replied as
follows :—" To Sir Henry Ponsonby.—Will you ex-
press to the Queen my heartfelt thanks for her very
kind expression of sympathy. The calamity is almost
without a parallel, and the town is deeply affected."

Alderman Storey, M.P., telegraphed on Sunday
from London :—" Have heard with amazement and
horror of the terrible calamity. My heart bleeds for
the bairns and the bereaved parents and friends. I
am sure everything possible will be done to alleviate the
suffering and lighten the burden of expense. I am
coming down to see if I can be of any service."
The Mayor also received a telegram from Colonel
Gourley, M. P., inquiring about the disaster, and ex-
pressing sympathy with the bereaved.

On Tuesday morning Dr. Morley Douglas, senior
physician to the Children's Hospital, received a tele-
gram from Sir Henry Ponsonby, asking for informa-
tion respecting the children at present in the Children's
Hospital. In reply Dr. Douglas sent the following
message :

"Glad to tell you, for the information of the Queen,
that Mary Fox, aged seven years, who was so nearly
suffocated that bloody froth issued from her mouth for
some time after removal from the Victoria-hall, is im•
proving; but presents signs of aberration of mind
from fright. She is receiving every attention in the
Princess Louise Victoria Ward. The other child,
Isabella Howie, aged ten, under my care, is recover-
ing from contusions."

On Sunday in all the churches and chapels in the
district touching references were made ts) the terrible
disaster, in many cases special prayers being offered
on behalf of the relatives of the deceased. During the
evening the following message was received by the
Mayor from the Rev. G. Sheepshanks, St. Margaret's,
Armfield, Liverpool :—" From children of Sunday-
school of Armfield to children of Sunderland—We are
very sorry to hear that so many of your brothers and
sisters and companions have been killed. We weep
with you in your sorrow, and pray that the little ones
who have been injured will soon be better."