The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-09-23 00:00:00

Somerottobtre

YEOVIL—RIFLE FETE AT BARWICK PARK.
On Monday a review of several of the Somersetahire
rifle volunteer companies took place at Barwick
Park, the hospitable residence of Captain Messiter,
when about 400 riflemen assembled, and were
reviewed by Colonel Home. That great important
feature in all out-door festivities, the weather, was
all that could be desired, and with the rising of the
sun on Monday so did the spirits of the volunteers
rise in like proportion, as on Sunday considerable
misgivings arose amongst them, the weather for the
last few days having been very unfavourable, which
in some degree tended to damp their arcrour. From
an early hour the streets presented a gay appearance,
flags being suspended in various parts of the town,
and both the South-Western and Bristol and Exeter
railway stations were gaily decorated for the occa-
sion, numerous flags being suspended from the roof,
whilst at the entrance a very neat arch had been
erected, composed of flowers and evergreens, with
the letters "V. R." in the centre. The bells of St.
John's church rang out merry peals at intervals
throughout the morning, and about 10 o'clock the
streets of the town began to wear a very animated
appearance as excursion trains from various parts
began to pour in hundreds of pleasure seekers. The
Yeovil Volunteers, under the command of Captain
Mewl ter, Ensign Watts,and Hon.-Surgeon Tomkyns,
assembled at the armoury, from whence they were
marched, headed by their band, to the Borough,
where several evolutions were gone through. They
were soon joined by the other corps, and on the
arrival in the Borough of the Bridgwater and Lang-
port rifles, the men were dismissed to the co
Exchange, where an excellent luncheon had been
provided for them, to which full justice was done.
The strongest corps present was the Bridgwater
Rifles, composed of workmen belonging to the
Bristol and Exeter Carriage Department, which
numbered about 145, and were under the com-
mand of Captain Bridges, Lieut. Woolland,
Lieut. Clarke,and Hon.-Surgeon Winterbotbani, and
, as this corps wended their way from the station to the
borough, headed by their fine brass band, they were
greatly admired. About 12 o'clock the various
companies re-formed, and then proceeded to Barwick
Park, under the command of Captain Sandford, the
commander of the buttalion, where they were
reviewed by Colonel Hume, who expressed himself
highly satisfied with the manner in which they had
acquitted themselves. In the evening dancing,
hurdle racing, quoits, jumping in sacks, dm., took
place, the whole of which were largely patronised,
and later in the evening a beautiful display of fire-
works took place. The following were the com-
panies present:—

3rd (Taunton) Somerset Rifles.—About 50 strong.
exclusive of the band. They were under the command of
Captain Sanford, captain commandant of the battalion,
and Ensign Eaaton. The following non-commissioned
officers were also ()resent :—Quarter-master Sergeant
Slooombe, Colour-Sergeant Balton, Sergeant Stevens
and Corporal Bidgood.
The lath (Yeovil) Company numbered about 80, with
the band. The following officers and non-comraisßioned
officers were present :—Capt. Messitar, Ensign Watts,
lion.-Surgeon To mkyna, Col.-Sergean t Chaffic , Sergeants
Cox, Raymond, and Milborne, Drill-instructor Mont-
gomery, Corporals Ryall, Jennings, Denmead and
Moore.
21st (Langport) Riflea —This vompany mustered 50
rank and Mee and the officer' present were Capt.
litackey, Ensign sergi,-Itsjor littrleb kijorgefxo

Goff, Musket Instructor Sheppard, and Corporal
Bennett.

.....
26th (Bridgwater) Rifles.—Tbis company numbered
about 145, and were commanded by Capt. Bridges,
Lieut. Woodland, Lieut. Clarke, Hon.-Surgeon Winter-
bothain, Colour-Sergeant Jarman, Sergeants Hill,
Edwards, Grant, Fisher, Thomas, Gallop, Mansfield,
Drill-Sergeant Hurford, Corporals Fuel, Murphy,
Vanstone, E. Jones, C. Jones, earter and Burrows.
There were also several volunteers from the various
Dorset companies.
MICKRTAINTY OF Lilt. —A distressing Oale Of
the uncertainty of life oocured on Thursday evening
last, to & yoking woman named Sarah Abbott, a
servant in the employ of Mr,Aplln, cheese dealer,.
of Reckleford. I appeared that the &soar...red had
on Thursday morning gone to Womouth by an
excursion train, and she seemed then in apparent
good health, but it was observed by a female com-
panion whom she went with that she was in a very
nervous and excited state. Nut much notice, how-
ever, was taken of this, and the deceased returned
from Weymouth in the evening, arriving home
about 10 o'clock. The deceased had not been home
more than 20 minutes before she complained of s
pain in her cheat, and died almost immediately.
Mr, Tomkyns was quickly in attendance, but before
his arrival the vital spark had fled. At an inquest
held on the body on Saturday before Dr. Wybrant,
coroner, at the Pall Inn, the jury returned a verdict
of" Died by the visitation of God."
ETHEOPLAN ENTERTAINMZNT. The /roue of
artistea,known as the Female Christy Minstrels,gave
an entertainment at the Townhall on Tuesday
evening, which, however, did not meet with that
success which such a performance deserves, the at-
tendance being very limited. The minstrels cum-.
prise rive "coloured ladies" a "gentleman in black,"
the ladies being dressed in a rich Indian costume,
and the entertainment consists of comic and senti-
mental vocal and instrumental music, interspersed
with dancing, and a variety of jokes between
" bones" and "tambourin." The performance is of
a first-class charaeter,*and the entertainment gave
general satisfaction' and those parties who did not
pay a visit to the Female Christy
.Minstrels lost a
rich treat.

WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.-00
Sunday last two sermons were preached in the
Wesleyan Chapel, on behalf of the Wesleyan Sunday
School. by the Rev. T. Haswell, and a liberal
amount"was collected in response to the rev, gentle-
man's earneskappeal for funds for the support of the
school.