The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-08-12 00:00:00

Yzovm.

Ist Innings. 2nd /mango.
Newman, A., b Doddington .. 0 run out
Newman, C., Is Doddington .. 1 not out...
Welch, b Doddington
Blake. b Doddlngton
Vowles, b Doddlugton lB
Eters, run out
Wedraen, run out 0 c Davis. 0
Sampson, a W. Long, b Seymour 8 b Seymour
Ryall, not out . 4
Woodgate, b Doddldgton .... 2
Thomas. b Seymour .... ..... 0
Byes

CREWKERNE.—A cricket match was played on
Monday between eleven non-riflemen of the town,
and eleven of the volunteers. During the after-
noon the drum and fife band of the corps played
some appropriate airs to the company in flrst- rate style.
The riflemen were beaten at the batting but there
was a fair "tie" made at the dinner' which took
place at seven o'clock at the George Inn. The chair was
taken by the captain of the corps and the vice-chair
by the secretary of the club. The party, to the
number of thirty, spent a most agreeable evening.
The spirit which animated the combatants of the
morning was purely social. From the chair
• toast or two only were given, "The Queen,"i
—"The Successful Party at Cricket," and
"The Admirable Secretary" (G. L. Lang, Esq.),
after which followed, in gracious spirit, " Sumas to
the Rifle Corps" from a non-rifleman, which was re-
ceived by his party with such good-will, that the
members of the rifle corps present felt a "tie" was
efiected, of which they were justly gratified.
We are happy to learn that a friendly rifle coatis
will take place between ten men of the sth Somerset
(Bridgewater) Corps, and ten men of the 20th
Somerset (Crewkerne) Corp., when some good prac-
tice is expected, as the sth Somerset hold an honour-
able position as marksmen of repute ; and the 20th
in their first public contest hope to acquitthemselvee
with credit. It is by suoh friendly contests as the
forthcoming that a spur will be given to Relent% with
the rifle, and improvement effected in the art which
may ultimately place Bomersetanire in a more pro-
minent position than she has yet held, at the grand
national test of efficiency—the next Wimbledon

meeting.
On Friday evening last the corps mustered about
eighty strong, and at the invitation of the senior
ensign, J. Sparks, Esq. practised a sham fight in
the vicinity of his residence, Bincombe Rouse."
The corps was told off in sections, each man being
supplied with ten rounds of blank cartridge. One
section constituted the defending party, under the
command of Lieutenant Tidcombe, with. which he
took up a strong position in a walled building, in a
valley which commanded a View of the country
around. Secrecy was preserved as to the mode of
attack. There was the picket and the sentry of the
defenders on the alert, for the weak point of their
position was the road from which retreat was im-
possible. Right left and front open. Lieutenant
Joliffe had command to the left, Ensign Sparks to
the right, the captain, with a reserve, in the front.
Lieutenant Joliffe, after a considerable detour, took
up his ground, but being observed by the watchful
enemy, fire was opened upon him, and he had to
take shelter under an intervening hedge, from which
he was also admirably routed, by a picket ef the
enemy drawing up the ditch and firing point blank
into his rear. The retreat was effected with order,
and strong ground taken, which enabled the attack-
ing party to enfilade the enemy. The volley had
withering effect—the enemy fell back on its entrench-
ments and recruited, when Ensign Sparks opened
the ball on the right. Consternation ensued! After
a short, brisk fire, the enemy drew within his de-
fences; then he opened the gates and prepared to
escape by the front. A critical moment I It ap-
peared open, when just as the move was decided
noon, the captain came up from his concealment in
the front, fired • volley at the advance,. fixed
bayonets, then at the bugle sound the charge was
admirably made, and the garrison laid down its
arms, if the event had been real, it could not have
ended half as well. The corps was afterwards most
hospitably entertained by J. Sparks, Esq., and the
evening brought to a close in the most agreeable
manner.
MONTACUTR—Fins.—On Friday morning a
large rick containing from 40 to 50 tons of hay, the
property of Mr. J. R. Chubb, farmer of Montacute,
was discovered to be on fire. The West of England I
Fire Engine from Yeovil was promptly in atten-
dance, and a good supply of water having been ,
obtained, the firemen immediately set to wOrk.
Through their exertions, under the direction of Mr. ,
Superintendent Smith, of the county constabulary,
a large quantity of the hay was saved, and also an
old rick standing near. The fire originated from
spontaneous combustion in consequence of the hay
having been stacked too green. On hearing of the
above, Mr. Stone of Pen Mill Hotel, Yeovil, was
solicitous for the welfare of one of his stacks, which

had given indications of impending danger, and at
once set to work to examine it internally. Fortu-
nately he did so, as upon examination it was found
to a trifling extent to be ignited. Prompt measures
were taken and the stack saved.
FIIOME. —A N OTH it POST-OPTICS ROBBERY.
At the Frome Police Court, on Saturday, a young
num named William Henry Moody, a letter-carrier
and sorter in the Frome Post-office, was charged
with stealing stetter containing two half-sovereigns
and eight postage stems, from the Pbet-offiee, on
the 31st ult. The prisonerreserved his defence, and
was committed for trial. His case is considered a
bad one. He has been for some years in the Post-
office, and was in the receipt of an Olt" salary as
sorter.
WELLS. —JUBILEE FESTIVAL AT MI OATHS-
DRAL.—On Tuesday &jubilee festival was celebrated
at the Cathedral Church of St Andrew's, Wells, in
connection with the National Society for the Edu-
cation of the Poor in the Principles of the
Established Church. The National Society, which
was founded in 1811, has devoted £eoo,ooo to school
buildings, and an equal sum in training masters and
mistresses, and by its efforts 10,000 schools have
been established, and a million a year is now expen-
ded in the education of the poor. In April last it
was resolved to celebrate its jubilee at Wells daring
the present summer, and a committee was appointed
to make the necessary arrangements, a number of
deaneries being invited to take part in the move-
ment. Of these about twenty responded to the
appeal in the outset, but the number gradually
increased, insomuch that the applicants were more
than could be provided for, and on Friday the list
I closed with 2.520 children, 260 teachers, and 330 in
the united choirs, the number of parishes being 47.
Other choirs and schools, however, sought admission,
and the numbers ultimately swelled to upwards of
3,000. The day was kept as a day of rejoicing by
the inhabitants, and the streets were full of visitors
and holiday folks, who arrived by excursion trains.
The hour named for the service was half-past two
o'clock, and the procession of children was three-
quarters of a mile lohg. The service was held in the
nave of the cathedral, which bad been fcrnished for
the occasion with reserve seats sufficient to accom-
modate 600, the unreserved seats and aisles being
fitted up to accommodate 2,000, and the north and
south transepts from 2,000 to 3,000 children. The
choir had assembled at the Townhall, whence the
civic procession of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Town
Council walked to the cathedral, where they were
received by the Bishop of Bath and Wells and the
Bishop of Lichfield, and a large number of the
clergy. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of
Lichfield, who stated, in referring to the National
Society, that they bad now a deficiency of £9,000
per annum to make up, in consequence of their
Wog deprived cf the periodical collections. The
collection at the close amounted to £6O. After the
service the children /tift the cathedral, and proceeded
to the bishop's park, where they were liberally re-
galed with cake and tea; two tons of cake and ten
hogsheads of tea being provided for the occasion by
Mr. George, of the Star Hotel. Various recreations
were also provided for the entertainment of the
children, but unfavourable weather coming on pre-
vented this part of the arrangements being carried
out. It is supposed that there were 10,000 to
12,000 visitors in Wells during the day.

BATH.—A LITTLE WASDERRR. —An occurrence
of a most extraordinary character happened in con•
nection with the recent Percy Chapel School treat
at Prior Park. Soon after five o'clock a little girl
about five years old, named Hobbs, living in the
Upper Bristol road, near the Gas Works, was re-
ported miming. She bad gone to the park in one
of the vans conveying the youngest children, and
directly after tea those in charge of her were unable
to find her. Her absence, in spite of search and in-
quiry, caused some anxiety, which increased as the
evening advanced, though it was hoped that when
the school mustered to go home the lost one would
be found. Not so, however, and as she did not reach
the chapel with the others Mr. Long and Mr.
Sturges (the principal teachers), together with the
anxious parents and other, returned to Prior Park,
and were engaged till beyond midnight in looking
for the child, but without finding her. Notwith-
standing the search was renewed at daylight it still
proved fruitless, and well it might, for while these ,
steps were being taken the missing one had wan- '
dered to Teddick, beyond Swainswick, and there,
at nine o'clock at night, she was found. A boy,
living in the immediate locality,fortunately happened
to be out, and in a lane leading to a field he met the
child, who said she was going borne. On getting in
doors the boy told his parents (named Shipton), and
they at once went out, and the errant one was found
in an alarmed state and screaming. She was at once
taken to the cottage of the Shiptons and most kindly
treated, and, having said her prayers as if nothing
, was amiss, she was put to bed. On the following
morning a boy was despatched to filth with her.
The gratifying intelligence of her having bees found
reached the disconsolate parents and those who
had the charge of her at school long before she
arrived. The motive that led to the child's thus
wandering to a distance of five or six miles cannot
be explained. In going to the park the talked of
what she would do when there, and expressed her
determination of taking a cake home to her
mother. On receiving the cake at the time
it is supposed she proceeded to put her resolution
in force, and leaving the park got to Bath, but
losing her way in the labyrinth of streets wandered
on and on till she was providentially discovered. We
need hardly say that her temporary disappearance
caused considerable alarm and apprehension to all
concerned,and not least to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson,
from whose grounds she bad wandered.

THE FIVAIE BLONTON.—Amongat the thief attrac-
tions at the Dramatic Fete held in the Sydney Geirdens,
Bath, on Wednesday, was the Female Blondin, who, it
is agreed on all hands, fully established her claim to
wear the patronymic of the Hero of Niagara. In figure
she is rather pdite, but she manifests a courage equal to
that of the great Frenchman, and is not inferior to him
in the neatness and certainty with which she achieves
hot surprising evolutions. There is, too, another point
of resemblance between the two. Notwithstanding that
you see them poised high in the air, and traversing a
highway which a mouse would scarcely OM to travel,
they severally inspire you with a oonfidenee that they
are in safety. You do net look to see either of them
fall, yo.i have no dread of either's falling, but youTsnY
upon them with the assurance that you will see some
dazing and difficult feats successfully achieved. A sur-
prising act of the Female Blondin was the apparent ease
and confidence with which she walked backward oaths
slender cord. The certainty of balance with which she
stood on one leg in the very centre of the high rope was
another feature of the perfirinanee which won for her
loud expressions of commendation. Her lad, and
probably her most daring and difficult aid, was achieved
amidst a display of fireworks, which were discharged
all around her, and which, whilst they fit up her
figure so that it could be seen from all points, in no way
disconcerted her. Bbe was greatly applauded.
BRISTOL—The UNITE* Mirrucceirrr Csrunow.
—On Wednesday morning the United Methodist
Free Church annual assembly commenced its sittings
in Milk-street Chapel, BristoL There was a large
attendance of representatives, about 130 answering
to their names—that being the largest number pre-
sent sinoe the formation of the United Churches.
The president, the Rev. S. S. Barton. opened the
proceedings by giving out a hymn, after whioh two
of the brethren engaged in prayer. The Rev. W.
Reed, of London, and the Rev. John Gutteridga,
were respectively nominated for the office of presi-
dent. A ballot was taken, with the following
result :—Mr. Reed, 71; Mr. Gutteridge, 43. The
president-elect, who was received with loud ap-
plause, was then inducted into his office by the late
president, and proceeded to address the assembly.
Mr. C. Cheatham (Heywood) proposed that Mr. J.
Colman be re-elected to the office of connezional
secretary. Mr. H. F. Lewes (Bristol), objected to
the election of -persons over and over again to the
name office when there inn no necessity ice it. He
nominated the Rev. Thomas Hacking. The ballot
was thou taken, when there appeared 84 for Mr.
Colman, and 32 for Mr. Hacking Mr. Colman was
thereforedeclared re-elected, and the announcement
was received With applause.
THIS LATE REV. ROBERT EOHETT.—Ho was One
of those earnest men who, under the leadership of
Dr. Warren, seceded from the Wesleyan body, and
formed what was then called the Wesleyan Associa-
tion, but is now known as the United Methodist
Free Chnrches—a denornination containing some fifty
or sixty thousand members, and possessing great
vitality. Mr. Bokett took a prominent part in the
secession, and continued to the hour of his death an
eminent and unceasingly active member of this new
section of the great Wesleyan community. Possessing
an ample fortune, be devoted himself with exem-
plary zeal to the cause which he had espoused, and,
without a taint of wordly ambition, made himself a
name which was known and respected far beyond
the limits of his own immediate circle. No one
acquainted with his character or history can fail to
sympathise with his brethren in the loss they have
eustained.
AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH TN &MD PARH.—On
Thursday abont six o'clock in the afternoon, an awfully
sudden death occurred to 'one of the staff-sergeants
belonging to the Bristol Volunteer Rifle Corp., whilst
engaged at the rifle competition at Sneyd Park. At the
time above mentioned the oompetitors were engaged
firing at the different ranges in the field when a horse,
from a neighbouring field, came gallopping on to the
ground, and of course the bugles immediately sounded
the "cease firing" after which not a shot was fired.
Amongst those who went out for the purpose of getting
the animal out of the ranges was Staff-Sergeant Reeves,
a most intelligent and active man, just in the
prime and vigour of life. The horse hawing been
driven off the sergeant was in the act of returning to
his post when he suddenly threw out his arms and then
fell to the ground. At first it was supposed that
he had sprained his &nee, but after a moment
or two had elapsed, and no movement being visible,
several persons ran to his assistance. The staff and
other surgeons were immediately on the spot, Surgeon
Hors and Assistant-Surgeon Brock rendering ever assis-
tance in their power, but the unfortunate man was
found to be beyond recovery, the vital eprak having
fled for ever. The deceased, who was ama ed man,
• and resided at the cottage overhanging the field, was
carried off the ground by four riflemen to hisi,FlB. On
; their way thither the bearers of the corp e wt met by
the widow, and the scene was then one of he most
heartrending character, the shrieks of the paw woman
being heard all over the ground. It was stated that the
deceased had been • sufferer from heart disease for
several years, and it is supposed that his death resulted
from that complaint. The sadden death of the deceased

the i

created • profound sensation amongst all present, an&
the tiring for the prizes, which was resumed after the,
body was removed, WU 1000 discontinued for the even-
ing. Previous to the men leaving the ground a sub-
scription for the benefit of the widow was vary thought-
fully started by Sergeant Bingbani, and it was not long
before £lO was subscribed in hard cash, while promises
for other 4:15 were received. Mejor Payne has kindly
consented to act as treasurer, and subscriptions will
be received by him and by Mr. Bale, at the inn on the,
ground.