The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-06-04 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

t-7/s—tx—iTifraid of my being childish. Is she very dread.
Iful, guardy ?'

''S-he is the sweetest and most kind-hearted woman
I know,' Mr. Jarvis said. i You ought to be very
happy in her house, my dear. She is cheerful, and
likes pleasant people about her. You will not lack
amusement! and Frank will always be welcome
there.'

Oh, yes. Frank, of course,' Miss Ramsay re-
sponded. Frank would have to be allowed to visit
me I suppose wherever I went. Guardy, will there be
time before we go for mej to see the Temple Church?
You said the last time I was in London that I should
go in; but there was something going on and I
didn't.'

'Plenty of time, my dear. It is a very interesting
place ; we will go across directly we have finished our
dinner.'

Again Miss Ramsay had contrived to dispose of the
subject of her future husband, and this time the lawyer
noticed it.

• She doesn't like talking about it, perhapa; he said;
a little shy on the matter, I dare say. Well, Frank
will set all that right when they meet. He is a lucky
fellow—his life will not be spoilt like mine was.'
Helen's hat was soon donned, its very simplicity
making her loveliness all the more remarkable, and
causing dry old lawyers and impecunious clerks alike
to stare at her, and wonder who the beautiful girl
could be that Mr. Hedderwick Jarvis had got hold of.
It was a striking face. A bonny English face, with
rippling hair above it of a soft brown that took
golden gleams where the sun caught it. Taken
separately, rerhaps there was not a perfect feature to
be found. The nose was tip-tilted; and gave an ex-
pression of sauciness to the bright eyes and the rosy
lips that seemed made to be kissed. Helen's mouth
was by no means of the prunes and prism' order ;
it was honest and firm. No one could imagine a
falsehood or even a conventional fib issuing from be-
tween the straight white teeth, or the eyes drooping
before anyone with hesitation or shame.
In figure Mr. Jarvis's ward was tall, rather over than
under the middle height, but lithe and graceful, with
an easy carriage that showed the lessons of Miss
Pemberton and her teacher of dancing had not been
thrown away; Helen's governess had been a judicious
friend as well as a conscinitions schoolmistress, and her
education had lacked nothing that could make her a
perfect lady. She was to the manner born, ready made
in that respect, as her mother had been before her, and
her guardian could hardly believe in the years that
had gone by and substituted the daughter for the
mother as he watched her graceful movements and
listened to the bright tones of her fresh young voice.
Mrs. Jarvis, at Norwood, was in her very stiffest
and most uncongenial mood while her husband and
his ward were wandering through the Temple Church,
and Helen was asking more questions than the lawyer
with all his knowledge of antique lore could answer.
She was annoyed about Miss Ramsay altogether. She
did not actually want her husband's ward in her
house ; but she would have liked to be the directress
of her future and the counsellor in the new life that
was so soon to begin for her. It was monstrous that
Mr. Jarvis should separate this girl from his own
house in this fashion, and she issued an ediat that
Miss Helen Ramsay should be as it were a tabooed
creature, and not even talked about amongst them-
selves at home.
But papa will be sure to bring her here,' remarked
Miss Jaavis, Phyllis by name. IWe shall have to talk
to her then, I suppose?'
Of course we must be civil,' her mother said; but
I will have no intimacy struck up with her, girls,
remember that. I don't want my house turned into
anything like that Hillford Place.'
'That Hillford Place' was the home to which Helen
was going, as pretty and cheerful a place as anyone
could desire to live in, with the spirit of perfect free-
dom prevading everybody and everything about it,
but an orderly Christian household for all that. In
their heart of hearts both Phyllis and Henrietta
wished that their own home was as genial. They
wearied sometimes of the rigid decorum that was
their mother's pride.
Ma, here's Mr. Hatherleigh and his cousin!'
It was the younger Miss Jarvis who spoke from her
coign of vantage by the window that commanded
most of the drive in front of the house.
What can they want here ?' Mrs. Jarvis said, rising
hastily, but with a pleased look withal; for though
Frank Hatherleigh was a nobody and worse than no-
body, being already appropriated, the cousin of whom
her daughter spoke avis a highly eligible young man, a
clergyman holding a good position and free, which
latter fact was more to the purpose than anything,
for the Misses Jarvis, though still very young, were
of marriageable age, and had the misfortune from
their extreme primness and decorum to look consider-
ably older than their years. Young men of the right
sort were scarce, and the advent of Horace Gayford
was always a source of pleasure.
'I suppose Mr. Hatherleigh thinks he will see Miss
Ramsay here,' Mrs. Jarvis said, with a vinegary voice.
He would-naturally suppose that her guardian would
bring her here, instead of taking her away to that
place as if she were something too precious to he
brought near his wife and daughters. Of course lam
• at home, ,Danvers,' she added sharply to the servant
who had entered to ask the question before admitting
the visitors. Show the gentleman up at once.'
I'll take my oath she said she was at home to no
one not an hour ago,' muttered the aggrieved Danvas,
as he left the room discomfited; • but there's never
any knowing how to take her. No wonder the
master's taking the young lady somewhere else. She
wouldn't have much peace of her life in_this.house.

He ushered the gentlemen into the drawing-room,
where they were received with as much warmth as
the lawyer's wife ever permitted herself to show,
Frank Hatherleigh looking round him with something
of disappointment.
Isn't Fairy here, Mrs. Jarvis?' he asked. • I beg
your pardon, I mean Miss Ramsay, of course. I
always call her Fairy myself, you know, and it slipped
out.' _

No, she is not here,' was the chilling answer; we
do not expect her. She was to go straight to Hillford:
And we have just come from there. We've made
a muddle of it somehow. The fact is I forgot whether
Mr. Jarvis told me he would bring her here or
not, and I called at Mrs. Churchill's and found no one
in but the servant., and she didn't seem to know more
than that everything was ready for Fairy when she
came, and as my cousin was coming up to town I
thought I would come with him and see if she were
here with you.
'I think I can arrange that she shall be,' Mrs. Jarvis
said. If you gentlemen will stop and have a
scrambly sort of tea with us. We dined early to-day,
being alone; so we are equal to a high tea, if you can
eat such a meal, and I will write a note to my husband
and ask him to bring Miss Ramsay here for the night.
(To bo continuti4

THE BATH AND VEST OF ENGLAND; APPALLING COLLIERY :-AOCIDENT7TIC—
SHOW. SCOTLAND.
This the oldest of the leading agricultural associa. High Blantyre is a colliery village, situated about
tions of the kingdom opened its annual show at Dor- three miles from Hamilton, and in the midst of the
cheater on Monday, under the presidency of the Earl great coal-field for which the county of Lanark is
of Ilchester. This is not the first time that the capital famous. The pit in which a terrible calamity has
of the county of Dorset has had the honour of receiv- occurred is owned by the Udston Coal Company, and
jug the veteran association, Dorchester having been employs a large number of hands. The seam is
visited in 1872. The bad weather which almost known to be one of the most fiery in Scotland. On
traditionally dogs the steps of the society was on this Saturday morning the usual complement of men
occasion absent; consequent on the fact, also, that it descended the IL7dston Pit; the actual number,
was Bank Holiday the attendance was large. The however, being at present uncertain. The colliery
Prince of Wales this year not only bestowed his has four shafts —an nixed and a downcast
patroeage on the society, but arranged to honour shaft—to each of the two pits. Just after
it with his presence on Thursday, the first shilling half-past rine o'clock a terrible explosion
day. The show yard, though a short distance told of a fearful disaster. Immediately after-
from the town, is readily accessible by road, and wards a volume of flame burst from No. 2
within convenient distance of the Great Northern and Pit, and then from around all the district anguish-
South-Western Railway stations. Numerically the stricken women and children ran to the pithead.
entries were strong, being greatly above the average, Many experienced colliery managers came forward
though nearly 100 less than those at Bristol last year. with valuable practical suggestions, and offers to lead
The prizes offered exceeded .£2500, the amount being exploring parties into the pit. Three of the shafts
apportioned pretty much as on former occasions, were blocked, the cages haying become jammed; but
For horses liberal premiums were offered, especially in the upcast No. 2 shaft three men were engaged
for those of the agricultural class; the total of the in examining the shaft, and when the report
entries of all classes was 930. The cattle, Devon occurred the men at the top commenced to draw
(numbering 56 entries), Shorthorn (45), Hereford up this cage. On reaching the surface one of
(46), and Sussex breeds (31), had each seven classes, three, a lad named M‘Gurky, was found to be dead.
The Jersey and Guernsey breeds were in strong force, The others were only slightly injured. The
there being no lens than 203 entries. A gold colliery managers at once set about putting this
medal was offered by the English Jersey Cattle Society shaft in order, and selected a band of workers from
for the best Jersey cow or heifer bred in England. the scores of volunteers who pressed forward to offer
Special prizes of silver medals were also given by the their services to form a rescue party. The cage was
English Guernsey Cattle Society. The ordinary prizes safely lowered to the first part of the workings—the
were offered for sheep and pigs, and in addition upper of the Ell seam, 113 fathoms from the surface,
special prizes for local (Somerset and Dorset) horned and here all the men, numbering 41, were found
sheep, and the local Dorchester Agricultural Society alive, though much overcome by after-damp. With
gave various prizes in the cattle and sheep classes. As care they were brought to the surface, wrapped in
may be looked for in a district so famous for its dairy blankets, and sent to their homes. Then the ex-
produce, the rivalry in butter-making excited a special plorers heard calls for help from the middle or main
interest, and the poultry department was regarded as seam. Some of the imprisoned boys were sobbing
unusually excellent. To suit various tastes, there bitterly, and the rescue party redoubled their efforts
were, in addition to the mere exhibition of agricultural to release their comrades from their living tomb.
stock, implements and machinery and poultry, with But it was not until some hours had
the working dairy, the usual competition in horse- passed that the shaft was sufficiently cleared
shoeing, an art gallery, a choice flower show, and the to enable the descent to be continued. At length
field implement trials which went on in meadows the main seam was reached, and the rescuers found
adjacent to the show ground, and which were open 37 men in this seam alive, and four dead. These
to all-comers. were sent up by the cage, and the scene at the pit-
The interest in Monday's proceedings centered in head was then of the most harrowing descrip-
the judges' inspection of the stock within the" wooden tion. Wives and mothers pressed round the pit,
walls" of the show-yard and in their awards. These some wringing their hands and sobbing, as one after
officials began their important work early in the another of the rescued appeared, and still no sign of
day, and although sticking closely to their their own dear ones. Every one of the saved was
work they had hardly completed their awards eagerly questioned as to the prospects of those below;
before the closing of the yard-doors for the first day. but the information gleaned failed to furnish a ray of
In the horse classes the competition was very keen., hope. Presently word was sent up the shaft that dead
The first prize for agricultural stallions was won by , bodies had been found. The first which was brought
Mr. R. Loder's Clydesdale Julius, and for thorough- to the surface was that of James M‘Tavish, who was
bred hunter stallions the premier honours were taken unmarried, and lived with his father. His features
by Mr. H. W. Freeman, of Bath, with his Khamson. looked peaceful, and he must have succumbed
The cattle was a very important display, several of immedietely to the effects of the after-damp. The
the most noted breeders being represented. Mr. A. body was conveyed in an ambulance to his home. In
Skinner, Bishop's Lydiard, won the blue ribbon for a a little space the cage came up again, and in it
Devon bull of his, General Gordon, beating animals was the body of an old man, named James Rich-
entered by Sir J. Williams, Mr. Farthing, Mr. Fryer, mond. The poor man had been stricken down
Mr. Walter, and others. Mr. Bickle's Master Prim beside his son, who was brought up along with his
11. won first prize for a Devon bull, calved in 1885, father's corpse. The son was very pale, but after
Mr. Walter's fempter 11. being second. Sic W. Wil- receiving medical aid he recovered slightly. Several
liams's Flame was the best Devon cow in the show. other bodi, s were subsequently brought to the surface.
The shorthorn-bull first prizes were taken in their The scene 7t.s very heartrending when the volunteer
respective classes by Mr. Handley's Reformer, party announced to the waiting women that there was
Ingram's Fame, and Self Conceit. The Earl of no hope for the men in the Splint seam, where it was
Coventry succeeded in carrying off a first in the Here- conjectured that 70 men were at work. Without ltes
ford bull class, with his magnificent Rare Sovereign; of time the explorers put forth every effort to reach
and in the same section, for a bull calved in 1885, Mr. the Splint or lower seam. Rapidly the mass of
Tudge, of Ludlow, was first with Regent. The fol- obstruct'on was cleared out of the way, and at
lowing were first in the Sussex bull classes: Mr. God- fere o'clock the gallant band had reached the
men, Godalming ; Mr. It. Whitehead, Crawley; and entrance to the workings. Here the pathways
Mr. J. S. Hodgson, Haslemere. The best Jersey were found blocked up by falls of coal
bull, calved in 1883 or 1884, was Mr. T. L. and broken hatches. Notwithstanding. however,
Brown's Lord Regan; and Mr. J. B. Cole's the almost insuperable difficulties in their way, two of
pretty little cow Beauty beat several famous the brave fellows crawled through the debris into the
winners. All the sheep classes were well filled. Mr lamp cabin, where they found Alex. Maclean, a young
R. Harrison, Grosmont, Yorkshire, was first for Lei- man of 22, lying dead. Other dead men were also
cester two shear rams, and Mr. Strickland, Think, seen lying around, and the explorers could only come
was similarly placed for shearling ram. Mr. Swan- to the conclusion that the whole of the 70 men in
wick, Cirencester, took first honours for Cob Wold, this part of the workings had seccumbed. Still
being the only exhibitor. Mr. Rigden, Hythe, was volunteers persevered undauntedly, working in relays,
the only exhibitor in the Kentish section, and won clearing the roads and restoring the ventilation with
first prize in each class. There was a large entry in the hope that come spark of life might still be found
the local classes. The pig classes were closely filled, in some of the unconscious ones entombed in the work-
first prize for Berkshires felling to executors of Mr. ings. Several of the survivors who were in the two
A. Stewart, Gloucester; Mr. C. E. Duckering, Lind- upper seams et the time of the explosion have made
soy , • Mr. N. Bengafield, Motcomb ; Mr. G. Vincent,
statements respecting their own experiences, but they
. . . . _

DOrchester ; and-othere. There was a good display
of butter and cheese. The working dairy was a great

attraction.
In anticipation of the Royal visit the town was
very handsomely decorated, and the inhabitants Tied
with each other in their efforts of loyal display.

_g tne. _
do not throw much light on the origin of the explo-
sion which occurred in the lowest working. An
_ _

intelligent lad named Alexander M‘Lean, who was in
the Ell seam, states that after the explosion he heard
men shouting in the main coal bottom. Having an
uncle and cousin working in the Splint, he was
anxious to know how the men in that part of the
workings had fared. So he called to the men whose
shouts he had heard, and asked if they could com-
municate with those in the Splint. Somebody shouted
an answer, but he could make nothing of it, owing
to the noise caused by the shrieking, crying, and
sobbing of the boys in the next seam.
Telegraphing at a late hour on Saturday night, a
correspondent said: The rescuing party have brought
up the shaft 40 bodies in all. Half a dozen of theee
could not be identified, the features having been
burned completely away.
Exploration for the bodies of the men killed in the
explosion at the Udston Colliery, near Glasgow, was
continued during Sunday night and on Monday morn-
ing, and by noon a total of 62 had been brought to
the bank. It was believed that the bodies of eight
more men lie buried under the debris, but, as the
ventilation is in a very unsatisfactory state, and much
rubbish had to be removed, it was not expected that
the remaining dead will be reached for about eight
days.
The Queen telegraphed on Monday afternoon as
follows: " Her Majesty is greatly distressed to learn
of the terrible accident. Kindly express her deep
sympathy with the sufferers and their families. The
Queen hopes that many more may still be rescued."
Mr. Ralph Moore telegraphed back that there was no
hope of the remainder of the miners being saved, and
that up to that time 40 bodies had been brought up
from the pit.