biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

THE VALUE OF A COLLIER'S LIFE.

In the Court of Exchequer, in the case of "Smalley
v. the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company
Mr. Henchell, Q.C., moved for • rule nisi for • new
trial on the ground of the damages being excessive.
This was an actin tried at the last maize* for Liver-
pool, before Mr. Justice Brett, when a verdict wee re-
turned for the plaintiff with £1,041 6d. damage'. On
this verdict being given, the learned judge stayed exe-
cution, expressing a strong opinion that the damages
were excessive. Plaintiff was the widow al • collier,
who was killed in an accident which occurred on the
defendant.' line of railway. At the time of him death
he wan aged 43. He had been in the habit of earning
• little more than £2 • week, but only brought that
amount to the household. The jury awarded by their
verdict ten years' wages, estimating it at the rata of £2
a week.
The learned counsel now reminded the Court, that
• collier by the nature of ids employment necessarily
Incurred many flee, and, therefore, it wasnatemenable
to suppose that if he had not met with this accident he
would havecontinned for ten years earning this amount.
He had seven children. The jury did not give any
pat of the verdict to the eldest eon on the ground that
he was maintaining himself. They gave the widow
£270 and the mix children various sums—to the youngest
the smallest amount, namely, £7O. The accident
occurred on the 13th of January, whilst the train wan
proceeding from Charley to Wigan, when • collision
occurred which so injured the plaintiff's husband that
he died in three week. aitentards.
Tim Coatt granted the appliostkm.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

THE WRECK REGISTER.

The Wreck Register for the year 1872, which has )(Ist
been published, allows an increase of 353 on the previons
year. 1,958 wrecks having occurred in 1872, ageinat
1 575 in 1871. Of this total number of *recta in 1872,
409 are reported as due to collisions, while 1,549 were ,
wrecks and casualties other than collision.. Of these,
again, 439 were wreck. reeultin„ in total loes and 1,110
w.-re casualitirs restiltine in partial damage of. more
or lean gerions nature. Upon an average in the United
Kingdom for the last seventeen years the annual tum.er
of total losees appears to I, 472, and of casualties
resulting in pArtial damage 748, so that the number
of wrecks of the former character in the year
1872 seems to be somewhat under and of those
of the latter character considerably over the
annual average. Of the 439 total losses from causes
other than c dlisiole, 159 are reperted as having been
caused by .Ir,sa of weather, 56 arose from defects in
the ebbe or in her equipments (and of these 56 no less
than 40 appear to have foundered from unseaworthi.
nese), while 109 appear from the reports of officers on
the coasts to have been caused by inattention, carelees.
nose, or neglect; and the remainder to have arisen from
various Ocher CAMPS. Of the 1,110 casualties resulting
in partial damage (ran Mines other than collisions on
an I rear the conga of the United Kingdom, it appears
that 524 were cense i Icy stress of weather, 229 by mei.
lewinese. and 157 from defects .11 the ship or her equip.
mental. It nrther appears that, including the 56 referred
above seo ships have foundered, or been in other
ways totslly lost in the last elevon years from ULM,.
worthiness or unsound gear ; while the casnalities
attended only by partial damage, arieing from the
same discreditable cause, amount within the same
period to 812; last year alone contributing, as above
stated, no fewer than 157 cf the whole. These figures
possess an elognence of their own, which we will not
mar by any comment upon them (remark. the Pall Mall
Gazette). We earnestly commend them to the noticeof
the Royal Commission on the resumption of their sit.
tinge and we trust they may receive a little of that
"serious consideration" which has been hitherto, we
think, aomewhat monopolised by.the " interests of
_the
British shipowner,"
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

HtLLOWE'EN AT BALMORAL CASTLE.

The old Scottish festival of Hallowe'en, the ob-
Bereaves of -which bee gradually been falling into
neglect in Scotland, ha. of late year. been revived
on Deeside, and this year unusual preparations
wen made at Balmoral Castle to celebrate the
occasion. Shortly before six o'clock on Friday
evening (the 31et ), the cottager., gUile., and
labourers from the eastern part of the Balmoral
estate mustered some distance to the east end of the
castle, and four abreast, each man carrying a torch.
In this form they proceeded up the western avenue,
and were met by her Majesty, who, in her carriage,
was escorted by the tenantry on the western part of
her domains, also carrying torchlight.. The two bodies
here joined, and all marched in the direction of the
°retie headed by the Qneen's pipers. Playing ePPro•
priate ain. On arriving at the main entrance to the
oestle her Majesty alighted from her carriage and,
preceded by the pipers and followed by the large body
of torch-bearing tenantry, walked on foot by the west
side of the nestle. Having completed the circuit of the
castle, the procession again halted in front of the prin-
cipal doorway, where dancing was begun, to the strains
of the hedipiPes, by the light of a bonfire. Reels and
strathspeys followed each other in quick ancoession, her
Majesty remaining an interested spectator until a Late
hour in the night.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

DUDLEY.

THE HCEST HoSPITAL.—At the last ordinary meeting
of the members of the Dudley and District Licensed
Victrallee Friendly and Piotection Society, it was rt.
so,ved that an annual euir,criptiou of .E 4 4s, should be
made to the timrst Hospital. The first subscription has
since been forwarded to the secretary, by Mr. W. Chel-
lingsworth, President of the ASsOCiatiOn-
HOLLY HALL CrieliCEL—At a special service held on
Sunday last, at which a number of friendly societies
were present, the sum of £l4. was collected on behalf of
the finest Hospital.
PERWITTINti • NIIIBAKCI.—At the Police Court, on
, Monday, John Round, of Hares Hill, was charged by
Mr. Henry Burton, sanitary inspector, with keeping
swine so as to be a nut,snee. The inspector said he
found a very filthy pigstye on defendant's premises. and
the offensive matter was 0 ming into an adjoining pint
in such qaantittes that the neighbours were linable to
walk across their premises. Defendant luta bees sum-
moned before, and the Case had been adjourned for him
abst the nuisauce.—Tue Ilene i soul the case was a
very serious Os-, and tined defendant 104 and costs.
Defendant said he had already lust £2 by killing the
pigs before this proper time.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08


WORLD FAMED

Rofm rviixTu_RE,J

irrade Kirk,—'4 Mood kfts-ture." -
Tin GREAT 1111.11011 NOIRE! & lUTM
S lilN DISHASKS, Xruptiotis, Blutelmm,
Ulcerated or L. tll4 Sleek tilanthatar
havihngs, Casa ma Ulceu. Inpole, Pimples,
l'uatu!ev, Carhuvelev, Ifitngwornia, Scald
Braila, Sore Iys.Uzysipelea Ital., Henry..
Itiaeblorationa of the akin, Itanmon,
Dieramea of the Skin of whatever auto Oit
'adore, are literally etitrixl out a the aystent
in a abort Cul° by the ore of this werld-facued
Medicine.

THOUSANns 01 TYsTIMONIALR ITO!' ALL PARTS.
IMPORTANT ADVICE TO ALL.—Clexuse
the vitiated blood whenever roe And its iiik-
Flnties bursting through the akin in pimples,
eruptions, or sores ; Otiose it ahem you Ind
it obstruciad and sluggish ia the mire ; dames
it when it is foal, sad year faeliesim will tall
you when. }Peep Ups blood pare, mid the
health of the system will follow.
Av this sustain is pleasant to the Mate, and
warranted free from anything iojarions to tbe
roost delicate constitution of saber ate, Ma
Proprietors solicits sufferers to giro it • trial
to kit its value.
(JLARKE'S NVOBLD.FAMED BLOOD
111k1 URN; is Sold in Bottle. 2. 3d each, aikit in
Cases. containing six time, the quality, lie each--
sufficient to effect a permanent cars in the went
majority of long-standing awns, by all Chstaists DD4
Patent Atedieins Venders tbriughoni Um Untied Km&
don and the world, or sent to apy address cos aweigh
of 27 or 132 stators, by tin Proprietor,
P. J. CLARJEK,CusausT, Apothipessi4
Wholesale: All Patiot Malicia, Houses.
L0141)051 Makin : 150 OXFORD STILEST.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

ROWLEY LOCAL BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of this Board 'was held
on Monday last, Mr, Alfred ;Haden Barre in the
chair. There were also present :—Messrs. Guest,
Bassano, Penn, Hodgetts, Bennett, Taylor, and
Plant. . . .

The Clerk read the minutes of the last meeting
which were confirmed.

_
Messrs. Hall and Yates, waited upon the Board
as a deputation from the ratepayers of Queen-st.,
Old Hill, asking the Board that the street may be
put in proper repair.
Mr. Hall said there was only one dissentient, a
mail named Talbot, who was living at the corner
of the street.

The Clerk said it would be spending the money
of the ratepayers, if Talbot did not agree to pay
his proper portion of the expenses.
Mr. Burgess said the street was not more than
three chains long.
The Chairman remarked that if Talbot did not
sign the memorial; it would cost him a lot of
money.
Mr. Hall said Talbot did not want to pay any
more money than the other ratepayers, although
he had three times more land.
The Chairman said if the street was in such a
bad condition, the ratepayers should do it them-
selves, and then dedicate it to the parish. A new
street ought to be put and kept in good repair be-
fore the parish had anything to do with it. He
thought it would be advisable to take the mem-
orial back, and see if they could get Talbot to
sign it.
Mr. Whitehouse said he would call upon Mr.
Talbot, and the question was deferred until the
next meeting of the Board.
The tender of Messrs. Rack and Cartwright,
amounting to £173 10s., for the repair of been.
street, Cradley Heath, was accepted.
The question of numbering
.honses and naming
streets, was adjourned for a month.
rho Clerk said, according to instructions, he had
written to the Great Western Railway Company,
in reference to the bridge at Old Hill Station, but
they had only acknowledged the receipt of his
letter.

The Chairman said there had nothing been done
in the matter.

On the motion of Hr. Taylor, seconded by Mr.
Guest, a resolution was passed to the effect," That
two accidents having happened at the railway
bridge, at Old Hill Station, and the Great West-
ern Railway Company having been applied to
twice to abate the nuisance, and not having done
so, the Board consider it advisable for the safety
of the public, to apply to the Board of Trade on
the subject.''
In reference to the drainage question at Black-
heath, the Surveyor was ordered to see the owners
of property in order to ascertain whether they
would be willing to pay.their necessary proportion
of the elpeuses.

The Mortality Return showed, small-pox eases,
0; fever,l6:; diarrhoea, 3; other causes, 32; total,
4-,.

There was no other business.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

LOSS OF Emir LIVES.

On Tumidity • lamentable addition was made to the
list of casualties that have hitherto treceded the anni-
versary of the " Gunpowder Plot." In this instance
the calamity occurred at No. 50, Broadetreet, L4Ol-
- The home in question is the centre one of •
block of three rather old and low buildings, there
being an arch of the London and South .Western Rea-
way on one side and • narrow turning on the other.
In the parlour at No. 50 lived Ralph Fenwick. •
pyrotechnic artist. At about ten minutes to nine
o'clock on Tuesday morning several reports were
beard, but it being foggy at the time most of the neigh-
bonze and persons proceeding in the direction thought
they were the reports of fog-signals on the railway.
The mischief, however, which was going on was soon
apparent. Another very load report was heard;
flames burst forth from the parlour window; and the
fotce of the explosion was such as to blow Mr. Fen-
wick through the window on to the pavement. The
excitement at this moment became very great, and •
most agonising come was occasioned by an elderly
woman presenting herself at the first floor window
with a child in her arms and with • little girl stand-
ing by her side screaming for help. The ftemes had
caught the wooden ratans in front of the home,
and the fire was rapidly ascending; and in vain did
Police-constable Dimity entreat the poor creature to
"throw 'em out," adding, " catch 'ens," similar
advise being also given by Mr. Sanderson, who lived
next doer. The unfortunate (centimes way seen to
fall beck to perish in the Galen That Fentrick's wife
had fallen • sacrifice was beyond all doubt, and the
work of destruction had made sash ravages as to render
hoe the idea of saving the lives of those known
to beat the top of the home. In the meantime the
(Hamster had Mem ted • number of engines to the mot,
and, under the guidance of Captain Shaw, the wank of
the brigade soon begin to t
The hones where the exploidon occurred may be said
to be entirely shattered, the ben walls alone remaining-
the
house numbered 49 has been severely burned and
the roof destroyed; whilst to that numbered 51 muck
damage has been 000asioned. When this mins were In
a fit condition to enter the firemen went In In search of
the saffesere, and the dead bodies of the following_ were
foiled t—Balph leavirk, aged 44; Jamie rand* (hh

.Not
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

BOA RI ) OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this Board was held
yesterday; Mr. Granger in the chair. There
sp.ire also preseni. :—Messrs. Brooks, Billingliam,
Ruodes, Fiddiao, Parlws, Baker. Guest, Rill,
Griffin, Wood, B. Homer, and Wright. The
minutes of the last meeting were read end con-
firm, il. Admitted into the house during the
Welk, 13; 41 scharged, 8; born 0; dead, 4 re-
-812. Correspondiug week laqt year,.
076. Out. Ivor relief: Itinr4w;-ford district,

£24 10e 7d; Stonrbridge district, £l7 14s ;
Halesowen district, £l6 19s 6d; relief of non-
resident paupers, 7s 61 ; total, £lO lie 10/d ;
against £62 de 3d, last year.
James Thompson, hairdresser, application for
an increase of salary, which was not enter.
tamed.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-08

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

On Monday, • young man. about twenty years of
age, was brought before Mr. Raffles, the stipendiary
magistrate at Liverpool, .barged with the wilful mur-
der of his mother. It appeared that on Saturday even-
ing last the prisoner, who lived along with his parents
in Chieenhalastreet quarrelled with his mother about
his supper not being ready for him. He became very
violent, and struck her several blows, knocking her
down on the or, and while she was there kicking her.
He seizrd her repeatedly by the hair and dashed her on
the floor again, and when she was almost unable to move
he placed his hands on • table in the room and for some
time leaped and danced en her body. He afterwards
poured a quantity of cold water over her. The pri-
soner then moulted • man named Canavan, a lodger
In the same house, who had interfered to prevent the
outrage. His mother, hearing this, crept upstairs,
whither he followed her, using foul language. He
caught her and pitched her headlong downstairs, at
the foot of which she lay as if dud. Following up the
murderous attack he dragged her into the kitchen, and
beat her savagely with the buckle-end of • stout strap
which he took from his waist. He was about to cot
her throat with • knife, when an alarm was raised and
he desisted. When at the police-court he preserved •
stolid demeanour throughout the hearing of the evi-
dence. He was remanded till Friday. Me deceased
woman sustained some frightful injuries. Ono contused
wound on the head was an inch loom and penetrated to
the bone, and !leveret of the ribs were broken.