The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-12-18 00:00:00

THE LIFEBOAT DISASTER.
MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN.

The hearing was resumed on Monday for the
thirteenth time.
Dr. Braxton Hicks, having attended Lady Colin in
conjunction with Mr. Bird, and having in October
performed an operation upon her, gave it as his
opinion that the respondent had never had a mis-
carriage. Nothing was said to him as to the crigin of
the lady's condition. He was examined and cross-
examined at the last trial, but no suggestion of mis-
carriage was then made. In consequence of a ques-
tion addressed to witness by a juryman as to the
-nature of Lady Colin's indisposition, the judge said
that the circumstance that Lady Colin was suffering
from a disease imparted taler by her husband was a
fact that they were all bound to accept at the outset
of this ease. That had been decided by a jury at the
last trial, and neither he nor they had a right to go
behind that verdict. Mr. Finlay put Dr. Braxton
Hicks Through a severe technical examination bearing
upon the condition of Mary Watson and Lady Cohn.
Dr. G. Barnes, of St. George's Hospital, gave evidence
in corroboration of Dr. Braxton Hicks' statements.
Two men in the employ of tho Midland Railway
Company traced the delivery of a parcel to Cadogan-
place on August 13, 1883. Valerie Kourtzrnan,
formerly Lady eolith maid, was examined through
an interpreter, and spoke to receiving and signing for
a parcel that day (deposed by others to be a parcel of
grouse). Lord Colin was in Scotland at that time.
She did not see any grouse about afterwards. She
knew Lady Colin went to the Carmelite Church that
morning, as she (witness) lent her a Prayer-book, I
'Lady Colin not possessing a Catholic book of devo-
tion. In August Lady Colin was never away from
Cadogan-place while Lord Colin was in Scotland,
except once. Then witness packed up a pair of lawn
tennis shoes for her; she was going to Pixholm.
Annie Brown, in the service of Lord and Lady
Colin from July to September in 1882, as cook, said
she recollected Lord and Lady Colin leaving home to
go into the country. She remembered a parcel
arriving from Scotland from Lord Colin on a Sunday,
—Sir C. Russell: Are you sure your mistress slept at
home that night F—Yes. The parcel was, she added,
brought down to the kitchen and opened. There were
four or five brace of grouse. She recollected Lady
Colin putting up one or two brace and taking
them with her when she went out to tea that
evening. She bad no doubt about the day being Sun-
day. O'Neill was in the service of Lady Colin while
she was there.—Sir C. Russell: Did he ever call your
attention to a suspicious noise overhead in the dining-
room ?—No, never. You are quite sure about that?
—Yes, positive.
Stephen Walter Ansell, butler to Sir Philip Miles,
stated that be was in London on Sunday, August 13,
and oh that date Lady Colin brought some grousa to
Lady Miles. He was at Leigh Court at Christmas,
1881, when Lady Colin came. The Duke of Marl-
borough was not there. Lady Miles kept a book in
which visitors' names were entered. At Easter Lady
Cohn was at Leigh, and Lord Blandford was there.
Lady Colin occupied room 29, and Lord Blandford
room 37 or 38—the opposite side of the house. The
two did not leave on the same day. In cross-exami-
nation witness stated that a fortnight ago he was asked
about the number of Lady Colin's room. He had
thought the thing over since a report appeared of this
trial. When Lord Blandford went to Leigh Court
he took his servant with him. Whatever the number
was, Lady Colin's room was next to that of Sir Philip
Miles.
Mr. Frank Miles, o Tite-street, Chelsea, an artist,
and first cousin to Sir Philip Miles, said he remem-
bered calling on Lady Miles on Sunday, A.ugust 13.
Lady Collin called and brought in some grouse. He
recollected the circumstance, as he chaffed her about
having to do with poachers. That was the first time
he ever saw her.
Mr Neptune Blood, brother of Lady Colin, deposed
that i.e was present at the family council in 1883. His
father made a certain accusation against Lord Colin.
The visit of Colonel Butler was spoken about, and Lord
Cohn said he did not wish to say one word against
Colonel Butler. From the 11th to the 15th of August
witness's wife was at Chepstow. He received letters
from her while there. Be took tea with his mother
on Sunday, the 13th, at Thurloe-square. He used
to call his sister (Lady Colin) "Tim." On that
occasion he saw Lady Colin at tea. He had not
the least doubt about the date. Witness was at Leigh
Court, at Christmas, 1881. Neither Lord Blandford
nor Captain Shaw was present. He recollected Mrs.
Levitt'a Ball on July 13, 1883. His wife and Mrs
Bolton left before the ball was over. Witness and
Lady Colin stayed until the end. They drove home
to Cadogan -place. He was almost sure he went into
the home with her. It was more than likely that he
was smoking, as it was his habit. He knew the
woman-servant Brown, now Hawke. One night Lady
Colin came round to Thurloe-square, and said one of
her servants had refused to obey her orders, and
said she would not go after notice had been given her.
She asked witness to go round the next morning and
put her out of the house, and he did so. Since the
question arose about O'Neill's evidence, Mr. Blood
added, he bad been to look at the door of the dining-
room in Cadogan-place. There were heavy breas
drops over the hole on both sides. The door was in
a recess and it was very difficult to get at the keyhole
so as to look through.—Sir C. Russell': Could you see
an object on the floor 6ft. from the door?—Witness :
Certainly not; it is impossible. The keyhole, owing
to its position being near the edge of the door, and
owing to the presence of the wall of the recess,
is di.ficult to get at.—What did you see the other
day ?—I only saw a gleam of light on the opposite
wall. I might see a chair, but I did not see the ground
at all.—What did you see with the largest range of
vision ?—lt was so indistinct what I did see that I
could not swear to any object at all.—At all events, as
far as you could move your eye up and down, you got
, the largest range of vision ?—There is no looking
about at all; you can just see through it. Cross-
examined by Mr. Finlay, witness stated that the room
I was a 12ft. room.—Mr. Fin-lay: Do you mean to say
you looked through the keyhole and could not see the
ground six feet from you ?—Yes; my recollection is
that I could not see the floor at all. We now know
the room is 12ft. across. Do you not know perfectly
well that you can see anything on the floor Oft. Ox
10ft, from the door F—No, I do not.—Did you try ?
I tried to see what I could.—Will you swear that,
looking through the keyhole, it is impossible to see
the floor before you see the wall opposite ?—I mean tc
say that I did not see it, and I looked my best.—Dc
you represent that no one can see it ?—I swear that
is my opinion.
Mrs. Neptune Blood, sister-in-law of Lady Colin,
said that she and her husband were very good corre-
spondents, and she always kept her husband's letters,
She could produce them all, arranged in years.-- Sir
C. Russell: A suggestion has been made that you
have concocted the letters in question, and that you
are a party to this concoction ?—The witness : lt's a
lie.
Eva Gordon, daughter of the late Dr. Gordon, said
she lived at Thornton Cottage with her mother. She
had known Lady Colin since 1879. She had been as-
sociated with her in all her charitable undertakings,
and been at concerts where she had been singing.
They organised some soup kitchens. She never had
any difficulty in finding or in getting access to Lady
Colin. The witness went to the house in Cadogan-
place while it was being decorated. They met Lord
Blandford, who expressed a wish to see the house,
and he went there. That was in the autumn of 1881.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon, mother of the last witness,
said she knew Lady Colin before marriage. She came
on a visit to witeess in 1882. There was a lawn-
tennis tournament on August 23 and 25. Lady Cohn
etayed the whole time.
Mrs. Blood, mother of Lady. Colin, stated that
during the last trial she was abroad through illness.
The first engagement between her daughter and Lord
Colin was without the witness's knowledge. After a
took place the marriage was from time to time fixed
and postponed. Her communication with the Duke
of Argyll was by letter, dated May, 1881. It made
no mention of pressure as regarded the marriage, and
referred generally to money matters and provision to
be made for Lord Colin and Miss Blood on their mar-
riage.—Sir C. Russell: Is there the slightest pretence
for saving that you coerced or premed Lord Colin
into the marriage F—Certainly not. The witness
continued that in May of 1882 she could see that her
daughter was suffering in health. Lord Colin told
her that be bad to undergo a slight operation for
fistula. She had not the smallest idea from what he
suffered. Lord Blandford visited her daughter,
and there were no attempts at concealment.
it was 1885 before she regained her health. Until
the final rupture in that year, her daughter kept to
bersalf her physical condition, and made no reproach
against her husband. Witness remembered the pre-
sent of grouse to her daughter from Lord Colin, who
sent them from Scotland. It was in August, 1883.
She remembered the family council, and what Mrs.
Bolton had said in reference to the charge against
I Colonel Butler.
Cross-examined Mrs. Blood stated that she never
said to Mr. Propert that her daughter had been com-
promised, and that the marriage must take place.
She knew that Lord Colin and her daughter would
have to occupy separate rooms; but she did not press
on the marriage. It was no reason for postponing
the marriage. She never said to Lord Colin that her
daughter would be glad to act as his nurse. She
should bare been pleased if the marriage had not taken
place. Lord Cohn urged the marriage on. She did
not say to him that the state of his hea'th would be
no obstacle. Witness made Lord Blandfor ml's acquaint-
ance in Paris, and her daughter's assceiation with
Lord Blandford had her approval. She was quite
aware of the Duke of Marlborough's antecedents in
the Divorce Court, and considered him a fitting com-
panion for a beautiful young married woman. He was
a man who had never been heard in his own defence,

The Queen telegraphed her sympathy with the
sufferers from the disasters to the Southport and St.
Anne's lifeboat crews; and also her congratulations
to the Lytham crew on their successful rescue of the
crew of the Mexico.
John Ball, one of the Southport lifeboat crew who
was recovered from the boat alive, died during
Friday night at the infirmary, this making the four-
teenth death in that crew. Twelve bodies of the
crew of the St. Anne's lifeboat were brought into
Lytham on Sunday. Six were left in that town, the
remainder were talon to St. Anne's. The St. Anne's
lifeboat was on Sunday taken back by a Southport
crew. Mr. Brighouse, the county coroner, on Satur-
day morning opened an inquest at the Palace Hotel,
Southport, on the bodies of the lifbboatmen. Eleven
bodies were identified, and the inquiry was then ad-
journed for a week. The Mayor of Southport has
opened a subscription for the benefit of the bereaved,
leading it with £lOO.
The Board of Trade have ordered an official inquiry
into the casualties, which was opened on Monday
morning.
Sir Digby Murray presided. Captain the Hon. G.
Chetvvynd represented the National Lifeboat Institu-
tion.
Dr. Pickington, local secretary to the Lifeboat In-
stitution, sail,the Southpoit lifeboat had previously
behaved well. James Walsall spoke to finding the
lifeboat with three bodies under it. Several oars out-
side the boat were entangled in ropes, which in his
opinion prevented the boat righting itself. John
Jackson, one of the survivors, who had been
out four times on service in this boat,
said he had a very favourable opinion of
it prerious to the disaster. He had been out in
worse seas in the same boat. There were complaints
in the boat that the coxswain turned the boat broad-
side too soon. When tbey approached the wreck the
coxswain told the witness to prepare to let go the
anchor. He was about to let go the anchor when
an immense wave struck the boat and capsized
her. She never attempted to right herself. There
were about three fathoms of water at the place.
Henry Robinson, the other survivor, generally cor-
roborated Jackson's evidence. Had the boat righted
more men would have been saved. After the conclu-
sion of the evidence respecting the Southport lifeboat
evidence was taken respecting the foundering of the
St. Anne's boat. Mr. Thompson, the secretary, stated
that every previous performance of the boat had been
satisfactory. William Yates, tha carriage man, said
that the boat was despatched properly, and a sail was
hoisted immediately the boat was out at sea. Evidence
having been given as to the position of the boat when
it was found, the inquiry was adjourned.

The funeral of the 13 men who lost their lives by
the capsizing of the Southport lifeboat took place at
Southport on Tuesday. The whole town was in
mourning, every business establishment being closed.
Thousands of persons lined the route, and the funeral
procession, which started from the Town Hall, was
nearly two miles in length. The procession was •
headed by the Mayor of Southport, and included
magistrates for the county and borough, the members
of the town council, clergy, and ministers of all
denominations, the principal residents of the town
and district, members of the Naval Artillery and Ride
Volunteers, the crews of the Liverpool and Blackpool
lifeboats, Lord Plunket, Archbishop of Dublin, the
German Consul and Vice-Consul, representatives of
shipping industries from neighbouring towns, the
local friendly societies, and the crew of the wrecked
vessel Mexico, who were saved by the Lytham life-
boat. The bodies of the deceased were borne on the
shoulders of their comrades. At the cemetery the
police were powerless to keep back the immense
crowd which had gathered, notwithstanding that snow
had fallen heavily during the morning. At the con-
clusion of the funeral service the Rev. John Clutter,
Congregationd minister, delivered an affecting
address.