The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-09 00:00:00

THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh presided at
the Centenary dinner of the above Society, at the -Free-
masons' Tavern, on Saturday evening, and a most distin-
guished company was present on the occasion.
The Duke of Edinburgh in proposing the toast of
the evening, said--" Prosperity and Success to the
Royal Humane Society." (Cheers.) It is a toast which
I knsw requires very little to be said to induce you to
receive it with enthusiasm. It is now 100 years since
this Society was founded by a most philanthropic
gentleman, Dr. Hawes, who for two years carried on a
series of practical experiments for tle restoration of
those who were suffering from what doctors call sus-
pended animation. Through exertions entirely his own
he directed public attention here to experiments which
had previously been carried out only on the Continent.
But his friends feeling, after two years of toil and ex-
pense on his part, that it was unjustifiable that he
should any longer be allowed to make such sacrifices,
consulted together, and founded this Society in 1774. It
centimmed to prosper until 1783, when His Majesty
King George 111. became its patron. and from that
des, it assumed the title of The Royal Hurne.ne
Society," a title which it has continued to bear ever
since. The objects of the Society are to reward,
by vi ten of thanks on parchment or vellum, and by
grants of medals, instances of bravery in saving life;
to provide appliances for saying life, with directions
for their use; and also directions for restoring sus-
pended animation, framed by the most eminent
physicians. These objects, I think, speak for them-
selves, and require no ftumther recomtnendation on my
part. (Hear, hear.) There is nodoubt thatsuehrewards
as have been siven by this society, and are still given,
are great incentives to the exertions of those who are
placed in a imeition to render aid to persens who
rosy be in peril If their lives. (Hear, hear.) It
therefore commends itself to its as a most
philanthropic society ; and I am sure I need only
appeal to those who are present to invite the
Public in general to give their most cordial support
to its praiseworthy exertions. (Cheers.) 'rhe fame of
this Society hag gone forth into all parts of the world,
and as the details of all cages of life-saving reach the
committee, they are carefully examined and rewards
are bestowed. No matter whether the act of courage
has been performed in river or on sea, no matter what
the nationality of the person who has so distinguished
himself, the Society considers each case on its merits
and so apportions its rewards. So admirable has been
its action, that in some foreign countries similar socie-
ties have been formed to co-operate in its objects.
(Cheers.) It is a great pleasure as well as an honour
to the Society to have as its guests this evening mem-
bers of the French and Belgian Humane Societies.
(Cheers.) I cannot help here adverting to one circum-
stance which is adverse to the interests of the Society—
namely, that the public seems to be under an erroneous
inipressilni as to its positien. People seem to think that
a 8 the Society goes by the name of the "Royal Humane
Society," it in supported by the funds of the country.
Now, the fact is, it is supported entirely by voluntary
subscriptions. His Majesty King George 111., when
he became patron of the Society, granted the site in
Hyde Park, and that has proved immensely useful to
the inhabitants of London who frequent the waters of
the Serpentine both in summer and winter, for there
they have the continualservice of officers of the Society,
who are prepared with their appliances to save and
restore life at any moment of the day or night. (Hear,
hear.) Many persons visit that establishment ; but I
feel sore the public must be under a misconception as
to the positien of the Society, or the annual subscrip-
tions would rise above the trivial SIMI of IA 14) a year.
(Hear, hear.) It is true the Society has some funded
property, which provides an annual income, but if
the annual subscriptions were greater the objects of
the Society could be more fully and usefully carried
out. (Hear, hear.) During the vast year, by the
kindness of the Conservancy of the 'Thames, one of the
steamboat piers had been placed at the disposal of the
Society. This has, been a great boon, and the grant
has already been the means of saving several lives. I
sincerely hope that the meeting of this evening may
further that object, and that positions on the Thames
for saying life may be increased.. I hope that the contri-
butions of gentlemen present may form a nucleus for ex-
tending the benefits of the Society, especially upon the
saface of what Colonel Hogg has this evening asfeared
me will soon be the sweetened surface of old Father
Thames. (Laughter.) In the course of the past year a
snbscription was raised by my brother officers and their
friends for a memorial to my la* lamented friend and
brother officer, Captain Stanhope, RN., in considera-
tion of his distingenshed services, and the meeting ever
which I had the honour to preside decided that a gold
medal should be given annually tithe Royal I I uniane
Society to be awarded to the most praiseworthy case .if
saving life occurring during the year. This is the first
year in which the medal has been awarded, and I have
great pleasure in announcing to you that the recipient
is here present standing next to me. (Cheers). This
fine fellow will be the first recipient of this medal,
which is to commemorate an officer who was himself
a very gallant medal-holder of this Soeiety, and I
cannot do better than read to you the particulars of
the act of bravery for which he not only receives the
first Stanhope gold medal, but also one of the ordinary
silver medals of the Society of which about eight per
annum are given to the most meritorious cases :
"55, the 22nd of April, 1873, as the steamship Runtia mis
proceeding on her voyage from New York to Liverpool,
with a stiff breeze blowing and the ship cutting through the
wider at the rate of 14 knots an hour, a seaman named
Michael Billies, who was up in the rigging in performance of
his duty, fell overboard. Immediately is this beind per-
ceived, a shipmate named Matthew Webb jumped overboard
and swam to the place where the poor fellow had disappeareul
lie was too late, however, to recover him, seeing nothing but
the man's cap, which he brought on board, The steamer
was stopped, a boat was lowered and sent to the rescue, and
sitar cruising about for halt an hour, returned to the ship
with Webb, who was found swimming nearly a mile
astern of the ship, not at all exhausted, though suffering
somewhat from the cold."
I am sure it will afford you all great gratification, ne
it certainly shies me, to see AO gallant a man receive
these two distinctions for his brave conduct. (Cheers.)
I have the greatest pleasure, Webb (his Royal High-
nese as he presented the medals, shook the man
warmly by the hand), at being the medium of placing
them in your possession. (Loud cheers.) I fear I have
too long trespassed on the time of the company, or I
should like to tnention many of the cases which have
been brought to my notice; but there is one which I
cannot pass over. It is the case of a boy in Australia,
of only eleven and a half years of age, who was
riding on horseback through the hush, when,
on coming into the neighbourhood of a river,
he heard cries for help, and, galloping to the
spot, saw some one in the water. He tied his
horse to a tree, and, jumping into the river, saved
th
ISSUE' FLOODS.—NeW York papers e lives of three girls, of whom only the hand of one THE .lltss
was at the time in sight. (Cheers.) I am sure I am
only exvressing the feeling of the committee of the of Thursday, April 2.3, brought by the Hamburg-
Ameriean steamer Ilammonimi, contains descriptions,
Society mn mentioning a case which exhil its conduct 80
many mammals in length, of the flevastath in caused by
.gallant. I think, however, it will not be necessary for the floodo. throughout. the dietrict traverse'! by the
me to allude to any further cases of distinguished M'ssissima and its tributaries. Nothing like it has
bravery which have been rewarded by this Society.
occurred, the newspapers say, during this century,
will therefore, now propose to you to drink, in a
arid the damage already done exoemls it is declared '
bumper Meet, and upetanding, "Succees and Prospoity
that; canseil,liiy the
iChicago andl.lieston' fires ten times
to the Royal Humane Society (loud cheers), coupled
ov • s Hun reds f equare mi es id
.the roast fertile
with the name of the treasurer, and grandson of the
and best cultivated land in America is being swept by
founder, Mr. Hawes." rapid currents. The cities of New Orleans; and Nash-
The toast was drunk amid loud cheers.
Mr. Hawes, in responding, called attention to the 111.1e...end many smaller tewns are under water.
dreds of cattle have been drowned, houses and
maims swept away, and immense damage done. At
fact that among other gentlemen who had received the
peet,on eleewhere subscriptions were being raised
medals of the Society for arts of gallantry and heroism,
besides Colonel Fraser, who had won that honourable
distinction by swimming out under a sharp fire from for the sufferers,
the enemy 10 a rapid current and saving the lives of a AN Antlcati INHITE ELRCHANT,—We have
'major and four men of the Hummers who had been vui, le md groundsfor supposing that there is an African
washed on to a sandbank—there was Colonel Milman, as well as an Asiatic White Elephant. It is well
who. having, been upset in a boat far from the shore, known that White Elephants exist in Siam, and that,
which cauld only be seen on the horizon, left his men- when the King of that country wishes ti twin any
nubs; clinging to the beat, swam to the shore, and, after principal person whom he has a gruilgo against, he is
being five hours in the water, obtained relief and seveil accost' meil to fiend him one of those animals, which
the boat's crew. Another gallant Admiral near him had the Initial opy man is obliged to maintain, and by which
several times jumped overboard from his cabin ports he KOOll gets eaten out of house and home. There is
and saved men who had fallen overboard. Captain San- every reason to apprehend that we shall discover a
mare; R.N., again, had jumped overboard from the White Elephant in Eltnnia on the Gold Coast, of
'fflon, which we have obtained posseseion from the Dutch,
danecdk,,ao‘f,
eh," stsht life i
fh one ai.kf
-ihuifs"ctre.r:l:;atmedTe4 'aptain thus letting ourselves in for the Ashantee War, and a
Boxer, R.N. the son of a distinguished Admiral, hail costly Protectorate.—Puseh.
jumped oyerlioard in South America and saved the
life of a Lieutenant. (Cheers.) In conclusion, Mr. MARSHAL CONCHA.—The Spanish Correspon-
Hawes proposed "The Health of his Royal Highness," dent of the Temps gives the following particulars of
the president of the evening, making graceful reference General Concha :
to his recent marriage, and to the interest shown by "Of all the soldiers who have attracted attention by mill
him and the other members of the Royal family in the tare mania, Marshal Emanuel de la oineha is the nios
military. After having rendered Irrilliant service to the
Itoval Humane Society. Liberal party in the war of seven years-after having re-
The toast was drunk with three times three. dueed Catalonia to peace hi and triamplied over Prim
The Duke of Edinburgh, who was loudly cheered, in ISall -hue suddenly ceased Di figure in the active army.
said,- -I thank you most sincerely for the cordial re- itis principal eocupation since that permit has been ant-
eeption you have given to the toast which culture : but he cultivates Ids fields in a most extraordilary
has been no kindly proposed by Mr. Hawes. .lul)lwr. hiss h,sbsitiirers ore shrilled in eiis,ivaoiessquad-
He has newt truly statml toyou the interest 1, jrrg,m'is!. .1n the el.mteilsie fiel.ds which 'he' sc'iriZte';
whih c I take in the welfare of this Society, and
, everything is dime to tee some! of il andium bugle. His
I may ask you to be assured of the interest whim revers execute strategic nmiocuvreg. and the whole of his
is aho taken in it by the Duchess. (Cheers). On mime farni-laliour to carried ~,it tinder the i 1,5 4 a
rode as rigorous as can I.e. Ms house is o ',lilacs, or
than one occasion this evening vu have ben kiwi
enmesh to greet with applense tile mention of the event
which has made my life, Imtli at preeent and in the
~l hi r the imail-intartel of a mini."
MING SCARCITV.— a the ...olintry short of
futuris. sbeli a happy on','. (Cheers). I can't' it, there- competent Judges 2 Is IL found ilillieLlt to obtain but
fore, let thus occasion pa--s without alluding to a cir- Magistrates when vamemeies eceur ? ls the demand for
most an ce intimately connected with the Society, and a good letweter greater than the supply of that valuable
also intimately connecting the Duchess of Edinburgh, and expensive article? These questions, which tinge:it
with the society. fort have before nme a paper on very serious reflections Cs) the thoughtful mind, are
which I see a drawing of her great uncle with his prompted by observing the folleming iegniticaut
own hands rescuing a moan from death by drowning. notice.—" \\ anted first-class Bench hands."—Panels
TlarFiri
jlt
a.
(Cheers.) The Emperor Alexander was one of the
AMENDED PROVE
firet who received a medal from the Royal Humane
4., opts) ER
Society, and I consi ler it a great privilege to be here
vs are nsa he us—Lon
presiding over your centenary anniversary festival. "
and to be able to remind you of an event which! hope A NOVELTY IN PETS.—In Florida (says the
the society will consider connects the nante of her Nem York Times) a new pet has been discovered, which
Royal Highness —(m, at any rate, the feelings of her is likely before long to make its way northward, and
Royal Highness--with the interests of this institution, which for other reasons even more potent than its in-
(Cheers.) I made one omission in proposing the toast trinsic fascination, is certain to put an end to the cat-
of the evening, and that was with regard to the and.dmg regime in every household where it enters.
lamentable deficiency of a knowledge of swimming I The extent to which the new favourite has already
among our fellow countrymen. (Hear, hear.) I be. established itself in the affections id the South, may be
lieve that swie mins-baths are about to be erected inferred from the sort of ash ertisement to be now seen
in floe neighbourhood of Hungerford-bridge, and I in the corridors of Southern hotels :—" Lost, a pet
think it worth the consideration of the society whether alligator from one of the rs.nis on the first flimr.
it would not cause public interest to lie directed Finder please return vs the ettice." Amities, toe, it is
towards them if, in addition to teaching swimming, in- to let observed, is ti. be seen in houses where, ill se-
structions were to be given as to the means of eirdance with that timedionoured rule of hotel dim
restoring suspeudeil animation at these baths. cipline, "doge are not allowed in the rmiettem," nor
(Cheers.) I feel sure if the puldic give their support children permitted to play in the hall, cur parlours.
to this scheme the Government would be only too The distinction is certainly tlatterhsg te the alligator,
ready to supply the professors who would be and marks the respect traoi ;Unction with which already
necessary for this teaching. The importance cannot he appears tie rezartled,

Durmg the evening subscriptions ami donations were
announced by the secretary, Mr. Lambton Young, to
the amount of £525.