The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-10 00:00:00

DEAT,II. OF LIEUTENANT CHAUTERIS.

By the arrival of the Teo r ,ot at Sonthemptin oh Saturday
tut, Intelligence was received of the dee..., of pout. the non.
Alfred Charted., •.n of Lord led one of the cancer.
of sir Garnet %trot...h.?* gat!. fits death took place at sea,
on board the SOnoorn the 2id November. Lord and
Lod, SJuthampten awaiting his arrival, hut
the l'eatr,,, cnght ouly his effects .—A morning coot :m-
-primly ^ ~otalies the followlog I.:enacting ttre meLut:hely
orthig gallant yoting officer :
" Lieutenant Charteris died onthe 23rd of November,
and his body was committed to the deep in lattitude
1 dog. 16 mill., north longitude, 3 deg. 28 min. emit,
with a very impressive solemnatiy, and amid the pin.
oerest grief of all his comrades. He was appointed
lieutenant in the 7let Foot in 13C9, and eneign and lieu.
tenant in the Coldistream Guards In 1.471. It waft at the
urgent request of Sir Garnet Wolseley himaelfethat his
family oonsentedto hin accompanying the commander in
chief to the Gold Coast semi aide-de-camp, and, se Colo-
nel M'Neill reports, no better choice could have been
made. Ills energy, skill, and courage rendered him in-
valuable. His life wai nacrifi.sed to duty. From the
moment of his arrival at the seat of war he was engaged
in the most laborious minion and the me et
hazardous enterprisen. It was the parting injunc'
lion of Lord Elcho, and the sole condition on which
he gave his consent to his son's expoeing himself to the
dangers of the climate, that If Mr. Charteris were at-
tacked with fever, he should instantly leave for
tome. Of course, it wee hoped also that he would
take all pomade care of his health. It seeme,
however, that from the first moment of landing,
be etchnsias n and bravery not only made him
too indifferent to the dangers of expoeure to the
deadly miaow% and the overpowering beat of the
Coast, but that he actually concealed the elekness and
exhaustion from which he had been suffering for
several days before he was invalided. In spite of febrile
symptoms, exhauetion, feet raw with blleters, in conse-
quence of forced mar-chest° and from Abrakrampa, be
predated in attending to his duties, until at length an at-
tack of di sentry made It abeolntely neoesea to embark
In the Suwon. No sooner was he on board t ship than
the latent fever began to develop itself rapidly. For four
'Jaye it raged without any sign of abatemeut. After
the head lad been shaved and a blister applied, Mr.
Chartet is was able to get a little eleep, and he appeared
somewhat better, and for two days before the Simoorti
oiled tie re was evidence of improvement. This was the
Lot news that reached England from the ship, and his
friends at home held to the hope that the sea air
would lead to a reetoration. The event was
otherwir.-. Almoet immediately after leaving for
Ascension he had a relate.; and although Dr.
Irwin continued most kind and assiduous in
hie attentions, they were unavailing, and on the
third day the diseases terminated fatally. Lord and
Lady Elcho had been three times at Southampton,
lard week, to meet expected steamere from the Went
Coed, in the hope of welcoming back their son con.
valeoceiat. When the Teuton was sighted one of the
servants was sent out to meet him. He found Colonel
M' Neill on board in charge of the elircts of his gallant
colleague, and these were handed over to the diecan-
eolate parents. Lord and Lady Elcho immediately
returneel to town overwhelmed with grief. The Hon.
Alfred Welter Wemyse Charteria was their second and
eldest surviving son, the first having lost hie life through
a lamentable accident at Wimbledon Crimp three years
ago. He wag then 27, the name age as his brother had
attained whoeecareer has no s• terminated no sadly though
not ingloriously off the West Ciast of Africa. Lord Etch°
has three other sone. A. soon as the intelligence was
telegraphed from Southampton Lord and Lady Elcho
received expreesions of condolence and Nympathy from
all parts, Her Majesty the Queen telegraphed front
Windsor to Lady Waterpark that "her heart bled for
tile afflicted parents," and she desired to know how
they bore up under to great a loos. The King of the
Belgians elm sent a telegram from Bruseela expreeeive
of his sympathy with lord an,' Lady Elcho.''