The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-18
A PEERAGE ROMANCE.
The Earl an Ex-FiremaD, and His
Countess an Ex- Barmaid

Mr.. Augustus Arthur Perceval. who
has come into the eaIldom of Egmont 10y
the death of his uncle, tho late earl AT
his residence, Cowdray Park, Midhurst
has had n career very different to that of
any other British peer.
The new earl was some years ago in
the metropolitan fire brigade and from
bis former colleagues of the brigade
Daily Mail reporter obtained particulars
Of his rowing career
"Gussy Perceval, we used TO call him, -
said one officer. "He joined our drill
class on March %. 1881. when he was 20
Yeas old. and had just married very
young woman. who will now. If living,
be the new Countess Perceval was n
lively character. and hac led rowing life
from tire first, as We could tell by his
yarns. lie was born in Papanui, near
Canterbury, in New Zealand. on June t.
1856, and was educated as n naval cadet
on hoard the Worcester training-ship at
Grecnhithe. in the thames. The disci-
pine there was too strict. perhaps. to salt
his rowing nature. and he shirred before
| II
n second mates papers, and WAS accepted
by Capt Eyre Massey Shaw as drill
class candidate
"Hs duly passed into the brigade on
May l3. 1881, and took duty under the
late Superintendent Hutohings, at South
wark headquarters.
1.-The new Earl said another officer,
twas rattling good fellow, but be never
had any chance of doing good work in
saving lives. That, of course. is always "a
matter OF luck in our WORK, to a great ex-
tent. He was stationed at Southwark.
for about a year and then was shifted, in
tho ordinary routine, TO bennington. He
went back to Southwark carly In 1883,
shifted TO lower Norwood in the latter
end Of that year; went to Ulapham in
January, 1884. where he was stationed for
two years and half. and then went to
Waterloo ROAD fire station on July IL,
1856. That is about the average Of the
general moves in the SERVICE
when did he leave the brigadeF" said
one of the men. ''He resigned and left
the force early in February, 1887, having
applied for and obtaincd the position OF
hall kerrer mt the now Tavern hall,
Chelsea. and his record Of service. signed
by Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, says During
the period OF Percevals service his CON
duct has been on the whole satisfactory >
We lost tho run of him after that, hut we
heard that there was bit of riot at q
political meeting at the hall, and that
Gussy's fire brigade experience coming to
| his hand he got hydraut to work and
| swamped the rioters both sides alike.
| 4 hen he invested in some cement works,
| and that WAS the last we heard of him. "
while the new Earl was in the
brigade" said another fireman who had
been 'cronies" with him, "his uncle the
late Earl. took n good deal Of interest in
him. and at Christmas time used 10
| inquire Of the old chief how he was
getting on. The answer was generally
satisfactory, and then the Earl used to
| come down handsomely. and Gussy was
| 10 funds for awhile. But as rule IL
was pretty hard pull 10 the hill for
MIR. ana Mrs. Pcrceval. for they only got
married in tho year Gus Joined us and
that was a love match. the lady who will
become the Countess having been young
indy employed by Spiers ~ Pond. They
had 10 children. and it is generally
understood that they mutually agreed 10
separate when Perceval left the brigade. "
London Mail