Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-01
FERRY CASE LOST
BY ENGLISH LORD
Waterman Wins, Defeating
So-CaIIed Ancient Privilege
and Monopoly.
CONSIDERED TRIUMPH
FOR PUBLIC RIGHTS
Whole Affair Shows Trend in Coun
try Where Privilege Has Always
Been Uppermost.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
LONDON, April 10, 1913
England. formerly the land Of privilege
is becoming yearly less SO. A contest
which has been waged for nearly four
years for the right to ferry passengers
across the Thames at Twickenham, a
sweet place on the upper reaches Of
LOndon's famous river, above Richmond,
has just been decided in favor OF a
poor waterman, who has been obliged ia
fight privilege in the person of the
Earl OF Dysart, a rich nobleman, whose
family has had the privilege for over
500 years
Every American is familiar with the
old English ballad "Twickenham Ferry"
and the case will be especially interest
ing to the thousands who know and
sing the song:
Oh, no We -ho- no -ye-ho who for the ferry?
The briar's In bud and the suns going down;
And it's late as it is and haven't penny.
So how can l get me to Twickenham Town?
Nobody disputed the Earl OF Dysart's
right to the tolls of the ancient ferry,
but young waterman named Hammer
ton ran ferry quarter of g. mile
away and 1t was this ferry that the earl
declared infringed his rights, and four
years ago he brought an action against
HammertOn to put him out of business.
The young boatman was plucky and
stuck to his ferry, though In doing SO he
and his wife We're obliged to practice all
sorts Of self-denial In order to pay court
costs and fight the earl. with the re-
suit that he has won.
There is great rejoicing up the Thames,
where the waterman'S plucky struggle
with the peer has excited tremendous
controversy during the nearly four years
of it's progress. The handsome young
waterman Hammerton is a freeman OF
the Company of Waterman and Lighter
men of the river Thames.
Il won my freedom, with a coat and
badge when / was eighteen, he said
I'VE are a very old Twickenham family.
We are mentioned in the history of
Hammerton was clerk to the vestry. For
over 200 years the Hammertons have
been established in the place as water
men and bOatmen. My grandfather used
to work wineries, and occasionally Terry
over from the Swan plying place adjoin-
ing Twickenham ferry, over 100 years
ago, and my father has done the same.
His Lordship Makes Complaint.
But in June, 1909, his lordship dropped
his bombshell into the sylvan scene. He
wrote to the Hammertons contending
that the new ferry was an interference
with the ancient rights which he possess
ed to ferry from Twickenham to Ham,
and requested that the new ferry should
be closed. Now. this claim was totally
at variance with local waterSide opinion.
1--WE thought the letter was bluff" con-
fesSed Hammerton. What led us to
that opinion was the fact that Lord Dy-
sart had had some previous action with
regard to public rights at Ham Common.
us a writ, / Immediately called on his
solicitors. and said: If you can show
some proof to satisfy us that you have
the exclusive right to ferry from Peter
Twickenham to Ham. we will withdraw,
refunding the amount of our takings.
Then, if you will allow us to continue. We
will acknowledge Your right and pay
reasonable offer was a demand for our
unconditional withdrawal-which we re-
fused.
A public petition, signed by 500 visitors
and residents. backed the young man up
and f1OO was raised for his assist
ance. "Of course" said Mr.. Hammer
ton, "E1O0 was not enough. And l and
my wife found ourselves obliged to econo-
mize severely to get together the further
funds We moved out of our house and
turned the workshop over the floating
boa thouse into a fiat. Thus, We lived
afioat on the river for two years with our
two dogs. We denied ourselves all holi-
days. and economical severely in clothes
and pleasures:
The action dragged on. the little cap
ital of the brave couple undergoing ex-
haustion all the while. Not until last
Thursday did the case come before the
court. Mr.. Hammerton brought thirty
witnesses. including the ex-mayor of
Richmond always gallant champion
of public rights and q acknowledgement
old veteran inspector to the Watermens
company and now inspector of boats and
men and plying places in the service Of
tho r,orf of London authority
Decision Against Monopoly.