The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1900-05-19 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

NESTON AND PARKGATE GOSSIP.  HOW HE DIDN'T COMMIT SUICIDE.  An inberesting story comes from Little Nestou. On Wednesday a, suit of clothes was found lying on the edge of a pit near the colliery. The two men who made the find naturally Caine to the conclusion that the. owner of the clothes lay drowned among the deed dogs, rate, or other kinds of vegetation that usually flourish at the bottom of pits. Their hearts were filled with Christian sympathy. "Poor chap!" they,perhaps said to. themselves. Who can tell % However that inight be, they promptly obtained gvappling irons, and drugged the pit. The Wham was given, and soon a large portion of the neighbourhood were discussing the dark event, and. wondering as to the identity of the poor fellow who had shuffled off these mortal coil+. ;lothesii  00i}0.4  One weman, to whose. inspection the et were submitted, recognised them as belonging to her son (a married man). Her sympathetic heart was filled with anguish, and she shed agonising tears. Her neighbours tried to console her in her deep loss, and melancholy thoughts filled the hearts of alhpresent.. Meanwhile, dragging operatione had been carried on with energy, but the body refutrel• to be found, and proportionately as the time passed the mystery deepened. The general, exeitement was intense. The village con— stable was informed of the. occurrence. He euggeeted that inquirr.elionld be made at the, man's house. Happy thought! This was. done, and the" suicide" was found peacefully sleeping in bed. It seems that he had gone to the pit in the darkness of the night. Perhaps he contempiated suicide. Who knows? He there undressed himself, and—went home without his bath. What I want to-know is whether the water was too cold, or, perhaps, too-dirty. Such is the story as it was told.to me. Quite tragic, isn't it? If our friend—he is a collier, I believe--really desires to " hop the twig" by committing suicide, he should try the waters of the Dee, ea being cleaner than a dirty pit.  eOll-1  much.i.  Great excitement prevails in tha district with regard to the fate of Mafeking and brave " 8.-P." and the gallant garrison and inmates• of the beleagnred town. Wheu news of the relief—for which everybody is hoping and, praying—does come,—well, it is unnecessary to say more on the subject. It will be a day, and no mistake. Wtky. Ladysmith—and everybody remembers the wild and heartfelt rojoicings when the Natal town was relieved— wen't be in the same street with Mafeking. A rumour was current on Monday evening that the rebel columns had accomplished the Itork they had in hand. The news—its bearer assured everybody he met that it was authentic—lacked confirmation, however, and tho majority of the inhabitants, who are by this time proof against false alarms, regarded it with incredulity. Nees people, however, se— erpted it ne true, and, in right loyal fashion, set about celebrating the happy event. They were a hit premature in their rejoicings, certainly, but no matter, the time, I trust, will come.  • • •  The local War Fund now totals £216 9a. 10d., cf which ..-E1.50 has been forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant's Fund. The total included; a second very handsome donation from the Little. Neeton colliers, amounting to .97 08. 9d.  • • •  An old reeident of Neston, in the person of Mrs. Pound, passed away this week after a short illness, and her reniaina wers inherrcd in Neston Churchyard on Thuxsday. For her many amiable qualities the deceased lady was highly respected, and her demise will oe greatly felt in the neighbourhood.  Noss Holt Quoiting Club should have met the Standard Cotvbination at Birkenhead last Saturday, but the weather. Well, it doesn't matter. " 'Nulf said."  Query. What has become of the Naito Cyoling Chtb?