The Isle of Wight 150 years ago.Extracts from the Hampshire Telegraph.October 1862 |
4 October 1862
A useful present has been made to the town by Mr. L.
Powys, one of the Conservative members for the Borough, the Mayor having just
received one of the new standard storm barometers, which we believe it is
intended to place within the private entrance to the Townhall.
COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS. - Charlotte Bushell, a very
respectable looking married woman, living at Brooke, was charged by the
superintendent of police, on account of the drunkenness prevailing in that
parish, with selling beer without a licence. Fined 20s. and costs.
Absolom Croad, a farm bailiff to Mr William Selby, of
Brooke, was next charged by Superintendent Horan with selling beer without a
licence. The same witness deposed that she went to the defendant’s house between
eleven and twelve o'clock on the night of 20 August, where she found her husband
drinking in company with several other of the inhabitants of the village,
amongst whom was a marine named Peter Phillips, who called for a pot of beer,
which the defendant’s wife brought, and he paid her sixpence for it, she giving
no change. She waited an hour and a half for her husband before he was ready to
go, and all the rest were then drunk. The defendant brought several witnesses to
prove that it being his wife's birthday, he had invited the party there to
celebrate the event, that he stood treat the whole of the evening, and that not
a single penny was paid for anything during that time. The Court disbelieved
their testimony, and fined the defendant in the penalty of £5 and cost 7s. 6d.
William Baker, an old inhabitant of Newport, and for many
years at the landlord of the “White Horse” in Nodehill, was charged by Charles
Hebberd, the landlord of the “Rose Inn,” at Ventnor with having pilfered his
till on 23rd September. Susan Tollervey being sworn, and said she was lodging at
the “Rose,” and whilst engaged at needle-work in the next room to the bar, on
the day in question, she heard the money rattle in the till, and looking through
the window she distinctly saw the prisoner’s hands in it. She then called the
landlord, saying that there was a man in the bar robbing the till. Mr Hibberd
ran down stairs directly and open the prisoner’s hand, in which he found seven
pence halfpenny, which he had marked, having been robbed on two previous
occasions. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was committed for one month to hard
labour.
BOROUGH COURT. - Ann Calcott, a drunken tramp, with but
one leg, and a terrible black eye, was charged by P.C. Stubbs with getting drunk
at the Valiant Soldier, in Cosham-street, so that the police were obliged to
carry her to the station cells, the prisoner having refused to use her crutches
except above their heads. Fined 10s., in default of payment to be committed for
one month.
RYDE. – SERIOUS ACCIDENT. - On Saturday last Peter
Jackson, for many years in the employment of Captain George Rendell, highly
respected by all who knew him, whilst cleaning some windows at the captain’s
residence at Wootton, fell from the ladder, and injured himself so seriously,
that no hopes are entertained of his recovery.
THE NEW POSTMASTER. - We understand that Mr. Thomas Roe,
Sub-postmaster of Ollerton, Notts, has been appointed postmaster of Ryde, and
will commence his duties as soon as his successor at Ollerton shall have been
decided on.
11 October 1862
BOROUGH COURT. - James Carr, an idle urchin, was charged
with breaking the windows of the “Prince Regent,” public-house, in the
High-street; but the evidence not being complete against him he was remanded
till Thursday.
Emily Howard, a common prostitute, charged with using
disgraceful language to the police in the public streets was fined 10s., and in
default of payment, committed for one month.
COWES.- H.M.S.
Egmont was towed out of harbour on
Wednesday morning, and proceeded to Portsmouth.
The sewage works at East Cowes, under the able
supervision of Mr. Chinchin, are rapidly progressing, and the construction of
reservoirs bodes fair to be completed within the time stipulated. Whether the
spot selected for the site of the reservoir might not have been chosen is a
question which time only can answer. However that may be, the inhabitants of the
East Cowes side will soon learn to appreciate the blessing of having a Local
Board of Health in common with West Cowes.
18 October 1862
A serious accident occurred on Sunday evening to Mrs
King, the wife of Mr. Robert King, fruiterer, in the High-street, when on coming
down the stairs, she unfortunately trod on a kitten, and was precipitated to the
bottom, occasioning a serious fracture amongst the ancle bones.
The Queen’s Rooms were open again on Thursday, the 10th,
as a theatre, by Mr. George Hodgson, of comic memory, with a very clever company
of performers, who fully deserve all the patronage that can be bestowed on them.
The place was well filled on Monday, when “The Colleen Bawn settled at last,”
was produced for the first time, with Mr. Hobson as Miss Elly O'Connor, and he
was ably supported by the rest of the performers.
COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS. - Jennett Dyer, a servant in the
employ of Mr. Robert Brading, of Shorwell, was charged with stealing three pints
of brandy, the property of her master. It appeared that a considerable quantity
of liquor had been missed from time to time from a cupboard on the prosecutor’s
bedroom, which was kept locked, and that the family were sorely puzzled to
account for its disappearance, until the Wednesday preceding, when one of the
daughters, having opened the bed-room in question, found the stall door open.
She directly called her brother upstairs, who entered the prisoner’s bed-room,
and under the bed clothes, in a chair, he discovered a large tin case, belonging
to a neighbour opposite, named Harlock, but the cork being out he upset of the
greatest portion about the floor, with the exception of about three half-pints,
then produced. On examining a 2 gallon jar, in which said brandy had been kept,
he found it nearly empty. On being given into custody the prisoner said she
should never have thought of taking it, if Mr. and Mrs. Harlock hadn't persuaded
her to have done so. Superintendent Horan said that he had the man Harlock, a
labourer, at Shorwell, in custody, and would prosecute him, if any evidence
could be produced against him, but the prisoner persisting now in the simple
plea of guilty, it became necessary to discharge the man, and the girl was
committed for a month to hard labour.
Albert Sheath, charged with breaking the greenhouse
windows of Mr. John Briant, Ventnor, was fined 12s. 6d.
BOROUGH COURT. - Mary Ann Carr, who has been committed
times out of number, was again sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for smashing
the windows of Frederick Wells, in Cosham-street, because he refused to supply
her with tobacco.
George James Knight, charged by P.C. Stubbs with being
drunk and disorderly, at half-past ten o'clock in the morning, was fined 10s.
COWES. – NORTHWOOD BURIAL BOARD - the quarterly meeting
took place on Tuesday last, present Messrs. Matthews, Moore, and Richardson.
Various sums of money were ordered to be paid all of which must come out of the
poor rates.
The opening of the Seamen and Working Men's Institute for
the season took place on Monday evening, when Captain Legard, R.N., the
treasurer, and the Rev. J.B. Atkinson, Rev. E. Silver, Rev. J. Monk, and Rev. T
Bull, and other tried friends were present. The capacious reading room was well
filled with members, who seemed truly to appreciate the kind and friendly advice
offered to them by the gallant captain and his earnest and able condjutor, the
Rev. E. Silver. Working Committees were appointed, and a resolution was carried
that no youth under 16 years of age shall be admitted as a member unless he be
strongly recommended for his fitness, and his good conduct guaranteed by two of
the senior members.
25 October 1862
SHIPWRECKS AND LOSS OF TWELVE
LIVES. - A tremendous storm passed over the Island during the night of Sunday
last, between the hours of seven in the evening and one in the morning, but not
without leaving the most devastating marks of its progress, in the shape of
fallen trees and dilapidated buildings, bridges washed away, and low lying
lands inundated in every direction. The sea coast between the Needles and
Ventnor is also strewed with wreck of all descriptions, for in the midst of the
storm, about nine o'clock on Sunday evening, the
Ellen Horsfall, a merchant man, 200
tons laden with beans from Alexandria, was driven right up under the cliff near
Grange Chine by the force of the waves, and became a total wreck. One of the
crew, however, managed to crawl up the cliff, and found his way to a cottage at
Thorncross, and awoke the inmates, who proceeded to the spot together with
fishermen, and they happily succeed in bringing the Captain (Muckey) the shore,
together with his wife and infant child, and the whole of the crew in safety;
and before the coast-guard knew that any vessel was wrecked at that spot they
were comfortably ensconced by Mr. Mowbray's fireside at Thorncross farm. A
correspondent, writing from Ventnor, says that the
Ellen Horsfall was provided with one
of Lieutenant Nare’s kites, by means
of which the negro came ashore with a rope, and happily succeeded in rescuing
his companions. We hope that this simple but useful invention will soon be
regarded as a necessary part of the equipment of every seagoing vessel.
Later in the night a fine
barque, the Lotus, 43 days from
Demarara for London, with a cargo of rum and sugar, belonging to Mr. Dunlop, of
Greenock, was smashed to atoms on the rocks near Blackgang Chine, when twelve of
the crew, including the captain, and one passenger, Edward Murray, were drowned,
and only two out of the whole (namely, James Gold and James Anderson) saved.
Nine of the bodies were washed on shore on Monday, and a coroner's inquest was
held on their remains on Tuesday at the Clarendon Hotel, by F. Blake, Esq. The
following evidence was taken: - James Gold said: I was a seamen on board the
barque Lotus, of 326 tons, bound from
Demarara for London, with a cargo of sugar and rum, commanded by Captain William
M’Neil, and belonging to Mr. Dunlop of Greenock. I have identified the bodies of
Captain M’Neil; Mr. Robert Watt, chief mate; William Anderson, second mate,
brother-in-law to the captain; Hugh Ferguson, Carpenter; Peter Montgomery, the
cook; and a six seamen who have been recovered from the wreck. We left Demarara
42 days last Saturday. We passed Start Point at eight o'clock on Sunday morning;
it was then blowing strong and with the wind about S.W. At about ten o'clock a
light was seen a little on the weather bow by the men on the foreyard who were
stirring the foresail, and I heard the mate say it must be St. Catherine's. The
ship was then hauled close to the wind, with the yards braced sharp up, to
endeavour to weather the point, but, finding she would not do so, the ship was
put around, her head then being N.N.W., in which position she was about 20 min;
the land then could be seen close aboard to leeward. Another attempt was then
made to wear her; but as soon as the helm was hard up she struck the ground
heavily. I was at the wheel receiving my orders from the captain. The sea
immediately broke over the ship and knocked the captain down as he was standing
on the poop giving orders to clear away the boats; I think he was washed
overboard then, as I never saw him afterwards. Another one immediately followed
the first, and took away the chief mate and the longboat and gig. The Carpenter
then jumped off the starboard quarter into the sea, and swam for the shore, and
got on the beach but was taken back again by another sea which broke over him. I
did not see him again. By this time the masts were gone overboard, and the ship
parted in halves below the chains. I clung to the wreck until the sea went over
me, when I got on a rum puncheon, and the next sea took me and the puncheon
right ashore, but another sea took me out again. I was afterwards washed in
again and found myself lying among some broken timber and wreck high on the
beach. I think it was about a quarter before 12 when the vessel struck. The
captain was about 44 years old, and had been about three years captain of the
Lotus. There was no time to fire guns
for assistance after the vessel struck. We saw no one until about a quarter to
six in the morning, when I and Anderson, the other man saved, got up the cliffs
and met a fisherman named Phillips, who took us to the home of another fisherman
named Wheeler, where we had clothes and refreshment found us.
[Evidence of James Anderson not transcribed.] Several other witnesses were
next examined relative to the recovery of the bodies, after which the Coroner
summed up, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence. The
survivor Anderson had his right hand much injured, and the helmsman had his
collarbone broken and face cut, but through the kind attention of Mr. Pomery,
surgeon, of Newport, who fortunately visited the sad scene on Tuesday afternoon,
the fracture was reduced, and the poor fellow relieved from much pain. In the
opinion of men who thoroughly knew the locality by long experience it would have
been impossible to have rendered the least assistance, even had the perilous
situation of the bark been known to those on shore, during such a terrific
storm, accompanied by such a deluge of rain, and the night so dark, which
accounts for Anderson and Gold, although having called loud for help, having
remained from the time of being wrecked until five o'clock on Monday morning
before gaining any assistance, or even the Coastguard had decried that they
wreck had taken place, the depth from the cliff and look-out beat being so great
and perpendicular, and the storm and see raging so fearfully allowed, that no
other sound could be heard, even though the wreck and the wrecked were close
under the cliff. So sudden, indeed, was this direful catastrophe rendered to
those on board the ill-fated ship, owing to the thick darkness which prevailed,
that as soon as they became acquainted with their perilous position the bark was
dashed to atoms. Anderson and Gold have been provided with clothing, and will
shortly be forwarded to the place of destination at the expense of the “Chale
Shipwrecked Mariners’ Association.”
[Names of the crew not transcribed.] The broken-up vessel and her cargo now
lies strewed along the coast for miles, and the scene which issued on Monday
amongst the labouring population of the neighbourhood was of the most disgusting
description ever witnessed, men, women, and children lying dead drunk on the
beach by scores, from the effects of imbibing the new rum from the casks which
were washed on shore.
Another unfortunate vessel is supposed to have gone down
during the night off Compton, and, if so, all hands must have perished, but no
traces of such a catastrophe could be discovered in the morning.
COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS. - Such was the amount of business
before the court, that although it commenced at twelve o'clock, it was not
concluded till nine at night.
Edith Attrill, the female attendant on the bathing
machines at Shanklin, was charged with stealing an umbrella, the property of the
Rev. Charles Hole, which had been left in the fisherman's hut whilst his lady
was bathing. Prisoner plead guilty, and was committed for one month to hard
labour.
William Mundell, a respectable looking a young man, who
described himself as a carpenter belonging to West Cowes, was placed at the bar
on a charge of sacrilege, for breaking into St. Mary's Church, in that town, and
robbing the poor box. It was proved by two respectable witnesses that they saw
him in the church yard on the Monday evening. The clerk of the church proves
that it was forcibly entered before the next morning, by prising open the door
with a chisel, which left a number of marks on the jambs, and P. S. Kent proved
that a chisel was found in the prisoner’s front room the next day, which exactly
fitted these marks. It appeared also that the church had been robbed on the 31st
of July last, and that this said chisel exactly fitted the marks which were made
in the vestry door on that occasion. Prisoner said he knew nothing about the
chisel, but was committed for trial at the next Assizes.
Edward Johnson, the drill serjeant of musketry at
Parkhurst Barracks, was placed at the bar under serious charge of having
forcibly violated a young girl named Sarah Burns, but the prisoner was dismissed
after an examination which lasted three hours, on the ground that no jury would
convict him upon such evidence as has been brought forward.
Hampshire Assizes
Michaelmas Session 1862 (October)
John Tobin, soldier, was charged with stealing 35s. from
John Hott, at Carisbrooke, on the 10 September 1862. Mr. Charles prosecuted.
Guilty – Six months’ imprisonment.
Miles Morris pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a set
of sleeve links, the property of Henry Edward Watson, at Carisbrooke, and was
sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment.
Patrick Murphy was charged with stealing a watch, the
property of John Alfred Gissing, at Parkhurst, on the 18th August, 1862. Mr. Way
prosecuted. Guilty of receiving. Three months’ imprisonment.
Robert Guy pleaded guilty to stealing 7 eggs, the
property of Sir William Mortens, his master, at Newchurch. The prisoner received
an excellent character and was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment.
William Higgins was charged with stealing one rabbit, the
property of James Read, at Newport on 1st October, 1862. The prisoner was found
guilty, and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.
Thomas Woodford, on bail, was indicted for unlawfully and
maliciously wounding George Gray, at Carisbrooke on the 27th July, 1862. Mr.
Gunnar prosecuted, and Mr. Way a defended the prisoner. The facts were simply
these. The prosecutor was, with his wife and family and a brother-in-law,
returning home from Newport, and when passing Dedman’s-lane a great many stones
were flying about. He cried out, “Mind there are children here.” Soon afterwards
he, (the prosecutor) was struck in the eye with a stone. The brother-in-law
swore he saw the prisoners further stone that struck the prosecutor. Mr. Way
addressed the jury, who acquitted the prisoner.
Sarah Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor were acquitted of the
charge of stealing four pounds weight of cheese, at Ryde, on the 15th September,
the property of Thomas M. Goodlake.
Peter Handel for stealing two fowls, at Freshwater on the
14th of September 1862, the property of William Lane, was sentenced to three
months’ imprisonment.
James Simmonds and John Groves were charged with stealing
a coat, the property of Henry Groves, at Newport, on the 14th July. Simmonds
pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment. Groves was
acquitted.
The Isle of Wight 150 years ago