Thursday 2 April 1891

DIED at Barkly West on 27thmarch, Dorothy Metcalfe, infant daughter of Willie and Amy BROWN.

A FATAL DOSE
A contemporary reports a sad case of death through carelessness which happened on the farm Zuny, Alexandria district, last Friday. The eldest child of Mr. W.J. REID, a fine intelligent girl of eight summers, was laid up from an attack of low fever. Dr. DREW had been called in and prescribed for the child: unfortunately, however, Mr. REID had procured a bottle of carbolic acid for disinfecting purposes, and on Friday morning Mrs. POTGIETER, who was nursing the child, mistook the carbolic acid for the child’s medicine and gave her a tablespoonful of it, resulting in death within half an hour after the dose had been administered. Great sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. REID in this sad bereavement which has befallen them.

SUICIDE
Mr. John Michael HIDDINGH, of Capetown, has committed suicide at an hotel at Hastings.

SHOCKING SUICIDE
A most distressing occurrence is reported from Touws River. On Saturday morning the manager of Messrs. Logan’s refreshment establishment, named CROWTHER, shot himself in a manner evidencing much premeditated determination. The deceased, it appears, went to a social gathering on the previous evening, and retired to rest in the small hours. When his boy went to the bedroom to call him at his usual hour, CROWTHER threatened to shoot him if he did not go away. Shortly after a loud report was heard, and two men, rushing into the room, found that the deceased had almost shattered his head to atoms. He had loaded a double-barrelled gun, sat on the bed, tying the trigger to one of the posts. Having placed the barrels in his mouth, it is presumed, he leaned back and completed the tragedy. No cause is assigned for the rash act.

Saturday 4 April 1891

CENSUS OF 1891
Regulations for Persons and Livestock Travelling by Rail or Road
Published for General Information
1. It shall be the duty of every person travelling in any railway carriage by rail, or employed in or upon any railway train, on the night of the Census Day, the 5th April 1891, to answer fully, truly and correctly all questions put to him or her by any Railway Enumerator, to enable such an Enumerator to fill up a Householder’s Form in resect of such person, and of the livestock, if any, in charge of such person. Every form so filled up shall be attested by the signature or mark of such person.
2. To every such person shall be delivered a pass, recording the fact that such person has been so enumerated by a Railway Enumerator, which such person shall be bound to produce, on demand, to any Enumerator, Supervisor or Police Constable requiring the same.
3. Every person who, during the night of 5th April 1891, shall have had no fixed place of residence, or who shall not have been abiding in any dwelling or ship of which an account is to be taken by some Enumerator, or who shall have been travelling or camping out on that night, or whose name from any other cause is not included in any Census Form, shall, on the following day, or so soon after as practicable, attend at the residence or edifice of an Enumerator, Supervisor or Field-cornet, and shall then and there either fill up a census Form or supply the required particulars to enable a form to be filled up by such Enumerator, Supervisor or Field-cornet.
4. Ii shall be the duty of the owner or person in charge of every wagon or other vehicle (whether plying for him or not) proceeding on any journey necessitating an outspan or camp-out on the night of the 5th April 1891, to make such arrangements as will ensure the complete Enumeration of all the passengers travelling in or upon such wagon or other vehicle, as well as the other persons and the livestock forming part of the retinue of such owner or person in charge. Provided that nothing in this Section contained shall absolve any such Passenger or other person from individual liability under the Third Section of those Regulations, should such owner or person in charge fail to ensure such Enumeration.
5. Any person who, without reasonable or sufficient cause, fails to comply with any of the foregoing Regulations, shall be liable to the penalty provided by Act No.4 of 1890.
John HEMMING C.C.
Supervisor
Grahamstown, March 28th 1891

DIED at her residence, Bathurst, on 2nd April 1891, Margaret, the beloved wife of Jas. McNALLY, aged 76 years. R.I.P.

Tuesday 7 April 1891

DIED at the Rectory, Southwell, on Monday April 6th 1891, of inflammation of the lungs, Reginald Allen Douglas, beloved infant son (the fourth and only son) of the Rev. William Robert and Eleanor Jane BRUCE, aged 2 months and ten days.

DEATH OF A JOURNALIST
Mr. D. SLATTER, forty years a Natal colonist, at one time proprietor of the Times of Natal, has just died in England while on a visit there.

DEATH AT LOVEDALE
We regret to hear of the death of Mrs. MUIRHEAD of Lovedale, which sad event took place on Friday morning. The girls of the Institute have lost (says the Mercury) a friend whose presence will be greatly missed.

DROWNED
A sad bathing fatality is reported from Waterval, near Mulder’s Drift Hotel, in the Transvaal. Two young men, named SWARTZ and HELLWICK, went into a pool to bathe, where several others were already bathing. SWARTZ was seen to sink. An attempt by HELLWICK to rescue him failed, and both were drowned.

Thursday 9 April 1891

DEATH OF A NATIVE MINISTER
The S.A. Methodist reports the decease of the Rev. Moses SEPTEMBER, Native Minister at Colesberg, who died after a long illness on the 2nd instant. Mr. SEPTEMBER, who was born and brought up in Grahamstown where his parents still reside, was much respected both as a man and a minister, and though still a young man had rendered good service in several important native circuits.

WEDDINGS
On Tuesday morning the Rev. M. NORTON solemnised at Christ Church the nuptials of Miss Edith Ann GIBSON and Mr. J.J. TUPHOLME, of Mr. E.W. WELLS’s staff. On Wednesday afternoon the same clergyman united in the mystic union Miss Ida CURRIN and Mr. Andrew JAMIESON. We hope that the two new matrimonial firms will enjoy every felicity that marriage can confer, and that they will be able after years of experience to return a decided negative to the question: “Is marriage a failure?”

MARRIED on the 8th April at St.George’s Cathedral Grahamstown, by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, assisted by the Very Reverend the Dean, Frederick Ziervogel MELVILL, of Graaff-Reinet, to Lilian, second daughter of Thomas HOLLAND, Evelyn House, Grahamstown.

HYMENEAL
Yesterday at the Cathedral Miss Lilian HOLLAND, second daughter of our esteemed townsman Mr. Thos. HOLLAND, was united in the bonds of wedlock with Mr. Fred. Z. MELVILL, son of Mr. A.M. MELVILL of Graaffreinet. The ceremony was most impressively performed by the Bishop, assisted by the Dean and the Rev. O.W. JENKINS. Mr. B.B. ATTWELL presided at the Organ, and the service included appropriate hymns and the ever popular “Wedding March”. The bride, who looked charming, was attired in orthodox array, but we are not sufficiently versed in the technical terms of feminine finery to attempt a description of it. She was supported by her four sisters, Miss Alice, Miss Mary, Miss Ada and Miss “Charlie” HOLLAND, who were all tastefully dressed in some delicate cream material, the effect of which was particularly pretty. Mr. Arthur MELVILL “saw fair play” for the bridegroom in “the most trying period of a lifetime”. The bride was given away by her father. After the ceremony the guests repaired to Evelyn House, where Mr. and Mrs. HOLLAND received them in the most hospitable manner, and the usual speeches were enlivened by liquid and solid sustenance of the choicest kind. Mr. and Mrs. MELVILL left by the 1:20 pm train for Coorney en route for the Zuurberg, where the honeymoon will be passed. We join with the numerous friends and relatives in wishing them every possible connubial bliss.

GOLDEN WEDDING
Two of our most respected townsfolk, the Rev. W. IMPEY and Mrs. IMPEY, celebrated their Golden Wedding yesterday. May all the numerous marriages of which we hear every day result as happily as the one whose fiftieth anniversary was celebrated yesterday. It is difficult to imagine a happier lot than that of our esteemed friends, surrounded in the peaceful evening of their days by loving and devoted children and children’s children. We heartily congratulate Mr. and Mrs. IMPEY on the occasion and trust that they may still long be spared to their many friends.

Saturday 11 April 1891

MARRIED at Christ Church, Grahamstown, on April 8 1891 by the Rev. M. Norton, Andrew Tofts, second son of the late Mr. A. JAMIESON, to Ida Alice, second daughter of the late Mr. Richard CURRIN.

THE FATAL DISSELBOOM
While Mr. G. ERASMUS was returning to the Indwe from Queenstown recently with a loaded wagon, his son, a boy of eleven years, slipped off the disselboom, and both wheels of the wagon passed over him, killing him on the spot.

SUDDEN DEATH
A sudden death is reported by the Natal Mercury as having occurred at [Avoun], in the Umgeni division. Miss Nettie McINTYRE, a comely young lady of sixteen, complained one day of headache, and expired on the following evening, death resulting from acute inflammation of the brain.

SAD FATALITY
At the Glencairn Mine on Saturday Mr. Thomas REID, who had but just taken over the management of the mine, was descending a shaft when the rope attached to the cage broke, and he was precipitated to the bottom. His injuries were such that death followed almost immediately upon the accident.

SUICIDE
We regret to learn that Mr. HORNSBROOK, who was at one time well known on the Diamond Fields, has committed suicide by drowning in the Vaal River at Christina. The deceased was the third son of Rev. Mr. HORNSBROOK, founder of the Wesleyan mission in the West Indies. He had been in different parts of Africa many years, and served with the Grahamstown Horse Artillery during the Kafir war of 1877, being wounded at the Battle of Quintani. He also served through the Zulu war of 1879, as paymaster of Commandant NETTLETON’s contingent.

Thursday 16 April 1891

DIED at Stone Cottage, Prince Alfred’s Road, on April 16 1891, Emily Ellen, third and beloved daughter of J.O. and A.M. ROGERS, aged 15 years 1 month and 20 days.
The Funeral of the above will leave the residence of her father, opposite the Albany Hospital, tomorrow (Friday) afternoon at 4 o’clock. Friends respectfully invited to attend.

SAD DEATH
We deeply regret to hear of the sad death of Miss Ellen ROGERS, daughter of our townsman Mr. J.O. ROGERS. The poor girl, who was only 15 years old, contracted a severe cold recently, and it became fastened upon her. The disease progressed with fearful rapidity, and in a few days she died. The bereaved parents will have sincere sympathy in their sorrow.

Tuesday 21 April 1891

 DIED at Stone Cottage, Prince Alfred’s Road, on April 16 1891, Emily Ellen, third and beloved daughter of J.O. and A.M. ROGERS, aged 15 years 1 month and 20 days.
The family tender their sincere thanks to Dr. E. ATHERSTONE and the many friends who were so kind to them in their sad bereavement.

Thursday 23 April 1891

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT DE BEERS
On Saturday at 11:30 am (says the D.F. Advertiser) an accident of a shocking and fatal description took place in the rock shaft, De Beers Consolidated Mines. The cage, which was bringing up two miners to dinner, received a sudden shock when about 500 feet from the bottom, and jerked one of the men, named William MADDEN, out. This was caused by the skip, which was being drawn up at the same time, overtaking the cage, and the concussion was so violent that MADDEN was precipitated to the bottom of the shaft. His more fortunate mate was hauled to the mouth of the shaft. He had sustained some serious bruises and cuts. A party was dispatched to the bottom to ascertain what had become of MADDEN. The body was found to be in a shattered condition. Seemingly he had fallen on his head; the features were unrecognisable. Deceased is about 26 years of age. He was a North countryman. He was much admired for his powerful physique, and his genial temperament won him the esteem of his fellows. He leaves a widow and two or three children who are in England. He returned about three months ago from a visit home. His father only arrived her per the Roslin Castle last week.

MARRIAGE AT ST.GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL
Seldom has such a gathering been seen in St.George’s Cathedral as that which was attracted by the marriage ceremony of Mr. George Impey RICHARDS with Miss Susan Jessie CROZIER yesterday afternoon. Long before the hour (2:30 pm) appointed for the service the cathedral began to fill, with friends and the general public, and on the arrival of the bride, escorted by her uncle, Mr. John E. WOOD, every available point of advantage and sight in the galleries and area of the Church was crowded. Both bride and bridegroom have long been associated with Grahamstown through family traditions or the closer ties of residence and acquaintanceship. The bride, who has grown up among us and endeared herself to a large circle of friends, is a granddaughter of the late Hon. George WOOD M.L.C., and daughter of Mrs. G.N. CROZIER, a highly esteemed and valued resident of Grahamstown for many years. The bridegroom is also not unknown to this city, being the son of the late Mr. William A. RICHARDS, who was formerly a printer in the firm of Messrs. GODLONTON, RICHARDS & Co, RICHARDS, GLANVILLE & Co, and RICHARDS, SISTER & Co, proprietors of the old established Journal newspaper. Mr. George Impey RICHARDS, we believe, is connected with his late father’s firm in Capetown, and also with the firm of the E.P. Herald, and is at present a resident in Port Elizabeth. The bride was attended to the altar by the Misses Lilian and “Charlie” CROZIER, her sisters, and Miss Gertie WOOD, a cousin, as bridesmaids, with four sweet looking little flower girls, the Misses Norah CROZIER, Hetty HOOLE, a cousin, Dorothy WALTON, a niece of the bridegroom, and Madge SHAND, and a very beautiful tableau they presented in their pretty costumes, difficult indeed for the “more masculine creature” to describe, but, assisted by competent technical aid which we have invoked for the occasion, we append some details. The bridegroom was supported by his brother Mr. Alfred RICHARDS as his groomsman. The service was conducted by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Grahamstown, assisted by the Very Rev. the Dean and the Rev. F.H. CARTER, Precentor of the Cathedral, and was of a very impressive character. Mr. A.H. DAY presided at the organ and played several appropriate selections on the occasion, suitable hymns being also sung by the congregation. The bride’s dress was a marvel of beauty from the accomplished hands of Madame Ambrose, of Messrs. T.H. Copeland and Son, which firm also supplied several other handsome costumes of the trousseau. The bridal costume was of rich ivory white moiré antique, with court train (8 yards long), the whole front of the dress being exquisitely embroidered in crystal and [satin] beads [on] ivory gros de Lyons. The court train was made round, and lined with duchesse satin, and bordered with a heavy bullion of gros de Lyons, the tout ensemble being simply perfection. The bridesmaids wore dresses of cream nun’s veiling, trimmed with orange striped satin and pongee silk, wreaths and bouquets of red and yellow flowers, the beautiful work of Mrs. WATSON. The Flower Girls were dressed in cream nun’s veiling with sleeves and yokes of heliotrope pongee silk, wreaths of blush roses, and carried baskets of flowers tied with heliotrope ribbon. The bride’s mother, in an elegant combination of black velvet and grey moiré, with train 2½ yards long, looked charming. We noticed amongst the trousseau at Messrs. T.H. Copeland and Son’s a lovely visiting gown in the renaissance style of cheré moiré and black velvet. Another charming evening frock of green-blue silk, trimmed with tulle and green feathers, and a travelling gown of tailor-made cheviot tweed, trimmed with fur, and toque to match.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the Cathedral bells rang out a joyous peel, and the wedding party drove to “Bella Vista”, the residence of the mother of the bride, where many friends and relatives were met to give a hearty greeting to the happy young people now indissolubly made one in life and all its interests. The wedding cake provided for the occasion was a grand confection of Messrs. W.A. Fletcher & Son. The wedding gifts were numerous, many of them costly and all of them useful or ornamental. Many congratulatory telegrams and several cheques were received during the day from absent friends and we would desire to add our good wishes for the future happiness of both bride and bridegroom. Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDS left town in the evening for Queenstown, via Kingwilliamstown, prior to settling down to the daily realities of life, which we trust will prove no rougher than “crumpled rose leaves”.

Saturday 25 April 1891

MARRIED at St.George’s Cathedral on the 22nd April by the Bishop of Grahamstown, assisted by the Very Rev. Dean H. Innes and the Rev. T.H. Carter, George Impey, third son of the late Mr. W.A. RICHARDS, to Susan Jessie, third daughter of Mrs. CROZIER.

Thursday 30 April 1891

THE LATE CENSUS
[Extract]
The grand total for the Colony, including all annexed territories, is 1,523,987, of which European, or white, are 376,720 and all other races 1,147,267.