Thursday 1 November 1900

We regret to note that Pvt. Fred WALLACE, of the Jagersfontein Town Guard, was shot dead in the defence of the town. He is the nephew of our esteemed Mayor, Lieut.Col. A.E. NELSON. It is satisfactory to learn that the Boer who fired the fatal shot was himself shot dead at almost the same minute.

At Durban a bricklayer named WHITE has been remanded on the charge of murdering his wife. They lived in a tent on the Eastern Vlei. According to the testimony of their little son, the prisoner knocked his wife down with a stick, and she died from the injuries. The District Surgeon said the body was a mass of bruises.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. MAITLAND
The funeral of the late Mr. James MAITLAND took place yesterday afternoon from his late residence. The deceased’s widow and child, and Mr CLARK, were the chief mourners, while Messrs. FORBES, BRISLIN, SHAND, FORSYTH, McLAREN and ELLIOT represented the pall-bearers. The Rev. G.W. CROSS conducted the burial service at the graveside. Mr. A. WILL performed his duties in his usual satisfactory manner.

Saturday 3 November 1900

CORRECTION
In our mention of the funeral of the late Mr. James MAITLAND we stated that Mrs. MAITLAND was present. In this we inadvertently made a mistake. Mr. Jas. SHADWELL, brother of Mrs. MAITLAND, and a child of deceased, were the chief mourners present.

Thursday 8 November 1900

A PRETTY WEDDING
COWLING – TURPIN
Yesterday afternoon in St.Philip’s Mission Church the Bishop of Grahamstown, assisted by the Rev. C.H.L. PACKMAN, joined in holy matrimony Mr. W.C. COWLING, of Capetown, to Miss Grace TURPIN, youngest daughter of the Rev. W.H. TURPIN, of this City.
The bride looked extremely well in a handsome gown and full court train of Ivory Satin Damascene. The bodice was swathed Berthe wise and had transparent chemisette and sleeves of Brussels lace, with gauntlets, and also the fichu of Crepe-de-Chine, tastefully finished with lace and orange blossoms. The overskirt had a deep shaped flounce of Crepe-de-Chine also trimmed with lace. The train fell from the shoulders showing the waist line was exquisitely draped with lace, with a large horseshoe of orange blossoms placed on the left corner. A visiting gown was of pastel blue voile, the bodice was made with a bolero of Point-de-Flandres lace which opened over a vest of finely pleated Mousseline-de-Soie, of which the sleevelets were also made, both being daintily finished with black bebe ribbon velvet, the skirt being most elaborately tacked. These were made by the well known firm of MUIRHEAD & GOWIE.
The bridesmaid was Miss TURPIN, and the flower girls were Misses Dorothy HEATHCOTE (niece of the bride) and Ernestina GREENLEES, all of whom looked charming. The best man was Mr. R. OLVER of Johannesburg. The bride was given away by her father. After the ceremony the bridal party repaired to the residence, where the presents were displayed, which were much admired, and where the newly-wedded couple held a reception, and the usual festivities were carried out.
Mr. and Mrs, COWLING left by the afternoon train for Port Alfred for the honeymoon, before going to their future home in Wynberg. We join with their many friends in wishing that every happiness and joy may be theirs.

Saturday 10 November 1900

MARRIED at St.Philip’s Church, Grahamstown, on Wednesday Nov. 7th 1900, by the Lord Bishop of Grahamstown, assisted by the Rev. C.H.L. Packman M.A., W.C. COWLING, of Claremont, to Grace Matilda, youngest daughter of the Rev. W.H. TURPIN.

Thursday 15 November 1900

MARRIED at Trinity Church, Grahamstown, by the Rev Martin Dower, on Wednesday Nov 14th 1900, Leonard, the youngest son of the late Mr. Leonard COATES of Orton, Westmoreland, England, to Ethel Daisy, youngest daughter of Mr. S. MURRAY, of Grahamstown.

SUICIDE
A European named David TRIPLEY, a native of Stirling, Scotland, who had been employed as labourer at Salt River Works, was found dead in his room at Woodstock, with a knife sticking out of the back of his neck. It was proved that the case was one of suicide, the deceased man having severed his jugular vein and bled to death.
[Transcriber’s note: The Death Certificate gives his name as TRIPNEY. and his date of death as 12 November 1900]

A PRETTY WEDDING
COATES – MURRAY
Trinity Church was the scene of a very pretty and fashionable wedding yesterday when Mr. Leonard COATES, youngest son of the late Mr. Leonard COATES of Orton, England, was married to Miss Ethel Daisy MURRAY, youngest daughter of Mr. S. MURRAY of Grahamstown. The sacred ceremony was performed by the Rev. Martin DOWER, and the bride was given away by her father, who wore his full uniform (Nesbitt’s Horse).
The bridesmaid was Miss Mabel MURRAY, sister of the bride, who wore a pretty white muslin dress, trimmed with chiffon, and black picture hat. She was followed by two sweet little flower girls, Misses Amy and [Nina WILL........], nieces of the bride. All the ladies of the wedding party carried magnificent shower bouquets. The best man was Mr. A. MURRAY, brother of the bride, who also wore his uniform, having just returned from the Seat of War.
The bride was very charming and was attired in a lovely white silk costume, trimmed with real lace and chiffon, and a white hat trimmed with ostrich feathers. These were the work of the well known local firm of Messrs. MUIRHEAD & GOWIE.
Miss TIDMARSH ably presided at the organ and sent the grand old Wedding March pealing joyously out. After the ceremony the happy party repaired to the residence of the bride’s father, where a sumptuous breakfast was provided, and where the beautiful and costly presents were displayed. The lucky bridegroom’s present to the bride was a gold watch and chain, and to the bridesmaid and flower girls gold brooches.
Mr. and Mrs, COATES received the most hearty felicitations and telegrams of congratulation from their large circle of friends. They left by the 11am train for Port Elizabeth for their honeymoon. The Railway Station was partially and prettily decorated in honour of the occasion, Mr. COATES being a valued member of the Staff. The wedding equipages were well provided by Mr. F. VAN DER AS.

A DOUBLE FUNERAL
The extraordinary sight of a double funeral was to be seen yesterday afternoon, when the late Mr. and Mrs. LAWLER were buried. The two old people died within a few hours of each other, of bronchitis. Mrs. LAWLER passed away on Sunday night and Mr. LAWLER in the small hours of Monday morning. The funeral was a long one, and the Rev. Father [...LY] conducted a short service at St.Patrick’s Cathedral, and also at the graveside. Arrangements were successfully carried out by Mr. A. WILL. We tender our sincere sympathies to the bereaved family.

Our hearty congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. HOLLAND, who yesterday attained the great age of 98. During the day she was visited by Mrs. [SCHREINER], who has herself reached the advanced age of 88.

KILLED BY MISHAP
At Maritzburg on Monday a number of cadets were having a sham fight, with blank cartridges, and one squad attempted to overturn another. A boy ran up to a son of Rev. Frank GREEN and, presenting his carbine to the boy’s back, fired, at the same time calling out “You are my prisoner”. The force of the explosion, at the very short range at which the gun was fired, rendered young GREEN unconscious, and in this condition he was carried to Gray’s Hospital, where after lying for a few hours in a very critical condition, he died on Tuesday last.

FATAL ACCIDENT
Maritzburg, Tuesday (Reuter)
Harold GREEN, the Cadet injured during the sham fight yesterday, has succumbed to his injuries, which were of a shocking character. A hole was blown in the boy’s side by the explosion. The funeral this afternoon will be attended by all Cadets in town. The youth who fired the fatal shot is prostrate with grief.

DEATH OF A BOER LEADER
General GRAVETT, of the Boer forces, died at Rosenthal, Transvaal on 26th October, aged [46]. He was wounded by a shell and died from inflammation. general SPRAYT has succeeded him.

Saturday 17 November 1900

DIED on the 25th Oct at Briercliffe Vicarage, near Burnley, Lancashire, Agnes MATTHEWS.

DEATH OF A PRISONER
Michael Christian GENIS, for about 11 years Registrar in Bechuanaland under the Imperial and Colonial Governments, died on Wednesday after a short illness, at the age of [67]. Deceased had been under arrest on a charge of high treason, but was removed to his home when his illness became serious, and he died there.

A JOURNALIST’S DEATH
At Mossel Bay Mr. Joseph POWRIE sen., late proprietor of the M.B. Advertiser, died on Saturday last of an attack of congestion of the lungs, after a few days’ illness.

Tuesday 20 November 1900

DEATH OF MISS AYLIFF
We report with extreme regret the decease of Miss Esther AYLIFF, which occurred in London on Saturday last. As far as we have been able to gather, the cause of death was influenza, from which both Miss AYLIFF and her sister had been suffering. Both these much respected ladies left Grahamstown some months ago for a sojourn in England, and it had been hoped that the result would be that they would recruit their strength and spirits, which had suffered through the illness and decease of their brother, Mr. Reuben AYLIFF. Previous however to the cables which arrived at the end of last week, one announcing Miss Esther AYLIFF’s serious illness, and the second that it had proved fatal, it was not known on this side that she was unwell. The sad event came as a most painful surprise, not only to the relatives of the deceased lady, whose family name is a household word throughout South Africa, but also to an unusually large circle of friends, by whom Miss AYLIFF was esteemed and beloved. On receipt of the sad intelligence the Mayor (Lieut.Col. A.E. NELSON) ordered the municipal flag to be hoisted half mast high over the Town Hall, and other flags were similarly half-masted in the Square.

Thursday 22 November 1900

BIRTH at Grahamstown on Nov 17th 1900, the wife of Mr. H. MIRKIN of a son. Both doing well.
Bro’sh Miloh will take place on Saturday 24th at 10am. All friends cordially invited to attend. No cards.

DIED in London on the 17th November 1900, Esther, second daughter of the late Rev. John AYLIFF. Her death is a subject of very general regret to her many friends and relations.

SUDDEN DEATH
SUB-INSPECTOR M.K. CROZIER
It is our sad duty today to report that a telegram has been received in town from Major AYLIFF C.M.P., which conveys the mournful intelligence that Sub-Inspector Middleton K. CROZIER of the Cape Police has died suddenly at Daniels Kuil. Sub Inspector CROZIER was the son of the late Mr. Gibson CROZIER of this City, and is a nephew of Mr. J.E. WOOD M.L.A. and Mr. H.R. WOOD, and an old Grahamstown boy, having been educated at the Public School here. This gallant young officer, the youngest and one of the [smartest] of Sub-Inspectors in that useful body the Cape Police, won great distinction in the Langeberg campaign, where he practically saved a difficult situation. He also won brilliant [....] during the Siege of Kimberley, through which he went safely, and has since then been bravely doing his duty at the seat of war. We are told he bore a high character in the Regiment and at Headquarters, and none will be more missed than he, both by relatives, friends and comrades. We can only tender our sincere sympathies to the bereaved wife and relatives, who will have hosts of sympathisers in their sore affliction.

THE LATE MRS. J.B. RENNIE
We are favoured with the following details of the life of the late Mrs. J.B. RENNIE, one of the original settlers of 1820. Mrs. RENNIE came out in the Brilliant with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert PRINGLE, under the leadership of Thomas PRINGLE, and landed at Algoa Bay in 1820, then a girl 10 years old. From there the Scotch Party passed over the Zuurberg, crossed the Fish River near Slagte’s Nek, up the Baviaan’s River, and settled at the upper end of the river, where she got married a few years later, and spent the greater part of her life. In 1850 she lost her husband, and just three months after the Kafir “War of the Axe” broke out, and she had to fly, leaving all her household property with the exception of what she could put into a small tent wagon, with her eight children, the youngest being two years old. She went to her brother, the late W.D. PRINGLE, who protected her and her children during the whole of that trying time. When peace was again restored she had no home to go to, her house with everything in it having been burnt to the ground, and stock of every kind lost. After the war she took up her residence in Somerset East for the purpose of educating her children. In 1858 she returned to her old home to begin life again, and when her sons were old enough to take over the farming, she went to Queenstown for a few years. Since then her old home has been her resting place, but annually she visited her children in the Queenstown district, and this year had paid her round of visits, and was preparing to return home, when she caught a severe cold, which turned to bronchitis, and carried her away at the grand old age of 90 years. Up to within a week of her death she could read and write, and walk about without any assistance. Her life has truly been a noble and unselfish one.

DEATH BY MISHAP
Mr. John Williamson INGRAM, an engine-driver in the employ of Messrs. [PYOTT], Port Elizabeth, was engaged cutting up firewood by means of a circular saw on Thursday, when a large piece of wood caught in the machinery, swung over, and pinned INGRAM to the wall. The next morning he felt very unwell, and was taken to the Provincial Hospital, where he died the same afternoon from internal injuries.

Saturday 24 November 1900

DIPHTHERIA
An outbreak of diphtheria has occurred at Sutherland, causing twelve deaths out of about fifteen reported cases. People are most careless about the disease, notwithstanding warnings from the authorities. The Municipality has appointed Dr. HAYTON Medical Officer of Health.

Tuesday 27 November 1900

BIRTH at Lombard’s Post, Southwell, on Nov 23rd 1900, the wife of Mr. J.H. REED of a daughter

DECEASE OF LADY SPRIGG
The news of the decease of Lady SPRIGG, which arrived in town by wire yesterday, caused very general regret and sympathy with Sir Gordon SPRIGG and his family. The sad event was not unexpected, as it had been known for some time that Lady SPRIGG was sinking from a painful internal malady, which was incurable. All will unite in condolences with the Premier, who to the anxieties connected with the Government of the Colony at this critical period, has had added the pain of heavy trouble and bereavement.

Thursday 29 November 1900

BIRTH in London on the 25th November, the wife of Captain W.M. WRIGHT, of Highlands, of a daughter.

MARRIED on the 28th inst, Arthur James NORTON, of Grahamstown, to Edith Mary, third daughter of Charles BROWN, of Oxfordshire, England.

MURDER OF NEUMEYER
Kimberley, Wednesday (Reuter)
The D.F. Advertiser’s Correspondent states that the late Lieut. NEUMEYER, who is reported to have been murdered, was a Free Stater by birth, residing at Smithfield, but went to East London on the outbreak of hostilities. He took no part in the war but joined the Police after the annexation. He was one of the Pioneers who fought at the first Matabeleland war, and as a Scout under Col. PLUMER in the last war, receiving the distinguished service medal. He leaves a mother, wife and child.

DEATH OF COLONEL BOWKER
There are few persons of any considerable length of residence in this Colony who have not heard of the BOWKER family – a family of warriors and genuine Colonists. The Colonial history of the BOWKERs dates from the year when so many other gallant and useful colonists date their career – 1820. But the BOWKERs had the distinguished characteristic of being the first in the field and the last out of it, in the three Kafir wars of 1835, 1846 and 1850. They were perhaps the most unerring shots with the rifle that South Africa ever saw, and their courage was of the pertinacious bulldog type that marks the thoroughbred English gentleman wherever he elects to reside, and among whom he elects to cast in his lot. Colonel James Henry BOWKER died on Saturday week at Malvern Hill, Natal, to which locality he retired after being pensioned off from the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police some dozen or so years ago. A scholar by training and a warrior by inclination, BOWKER was never so happy as when leading his men on to an attack. He was an unerring shot, and like all his clan, brave as a lion. Not only did the Colonel do good service in the war of 1846, the War of the Axe as history terms it, but when the Kat River rebellion broke out, headed by UITHALDER and fomented by furious sermons of sundry preachers, then Colonel BOWKER took the field, and was at the memorable fight at and capture of Fort Armstrong (medal and clasp). When the Frontier Mounted and Armed Police were established under Sir Walter CURRIE, James BOWKER was appointed inspector with the relative rank of Captain in the Army. He was in command of the Transkeian expedition, remaining in that territory until [186?]. In 1870 he succeeded to the chief command of the F.M. and Armed Police and commanded the expedition to the Diamond Fields for their [application] to the Colony. This was successful, and at its termination three commissioners were appointed to administer the government of the Diamond Field. Mr. BOWKER was Chief Commissioner. His next public act was in command of the expedition to Tembuland. He it was who selected the site for the present town of Umtata. It was Colonel BOWKER who organised and led the expedition against the dangerous chief LANGALIBALELE. BOWKER effected the capture of this notorious and treacherous chief, and was publicly thanked for his courage and wisdom by both the Colonial and Imperial authorities. But even the most arduous fighting must come to an end, and the days drew near when Colonel BOWKER must lay down the sword and take up either pruning-hook or pen. He took up the latter, and studious by nature – a naturalist, a botanist and a geographer – he devoted his leisure to the peaceful study of those sciences, and was, in consideration of his grand abilities and devotion to science, elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and for his work on the fauna of South Africa he was elected a Fellow of the Zoological Society. For various and complex data and statistics, which he compiled and transmitted to England, he was elected Fellow of the Statistical Society of Great Britain. The BOWKERS, the Fighting BOWKERS, as the five brothers were called, have all distinguished themselves in the interests of the Colony, but for hard work, hard knocks and hard study the brave old Colonel, James Henry BOWKER, stood head and shoulder above his brothers. He died, as we have said, last week, at the age of 71. – Telegraph.