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Queenstown Free Press

Queenstown Free Press 1889 3 July - September

Tuesday July 2, 1889

The Late Mr. COLLINS
The remains of Mr Walter Kennedy COLLINS, telegraphist Queenstown, were laid to rest in the quiet Cemetery of Tarkastad on Saturday afternoon. The deceased came from East London to Queenstown in enfeebled health about 18 months ago and proceeded to Tarkastad for a change about six months back. Unfortunately the malady (Consumption) from which he suffered, had got too firm a hold to be thrown off and he succumbed to a complicated affection of the lungs on Friday morning. During Mr COLLINS' illness both in Queen's Town and Tarkastad, kind friends have in every way endeavoured to alleviate his sufferings, and the large concourse which followed his remains to the grave on Saturday shewed that though but a comparative stranger in Tarkastad he had endeared himself to many...

FATAL ACCIDENT.- From the Dispatch we learn that the other day a little boy named William HEIFFRON, eight years of age, whose father was recently in the Municipal Police, was at the Harbour Works playing with some others, and had got on to one of the tip-trucks which was being hauled by a locomotive, It would appear that the unfortunate boy fell off, and was crushed and picked up lifeless, the left arm being broken at the elbow, the side crushed, and the spine broken. He was
taken to the man in charge of the crane, who carried him home, but he died at the railway crossing.

Friday July 5, 1889

BIRTH- At Queenstown on the 3rd July, 1889, the wife of Mr. P. CARLSON, of a son. 

DIED,- At Tarkastadt, on the 28th June, Walter Kennedy COLLINS, Cape Telegrapher, aged 32. Deeply regretted.

Tuesday July 9, 1889

DIED at Kent House, Queenstown, on the 6th day of July, Charles Leonard, the infant son of S. and S.A. MORUM, aged 3 months and 6 days.

We regret to hear of the death of Mrs. CORYNDON, relict of the late Salby CORYNDON Esq., formerly practicing as a Solicitor in Queenstown. The sad event took place suddenly at Kimberley on Friday last.

DEATH OF A NUN.
The Penny Mail of Monday last reports the death of a nun – Sister Agatha – in the Grahamstown Convent. "On Saturday afternoon," says our City contemporary, there passed away one of the oldest, most amiable, and beloved of the good Sisters of the Grahamstown Convent. We allude to Sister Agatha, who was known far and wide as an accomplished musician, a successful teacher, a conscientious worker who was up and ready for action at duty's call, and a cheerful and happy withal.... For nearly 40 years – since the Kafir war of 1850 – Sister Agatha, of the convent of our Lady of Good Hope, has scarcely for a day been absent through illness from her post at the head of S. Joseph's Mission School for the poorer children of all denominations in this city. During all that time fully 1,500 children have come and gone. Receiving at her hands all their little stock of secular knowledge, and many a lesson of truth, goodness and Christian kindness. She left the school a few days before the June holidays, took to her bed, and notwithstanding all the care of Drs. ATHERSTONE and GREATHEAD, succumbed to an ailment which she feared for a long time.... The subject of this memoir (Anne BERTRAM) was the sister of the Hon. J.P. BERTRAM, M.L.C., P.D. BERTRAM, and Hermanus, one of Sir Walter CURRIE's bravest men in the troubled days of border
warfare...

Friday July 12, 1889

DIED at Queenstown on the 9th July, Louisa Ellen BARNES (born GARRET) beloved wife of Walter BARNES, age 35. Mr. BARNES wishes to tender his thanks to all kind friends who assisted during his wife's illness.

Tuesday July 16, 1889

DIED at Queenstown on 11th July, Florence May, third daughter of E. and S.E. LOGAN, aged 2 years, 2 months and 9 days.

Friday July 19, 1889

MARRIED,- At Lady Frere, on the 16th July, 1889, by the Rev. DODD, Francis Thomas, youngest son of the late George ELGAR, F.R.C.S., formerly Surgeon of the 11th Hussars, to Albertina Mary Caroline, eldest daughter of C. GOTTSCH, Esq., of Waterford, Lady Frere. We very much regret to record the sudden death, on Wednesday last at East London, of Mr. Jan DE VILLIERS, of Baileyton, in this district. The remains were brought up by train during the night. Deceased leaves a family and large circle of friends to mourn their loss. We tender our sympathy and condolence to the bereaved ones in their sudden affliction.

A distressing case of suicide occurred at Taungs on the night of June 25th, when Trooper LATCHO, of the B.B.P., shot himself through the head. The unfortunate man – who, although a trooper for so many years, could not yet have been thirty years old,- had just returned from a duty journey along the Cape Colonial Border, and his mind must have been affected when he committed the rash act. It appears he took half-a-dozen cartridges into his hut that night, telling his comrades he was going to shoot cats. During the night a rifle report was heard, and the men rushing in, LATCHO was found lying dead a discharged rifle by his side, and the top of his head blown into atoms by a bullet which had been fired into his left temple. – Bechuanaland News.

Friday July 26, 1889

BIRTH.- At Cala on the morning of the 15th inst. The wife of Mr. E. KELLY, of a daughter.

DIED.- At East London on the 17th inst. Jan Stephanus DE VILLIERS, of Schoolfontein, Baileyton, aged 47 years. Deeply regretted.

Friday August 2, 1889

The death of Mrs BRYANT, wife of the Rev. W.R. BRYANT, Wesleyan Minister of Port Elizabeth, is announced. The sad event took place on Wednesday in last week.

Friday August 9, 1990

BIRTH at Queenstown on the 5th August, 1889, the wife of Mr. J.A. CHUBB of a daughter.

The Alice Times chronicles the demise at the age of 76 years, of the Rev. George BROWN of St. Mungo's Chumie, which sad event took place on the 27th ult. The deceased was married to one of the daughters of the late Scotch Missionary, the Revd W CHALMERS. The late Mr BROWN came out to this Colony as a missionary prior to the war of 1850, and had therefore spent 50 years of his life as a colonist. He was elected twice as the representative of the division of Victoria East, and at all times exhibited great independence upon all public questions. Our contemporary concludes with sincere condolence to the bereaved ones in their affliction, and deplores the loss of a good public man and a thorough scholar.

Tuesday August 13, 1889

BIRTH,- At Queenstown on the 9th August, 1889, the wife of Geo. H. GASSON, of a Son.

The LATE A.N. ELLA ESQ. J.P.
"ELLA died Sunday." Such was the cablegram received by Mr J.M. PEACOCK, from his brother in London, during the past week. The news of this sad and sudden bereavement was broken to the two sons (Messrs. Percy and Harold ELLA) on Thursday evening, who were prostrated by the event to them and to every one so unexpected... Mr ELLA, from a very early period was always to the fore in any work for the welfare or safety of his fellow colonist, and like all true Britishers, he possessed indomitable cluck and perseverance. Arriving in the Colony before the 1850 war, he settled in Cradock for a time, and when Whittlesea was hemmed in by hoardes of barbarians during the war 1850, and their ammunition nearly used up, he made one of a party Cradock Bricks, to go to relieve Whittlesea by bringing a supply of ammunition to them...Mr ELLA leaves two sons and three daughters, children of the first marriage, and his widow, now on the seas on her return to the Colony. We tender our heartfelt sympathy to them all in their sad and sudden bereavement.

Friday August 16, 1889

THE TENNYSON SETTLEMENT.
Tennyson Settlement,
Queenstown, 14th August 1889.
To the Editor of the Free Press:-
Sir,- Mr Arthur CRUMPLIN, lately a Tennyson Settler, has addressed the enclosed letter to a contemporary of yours. Will you do me the favour to re-print Mr CRUMPLIN's letter, and my reply? I am averse to going to law, and I dislike writing to the newspapers, but I regard CRUMPLIN's case as a type, therefore ask your permission to make the following remarks:
According to a form of application flled up by A. CRUMPLIN and addressed to me, he was a farm servant until the age of 18. He then enlisted, and subsequently married a domestic servant. Discharged from the Army as a non-Commissioned Officer, he received excellent certificates from his superiors, and earned a small pension. CRUMPLIN then engaged in market-gardening, which, according to his own account, did not pay and presented no future. He was subsequently accepted as a candidate for the Tennyson Settlement, and received from Lady OSSINGTON the following charity:
1. Six months rations free.
2. An outfit for his children.
3. Schooling for his children.
4. Medical and nursing aid.
5. Use of ploughs, carts and implements.
6. A cottage, rent free.
7. Pay as Chief Constable on boardship on the passage out.
8. Sixty pounds worth of potatoes, besides such vegetables, milk &c., as were grown or supplied on the Settlement.
In return CRUMPLIN undertook to re-pay passage money, charged at a reduced rate, and certain cash advances for rail fare &c., He absconded from the Tennyson Settlement without meeting his liability, or in any way discharging the obligation he had incurred towards Lady OSSINGTON. I then applied to his Excellency the Administrator to help me to bring CRUMPLIN to book, and I am glad to say that, as an indirect result, the Solicitor to the Trust I administer reports to me that CRUMPLIN is under arrest. Any Tennyson Settler is free to leave the Settlement when and how he likes. But he is expected to make and honourable arrangement for the re-payment of that portion of the expenditure undertaken by the Viscountess OSSINGTON, which he has agreed to return. To allow a man of A. CRUMPLIN's stamp to ignore his just debt, and to cheat the lady who has done so much and so secretly for our English poor, makes my blood to boil, and I feel convinced there is not a white man in South Africa who will not advise the Tennyson Settlers that honesty is the best policy.
I have asked you to print this letter not because I care for the present attacks made on me, but because I am profoundly convinced that when the time comes for an account to be rendered for the deeds we have done in the flesh, it will be found that Lady OSSINGTON's generous and unselfish efforts to help England and to help Africa, have been ill rewarded by the action of such men as A. CRUMPLIN.
I am Sir,
Your obedient Servant.
Arnold WHITE.

To the Editor of the Frontier Guardian.
Sir,- I trust you will kindly give the following letter publication in your next issue:-
TO MR ARNOLD WHITE.
I beg to inform you that I have received a communication from the Chief Paymaster, Capetown, saying he had been inform that I absconded from my last situation (no doubt meaning the Tennyson Settlement) to my prejudice. This information I believe was given by yourself or by your agent. Now I also beg to bring to your notice that I have given up my situation in Johannesburg, which was worth £400 per annum, and returned to the Colony for the express purpose of giving you an opportunity of bringing any case you may have against me, and proving the above statement, and at the same time to vindicate my character. Evidently you are not satisfied in bringing me out here as you did, under the pretence that it would be a good chance for me in my old age, and for my children in their future, and leaving me as you did with wife and six children to starve, for all you cared, on the Settlement. But now trying your utmost to deprive me of my small pension from the Government, which I had to serve many years for. My stay here is limited to one month, when. If all is well, I hope to return to the Randt again, with permission. - I am, Sir. &c.
Arthur CRUMPLIN,
(Late a Tennyson Settler).
Smith-street,
Aliwal North, July 31. 1889

[copy]
Queenstown, 2nd August, 1889.
Mr Arthur CRUMPLIN.
Aliwal North.
Sir,- I am glad to learn that you have returned to the Colony to vindicate your character. In so doing you are acting wisely in your own interests. Your case is in the hands of Mr J.W. BELL, Solicitor to the Trust. You will in due course hear from him. I do not gather that you were ever in the slightest danger of starving while on the Settlement. Butter at half a crown a pound, and Stout at a dollar a bottle, hardly seem the sustenance of a starving man. Such starvation as you suffered would be eagerly accepted by thousands of poor folk in England. I am glad to hear that you have been in a situation of £400 a year, as it shews what an immense boon Lady OSSINGTON's bounty has been to you, and it will of course enable you to get out of debt without delay – a detail you somehow omitted to take into account prior to your sudden and nocturnal departure from the Settlement.
(Signed) Arnold WHITE.

Tuesday August 20, 1889

BIRTH,- At Whittlesea, on the 7th August, 1889, the wife of T.G. COOPER, of a daughter.
BIRTH,- At Seaymore on the 9th inst., Mrs. JONES, the wife of the Rev. T.G. JONES of Hackney of a son.
BIRTH,- At Queenstown on the 16th the wife of W. Isaac ARNOLD of Lair, Cathcart District, of a son.

DIED.- At Askeaton, Indwana, August 15th, John Reginald, son of W.S. & E.A. WILSON, aged 8 months and 21 days.
DIED.- At Lady Frere on the 12th August, 1889, Mr. Samuel LARTER, age 65 years, formerly of St.-George's-in-the-East, London.

The Late C.H.HUNTLEY, C.M.G.
We regret to learn by cablegram of the death of C.H. HUNTLEY, Esq., C.M.G., in England. Mr HUNTLEY it will be remembered was C.C. & R.M. of Grahamsotwn, for some years, and some few years ago retired from the service on a pension, The deceased gentleman was much esteemed and highly popular in the city, and had done during his residence in Grahamstown a great deal towards the ornamentation of that place in the way of tree planting. He took a great interest in the affairs of the country and especially the welfare of the native races...

OBITUARY.
We regret to learn of the demise of Mr Samuel LARTER, at the age of 65 years, a very old and respected Queenstown resident, which sad event took place at Lady Frere on the 12th inst. The late Mr LARTER came to this town in the year 1865, and brought up his family in these parts, being highly respected by all who know them. He left Queenstown in 1885 at the request of his sons, on account of failing health, for Lady Frere, where his sons built for their parents a cottage, and where he resided with his eldest son, Mr S.R. LARTER, J.P., up to the time of his death. The deceased was a native of London, and came to this Colony some forty years ago. He married a daughter of one of the old Settlers, H. BROOKS, Esq., of Collingham, near Grahamstown. The deceased leaves a large family and many friends to mourn his loss. We tender to the bereaved ones, our sincere sympathy and condolence.

TENNYSON SETTLEMENT.
To the Editor of the Free Press:-
Sir,- There has been a good deal of comment and correspondence lately in connection with this Settlement, and some of your contemporaries, for reasons best known to themselves, have condemmed the Settlement on representations made through the medium of the press by certain dissatisfied settlers. I do not mean to assert for a moment that they have no right to use the press to air their grievances,-- in this I think they are perfectly justified, - but, in doing so, they should be careful to confine themselves to the truth, and not by any means place distorted statements before the public prejudicial to the best interest of the Settlement, without being able to verify them. It is very much to be regretted that there has been so much newspaper controversy on this subject, as it certainly does not tend to encourage the future formation of settlements in this country of a similar description, and whether true or false, they have a baneful effect on the minds of those who otherwise would support and interest themselves, in colonizing many portions of this Colony with emigrants who would till the soil, and assist in producing that class of cereals which has hitherto been much neglected, for the lazy and more easy mode of obtaining a livelihood – transport riding. I have not seen the Tennyson Settlement, and know but little of the position of the parties there, and have but scant acquaintance with those concerned, but I am not consequently debarred from the free expression of my opinion on a subject which must certainly be of interest to all English-speaking colonists. Many of these people, if not all, have considerably bettered their position by coming out to this Colony, and it appears as if fair and adequate provision was made for them, so as to give them a good start in life, but on their arrival on these shores, and the golden prospect of an easily amassed being dispelled, some of them became discontented with their lot, and evidently sought out every pretext to heap odium on those who assisted in placing them on the Settlement. There is an apparent desire on their part to shirk the hard work entailed in turning over mother earth, tilling it, and waiting patiently for the crop to yield its fruit in due season. The lot is considered a hard one, that in a new colony they have again to till as poor people and only by hard industry and frugality of living, can they hope to achieve the golden dreams that flitted o'er them at the prospect of coming out to sunny South Africa – the Land of Gold. This was apparently what they least anticipated – that it would only be by years of toil and carefulness in living, that they would be able to reach a position in life superior to that occupied in the old country; yet we learn, if we believe Mr. Arnold WHITE, whom I have no reason to doubt, most of the settlers were glad at the time to engage themselves for South Africa, their position in England being anything but a desirable one. It would be a most difficult matter, however careful a person may be, to select any number of persons who would be contented with their lot, and appreciate the efforts made on their behalf to improve their position in life, as a few rebellious spirits and cantankerous individuals, will demoralize pretty well the whole party, and make them feel disappointed and aggrieved, at what they at one time thought was for their benefit, and for which they felt duly grateful. It is frequently experienced in life that more prosperous times creates in the minds of many people a base ingratitude for their benefactors. I firmly believe that had there been no gold-fields, and the prospect of employment in South Africa not so good as at the present moment, that there would have been less of the grumbling spirit prevailing amongst many of these settlers, who would have settled down to their lot, and, like honest people, borne a little privation, with the hope that their struggles with poverty would ultimately be rewarded by the fruits of their labours. The goldfields is a magnet to many, as a spot where money is to be made by a much easier method than following agricultural or other pursuits entailing hard work, hence dissatisfaction and discontent find a place in their lives, and every conceivable attempt is made to shirk the obligations resting upon them. It is to be earnestly hoped that the failure, if it is one, with Tennyson, following as it will on that of the Wolseley Settlement, will not discourage the promoters of these laudable enterprises. I would, however, suggest that in future somelocality be selected, within easy reach of large populous centres where good markets can be obtained, and not some out of the way place where the people are placed at a great disadvantage, seeing they have no means of conveying their produce to any market or railway station. Small allotments can only afford a good living under such circumstances, and I instance the German emigrants surrounding Kingwilliamstown as proof of this. These people began in a small way, and are to-day in a very prosperous condition, attributable to honest, hard work, and being in close proximity to a market on which they were able to dispose of their products to advantage. Yours &c., Observer.

Friday August 23, 1889

DIED.- At the Residency, Kamastone, on the morning of the 21st of August Edmund Linsley GREEN, aged 14 months, infant son of David and Sarah Ann GREEN. His illness was short, but severe.
DIED.- At Fordyce, Bradford, on 21st August, 1889, Alfred, fourth son of S. McCOMB, aged 19 years and 6 months. The family and friends thank Dr WEAKLEY for his unremitting kindness, also all friends who helped during the illness.

Tuesday September 3, 1889

DIED,- At Peninsula Farm, 30th August, 1889, of bronchitis, Owen T Hornley, dearly beloved Son of Mr. and Mrs. S.R. GARDNER, aged 5 years and 4 months.

DEATH NOTICE.-
At Kent House, Queenstown, on the 2nd of September, Percy Harold MORUM, aged 9 years and 5 months.

SUDDEN DEATH.- A Mr. RUSH, well known here, in connection with Mr. BOOTY's office at one time, as well as the Anglican Church died suddenly yesterday morning, at the Hexagon Hotel. We met Mr. RUSH in the street at about 10 o'clock, when he appeared hearty and well, but about two o'clock we were informed he was dead, being carried off while in a fit. The full particulars as to actual cause of death, we are not in possession of.

IN MEMORIAM.
It is with deep regret that we have to inform our friends of the death of our brother, the Rev.
Richard BAUR, on the 26th of August, at Goshen. On the 1st September it would have been 34 years since he entered service as a Missionary in this Colony. We feel assured that many Europeans as well as Natives will keep our deceased fellow-labourer in Christ's service in kind remembrance, as he was always willing to help, wherever his aid was desired.
Otto PADEL, In the name of the Moravian Mission.
Shiloh, 29th August, 1889

Tuesday September 10, 1889

The death is announced of Mr. James PERKINS, at the age of 77 years, Chief Clerk to the C.C. and R.M. of Albany.

Tuesday September 17, 1889

FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.- The Cathcart Chronicle says, that yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, while Mr. COTTERELL, Mr. Stev MARSHALL, and John Henry MARSHALL(a lad of about 10 years), were out shooting, young Mr. MARSHALL turned rather suddenly to speak to his brother, and unfortunately, having his gun at full-cock, it suddenly exploded, and blew off the leg of John Henry. We are not yet in possession of all the facts of the case, but are informed that Mr COTTERELL at once ran off to the house of Mr. Peter MARSHALL, and then came on into Cathcart to fetch Dr. HART, who immediately went out with him. When they had got about half way to the scene of the accident they were met by a messenger who brought the melancholy intelligence that the poor little lad was dead. We are sure all our readers will deeply sympathise with Mr. MARSHALL and family, in this awful calamity.

Robert THOMPSON, charged with the murder of SCHULTZ, was found guilty by the jury of culpable homicide, and practically recommended to mercy, and sentenced to one year's hard labour. He was 46 years of age.

DIED,- At Kleinhaasfontein, from diphtheria, on Sept. 11th, 1889, Grace, the infant daughter of F.H. and E.M. COCKIN, aged 11 months and 5 days. 

DIED,- At Port Alfred, on Wednesday last, 11th Sept., 1889, William Charles HERMAN, aged 69. His end was calm and peaceful.

Friday September 20, 1889

FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.
A very sad accident occurred on the 11th September at Klipplaats in the Cathcart district. Two sons of Mr Peter MARSHALL of Fairford. Stephen aged about 15, and John Henry about 12½ years, accompanied by Mr H COTTERELL, were going along the river. Stephen was carrying a gun, the one barrel being loaded with a No 6 shot cartridge. He was following a small bird holding the gun ready to fire. After going some distance, and not seeing the bird he turned round. In doing so his foot slipped, the gun went off and shattered the right knee of his brother. John Henry who was a yard or two behind him. The knee cap and part of the knee was blown off. The poor little fellow died some
two hours afterwards from loss of blood. His whole anxiety was – not about himself – but that his brother should not be blamed for the accident. This is the same little boy who some months ago jumped into the river, when full, and rescued a native child. Stephen who was the unfortunate cause of the accident is prostrated by grief. The bereaved parents and family have the sympathy of the whole neighbourhood in their terrible trouble. The Assistant F.C. held and inquest, and came to the conclusion that the occurance was purely accidental. The funeral took place on the 13th at Chilton Church and a large number of people attended to show respect to the dead and sympathy with the sorrowing relations, and there were dry eyes amongst the crowd.

 

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