August 1874 – What the papers said 150 years ago
Local News
Bushmills: Curious Relics of the Past – Impartial Reporter 6 Aug 1874
The Impartial Reporter reproduces a Coleraine Chronicle article on labourers opening an old drain in Bushmills only to discover “an oaken box“. Opening the box they found a highly ornamented sword, some manuscripts in a good state of preservation, and a few ornaments in gold and silver.
An inscription on the sword was clearly written in Spanish language suggesting that it was
“doubtless, some gift which has been presented, in times gone by, to some of our Northern Princes, by some Spanish chevalier, or perhaps it may have been Royal gift”.
The manuscripts meanwhile were written in Irish and were considered to “speak well for the artistic skill of our fathers”. The illustrations were impressive especially in view of the time they were drawn.
The ornaments, appear to date back further than the sword or the manuscript and were of good quality – “one of them especially, which, doubtless, has been used by some Irish princess for a brooch”.
Funeral of Edward Benn Esq. – Belfast Evening Telegraph 7 Aug 1874
The Belfast Evening Telegraph, on 7 August, reported on the funeral of the “much-respected and truly philanthropic” Edward Benn . Despite enduring poor health during his own life, Edward Benn’s charitable donations did much to relieve the suffering of many in Belfast. (See post Edward Benn – Three Belfast Hospitals).
The article offered the following information on the funeral:
- The hearse was drawn by four horses, and the chief mourners were – George Benn, Esq., Glenravel House (brother of the deceased), John F. Hodges, Esq., M.D., and F. Hodges, Esq.
- Several mourning coaches, and a number of private carriages followed along with a large body of gentlemen, representing the various public bodies of the town, marching in procession.
- In recognition of his achievements, the following institutions took up their places in the procession: The committees of the hospitals that Benn had built at his own expense (the Eye and Ear Hospital, the Hospital for the Treatment of the Diseases of Women and Children, Lisburn Road and the Hospital for the Treatment of Skin Diseases)
- Also in attendance were representatives of the Old Poor House, the General Hospital, and the Belfast Academical Institution.
- The procession was followed by a large assemblage of the most respectable citizens of Belfast, who seemed anxious to pay respect to the remains of a gentleman whose loss will long be felt.
Edward Benn was buried at the New Burying Ground, Clifton Street
Police & Court News
Ballyhackamore Highway Robbery – Northern Whig 11 Aug 1874
On 11 August 1874 the Northern Whig reported from the Holywood Petty Sessions on an unusual highway robbery.
The victim, William Geddis, outlined the chain of events on 5th August that led to the arrest of William Cairnes by Sub-Constable David Farson –
Mr Geddis explained that, after selling a bullock in the Belfast market for the sum of £2 68, he headed home in the evening. Approaching the County Down Railway Station, he met Mr Cairnes who asked if Mr Geddis could give him a drink. Generously, Mr Geddis took him into a public house and bought him a “half-one”. Enjoying the conversation the couple had several more half-ones, visiting several public houses in the process.
As Mr Geddis lived a short distance out of the town, the prisoner then suggested that he would see Mr Geddis home as he “had got a little drop too much“. However, on reaching Ballyhackamore, the prisoner stopped on the road, rifled through Mr Geddis’ clothes and took all the money he had in his pockets and several other articles, including packages of seed.
On receipt of the victims complaint, Sub-Constable Farson found over £2 in the prisoner’s possession with some keys and packages of seeds. Mr Geddis confirmed that these had been taken in the robbery.
Mr Cairnes was taken into custody and subsequently pleaded guilty to all charges. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Manslaughter in Fermanagh – Impartial Reporter 27 Aug 1874
This case, as told in the Impartial Reporter, originated from an altercation between Patrick McCormick and William Gallagher on the way home from the Ballyshannon Fair several months previously.
The pair separated but some hours later met at Castlecaldwell Railway Station. McCormick, still aggrieved following the earlier confrontation exchanged angry words with Mr Gallagher before throwing him from the platform. Gallagher’s head hit one of the metal rails raising concerns that his life was in danger. McCormick was arrested but was subsequently released when Gallagher appeared to make a full recovery. Gallagher, on recovering, brought action for damages and was awarded £10.
However, just days ago, Gallagher fell seriously ill and died. Doctors at the inquest were certain that the injuries caused in the earlier fall were the cause of death.
McCormick was promptly re-arrested, in light of the findings of the coroner’s jury, and will face trial for manslaughter.
Disunion on Union Street, Belfast
The Belfast Evening Telegraph reported on 10 Aug 1874 on the court appearance of Thomas Elwood, charged by Constable Campbell with being disorderly in Union Street.
The Constable explained that he witnessed the prisoner attempting to force his way into a house in Union Street. Despite warnings to stop, the prisoner persisted and was therefore arrested.
At this point Mr Elwood shouted out at the top of his voice that he was a butler and would bring down Lord “somebody” to teach the constable his duty.
The unhappy butler then lay down upon the street and shouted “Murder!” at the top of his voice.
On conclusion of the evidence Mr Elwood was fined 10s and costs.
Corn Market Car Accident – Northern Whig 11 Aug 1874.
Following a car accident” in Corn Market, James Auld was charged with having “carelessly driven a car in Corn Market” and “more or less” causing the death of a woman named Margaret Patterson.
Sub-Inspector Harrell outlined the circumstances of the case. It was noted that the constabulary were not convinced, at present, that the current evidence was sufficient to warrant a manslaughter conviction.
Mr. Sheals, who appeared for the accused, suggested that one important fact had been withheld in the prosecutions evidence to the court. He reported that medical testimony showed that the woman’s brain was diseased and that this, rather than careless driving, could have been the cause of the accident. He asked that the prisoner be discharged on this basis.
‘The BENCH ordered the accused to be liberated’.
Correspondence / Commen
Have you seen the Flint Manufactory at Portstewart – Northern Whig 27 August 1874
The Theory of Evolution by natural selection was first formulated in Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” was published in 1859. According to the theory, individuals with traits that enable them to adapt to their environments will survive while individuals with less adaptive traits are less likely to survive.
Over the following decades the theory was subject to much debate and rejection by many.
Accordingly, when Mr. William J. Knowles, from Cullybackey, was invited to lecture before the British Association on “The Pre-Historic History of Ireland” the Norther Whig subsequently carried a letter directed at Mr Knowles from his teacher, some 30 years previously, challenging the basis of the theory.
The teacher, John Given, who had risen to the role of Principal of Ballymena Model School by August 1874, questioned the basis on the lecture as follows:
“I am so old-fashioned as to believe that the Bible contains the oldest history in the world, and I taught Mr. Knowles to hold the same belief some thirty years ago…
Would Mr. Knowles, then, for the enlightenment of his old teacher, kindly tell him how the flint manufactory at Portstewart was carried on so briskly in total darkness; for, if the Bible be true, “the earth was without form, and void and darkness was on the face of the deep” in pre-historic times, and where was Ireland at all then?
Were these flint instruments turned out by Cyclops groping round their caves – their blindness, to be sure, would assist them in that case – or were they made by chance, according to the atomic theory, or has Mr. Knowles made the tremendous mistake of exhibiting “stone implements” as pre-historic, which the Rev. W. Ross, of Rothesay, positively asserts were similar to those used in the north of Scotland not more than twenty years ago!”
Further, as I remember Mr. Knowles was a first rate geographer, would he oblige his old teacher by putting his fingers on a pre-historic map of Chaos, pointing out the exact position of Portstewart? Also, as Mr. Knowles seems to be intimately acquainted with the domestic habits of the Chaoticians, would he inform the public what clothing, if any, the man-monkeys or man frogs, according to the new hypothesis, wore while at their work under water, or above water, or in a “through-other” mixture of darkness, mud, and water.-
Yours,
Ballymena Model School,
25th August, 1874,
JOHN GIVEN, Principal.
No response to this correspondence was recorded.
Knockers
On the 6th August the Impartial Reporter carried a story from the Globe suggesting that…
“Englishmen must be remarkably ignorant of their own habits. At least we are forced to that conclusion if we accept as accurate the descriptions of Frenchmen who do this country the honour to visit it”
Noting that the French are “continually making surprising discoveries“, the report comments on the observation in Le Siècle on “the peculiar manner in which knockers are handled” by Englishmen.
The author of the article draws particular to the “door nail” on which the metal ring/ knocker rests when not in use but “against which it is hammered when a visitor desires entrance into a house“. Suggesting that “One of the tests of politeness consists in the modes of knocking” he claims that many who live in London have not learned how to knock the door like a gentleman.
The real gentleman, it says, “executes upon the door-nail, with the aid of the knocker, a true musical performance”. The “delicious sounds” will rouse even the most careless servant, causing them to rush to open the door to a caller “who has plainly a right to every attention“.
Tuneless, hesitating and badly-applied’ knocks have a very different result with servants in no hurry to respond to the call. The neglected visitor may put more vigour into repeating the exercise, “but his first attempt his sealed his fate“. Indeed the servant, its claimed, will go about his other duties assuming that “it’s but a man – not a gentleman”.
The Englishman’s best approach, having failed to learn the true method of knocking, is therefore to imitate the postman whose knock consists of “two violent attacks very rapid, almost simultaneous upon the door-nail”. If his method is adopted, the door will be opened immediately, as it is known the postman will not wait for a response.
The paper suggests that “these instructive facts” will be helpful to Englishmen and others unable to knock a door appropriately.
Advertisements / Classifieds
Events / Amusements
Other News
The Navvie and his Bewitched Pig – Belfast Evening Telegraph 12 Aug 1874
The Belfast Evening Telegraph reported on the case in the Leeds Assizes of a Navvie named Levie Abbott who was charged for maliciously wounding Ellen Bowers. (Navvies were the people who did the physical work to construct and maintain the railways).
Ellen was lodging-house keeper on the Settle and Carlisle Extension Railway, near Blackmoor Tunnel, near Garsdale, Sedbergh. It was alleged that, on the 18th July, while Ellen was preparing dinner for the residents of the ‘hut‘, Mr Abbott went to the fireplace, took up a heavy poker, and with both hands struck Mrs. Bowers four blows. She fell to the ground suffering several serious head injuries.
Abbott, said to have been drinking for a fortnight, shouted to the other housemates that Ellen had bewitched him and his two pigs. He expressed his regret that he had failed to kill the witch.
(The reporter took the opportunity at this point to highlight that Ellen Bowers “is exceedingly stout, weighing nearly 20 stone, and looked as unlike a witch as it is possible to imagine“)
In court, the jury found the prisoner guilty of malicious wounding.
The Judge said that it was difficult to conceive that any man could believe that any old woman possessed the power of bewitching him or his pigs in the 19th century, Abbott was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude.
A Lucky Servant Girl – Impartial Reporter 27 Aug 1874
The Impartial Reporter told the story of a lucky servant girl as covered originally in the Bellefonte (Penn.) Republican:
Ten or more years ago the girl, named Alice Anderson, was brought from the Orphan’s Home of Pittsburg by the late Judge Schaler to serve as a household servant. She was a domestic in his house until the time of his death, when the family left Bellefonte. For the following six years she was employed in household duties by different families of the town.
Alice had no knowledge of her parents, but remembered an older brother, who came to see her when she was a child in the Home. She had not heard from him for fifteen years, and had given up all hopes of ever meeting him again.
About a month ago she took a notion that she could earn more money in the city, and asked a friend to write to an acquaintance of his in Pittsburg in the hope of securing a job with a family there. Within a short period a reply was received informing her that a situation had been secured, and that she should come on immediately.
While making preparations for her departure her friend reported that he had received another letter from her expected employer asking about her history. She provided as much information as she knew and her friend responded to the request.
As a consequence of her letter, on the day before her journey to Pittsburg, she received a letter from her brother, Denis Anderson with some surprising information. Denis revealed that he was a retired railroad contractor and a very wealthy man. Furthermore, her grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Anderson, of Cincinnatti, died 4 years previously leaving a fortune of 250,000 dollars to her grand-child, Alice Anderson, if she were ever found.
“Alice is now the possessor of that fortune“.
Not for the Squeamish – Belfast Evening Telegraph 4 Aug 1874
The following tale, carried in the Belfast Evening Telegraph, should be avoided by the squeamish…
On 4 August the Belfast Evening Telegraph carried a story from Murraysville, Cooke County, Toronto on a woman about 40 years old, Mrs. Kennedy, who was the wife of an Irish labourer, living in French Broad Street.
Mrs Kennedy had suffered ill-health for several years – suffering constant pain that prevented her sleeping at night or even resting peacefully. She stated that she felt movement in her abdomen causing continual discomfort. She attended doctors and the hospital and was treated for several symptoms, but continued to suffer.
At this stage she was referred to Dr. Periam Gyles and he took charge of her care. Following a week of increased pain she begged Dr. Gyles to perform an operation for her relief. Though he was reluctant to do so, fearing for her life, he agreed to the operation.
With the assistance of Dr. James Davis and Surgeon William Allen, of Sweetwater, Dr Gyles proceeded to perform the operation. On making an incision about ten inches long along the centre of her abdomen, he found a tumour, about 26 inches in diameter and irregular in form. On cutting open the tumour he found two rattlesnakes inside – one 30 inches and the other 32 inches in length. “One of the snakes had five rattles and the other four rattles and a button. They had yellow and black spots on them, with white stomachs“.
The snakes described as “quite lively, and would rattle and strike with vengeance when disturbed” were removed.
Previous Monthly News
What was being reported in the Belfast newspapers 150 years ago? Read some of the news & stories here…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEWS
Click here for replies to the questions most often asked about the newspaper stories…
- Newspapers in the 1870s did not have headline cover news as is common today. Instead the cover and several inside pages would be devoted to Classified Ads. The papers often had only 6-8 pages.
- Much of the published ‘News’ centred on politicians speeches in Parliament or in local constituencies – these were often reproduced in full. We generally ignore these as politicians speeches then were just as dull as their speeches today and life’s too short. We may highlight points made in the event that they say anything interesting.
- We cannot read the months content of every newspaper of the day. We try to vary the papers read each month to cover Belfast and other areas.
- We are sometimes asked about the use of AI images on these posts. The simple fact is that there were no photos/ images published in the papers of the time but modern search engines expect posts to contain at least one image if the article is to rank well in search results. We carried out a previous poll of our readers on the inclusion of AI images and found that 80% prefer some images rather than a page of solid text.
- Court cases of the time were dominated by simple drunk & disorderly, domestic violence, theft and street fighting/ rioting cases. We generally ignore these and look for stories with a bit more interest/ character.
- Foreign news was generally covered in brief paragraphs or even single sentences giving little context to the story. We rarely have the time to investigate these stories in more detail but will expand on a story occasionally where we feel it may be of interest.
- The papers, and presumably the readers, were fascinated by foreign ‘stories’ of disasters, the supernatural, horror stories and somewhat dubious tales (true or not). We include some of these stories each month as a representation of public curiosity at the time of life in foreign lands.
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