March 1875 – Spectacular Easter Celebrations in Botanic Gardens
Introduction
March 1875 proved to be an eventful month featuring St Patrick’s Day celebrations, spectacular Easter events in Botanic Gardens within the context of a largely poverty stricken population.
Newspaper Correspondence
The Neglected Children on our Streets – Belfast Newsletter 1st March 1875
Nathaniel Dane sought to bring some attention from the “wealthier classes” to the lack of support for abandoned children living & perishing on our streets.
‘Tis true we have the training ship for boys above ten years old, and one ragged school in all Belfast where they are cared for during a few hours each day, but we have no night shelter in which boys under ten years of age could be kept, and thus saved from going back and catching the contagion of an impure moral atmosphere.
The solution is perceived to be in the hands of the wealthy philanthropists of the city:
What we want is a leading spirit to catch the mantle that has fallen on Dr. Barnardo, and rest not until he sees an industrial school erected in Belfast for little boys under ten years of age; and I doubt not but many will rally round so worthy an object, and save these perishing children.
The Boys from the Blackstaff – Northern Whig 10th March 1875
A letter signed simply “A Sufferer” complains of the anti-social behaviour at the Blackstaff river.
“Through the medium of your columns I would beg to call the attention of the authorities to a nuisance that exists in the neighbourhood of the Blackstaff, and convenient to the site of the old paper mills. Every evening it appears to be the habit of the roughs in that locality to congregate on the bridge at the head of Cromac Street, and the passers-by are subject to the greatest annoyance by their assembly.
He calls on the authorities to take immediate steps to halt this behaviour quoting one personal encounter with “the roughs“…
Going home from church about nine o’clock last night, missiles of what description I know not, were freely flung from the bridge, and I had the misfortune to get my hat injured by some young miscreant… When I remonstrated on such a course of conduct, especially on a Sunday evening, I was met with jibes and jeers and threats of further maltreatment.
Noting that the perpetrator could not be identified due to the inadequacy of the lighting from the the gas lamps supplied by the Town Council. The letter concludes with an appeal to both the Council and the police to take stronger steps to tackle the nuisance.
“The Dangerous Classes” – Northern Whig 2nd March 1875
A correspondent writing to the Northern Whig, identified simply as “A Sanitary Reformer” similarly highlights the conditions (and potential consequences) of so many impoverished people on the streets of Belfast.
From an editorial article in this month’s Chambers’s Journal, it appears that in New York, where liberty and equality prevail to any extent, there is, in the back streets, lanes, and crowded districts of that city, an amount of debauchery, immorality, poverty, vice, crime, and misery, even greater than we hear of in the most squalid and dissolute parts of London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Belfast.
A potential solution is proposed:
A philanthropic gentleman there (New York), who is doing much to teach the ignorant, raise the depressed, and cheer the despairing, believes that the cheapest and most effectual way of dealing with the dangerous classes of large cities is not so much to punish them as to prevent their growth, and this is not to be done by feeding them in workhouses, asylums, and hospitals in the same district from generation, but by dispersing them to some useful employment.
The impact on society of the current ineffective measures to alleviate the situation is highlighted:
Public gardens, parks, reading rooms, libraries, and museums, laid open gratuitously to these uninstructed and degraded classes, are generally of no avail, but wholly thrown away.
Quoting the old adage “Pull down the nests and the rooks will fly away” this correspondent calls for the renovation of the “streets and lanes in Belfast as are around Smithfield and similar districts” to tackle the growing problems with the poorest areas of Belfast.
However, the goal is not to assist the poorest but rather to disperse them, driving them away from Belfast…
“The over-crowded lodging-houses, fever nests, and dens of the intemperate and dissolute, where pickpockets, thieves, outcasts, and reckless characters reside, must be removed, and some provision made for public security. Then only will bands of idlers, issuing from closely packed courts and dirty lanes, standing at our corners ready for any outrage, be dispersed”… Only, as we think, by such promptly effective measures can cities hope to rid themselves of the the “dangerous classes.”
Yours, &c., A SANITARY REFORMER
EVENTS – MARCH 1875
EASTER CELEBRATIONS AT THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS – Belfast Newsletter 30th March 1875
On the 30th March, the Belfast Newsletter reported extensively on the Easter events at Belfast’s Botanic Gardens noting that the varied attractions offered far and away the most popular of the many amusements in town in terms of diversity of performance and novel features.
Noting the summer-like weather and the impeccably tended gardens, the paper reported on the catalogue of marvellous acrobatic feats on offer, including an “actual flying man“, a grand military assault of arms, racing of several kinds, and a hot air balloon ascent.
The thousands attending bore witness to the extent of the Easter programme with every avenue of access to the gardens thronged throughout the day. The morning excursion trains brought large numbers of ‘country friends’ to town, passing quickly through the business thoroughfares towards the Gardens. Tramcars did remarkable business, especially those serving to the Botanic Road. The tramcars were crammed incessantly, inside and out, throughout the day.
The gates opened at 11:00am with strong barricades at the entrances to control the flow of visitors through the ticket stalls (access to areas of the gardens required the purchase of tickets). Ticket-holders were entitled to witness the staged events, with a temporary stand erected to ensure an “admirable view” of proceedings within the spacious, circular enclosure. The “unreserved public” were free to enjoy promenading around park outside of the performance area.
Selected events included:
OHMY, the Flying Man
One of the stars of the day was the flying man, “Ohmy“. (It is suggested that his name is derived from the exclamations of the audiences witnessing his marvellous highwire acrobatics/gymnastics 100 feet above the ground). His descent ‘flight‘ of 100 feet to the ground without the aid of a net, was “a remarkable specimen of dexterity and courage“.
Cycle Races
The Newsletter reports that
The gentlemen amateur flat and bicycle races were not extraordinary illustrations of fleetness or velocipedestrian capability, and yet they were interesting, and really created some speculation as to their final issue.
Belfast Newsletter 30th March 1875
The Grand Military Assault of Arms
“The grand military assault of arms was much more to the popular taste, and undoubtedly excited considerable enthusiasm. In fact, the military threw themselves heart and soul into the portion of the entertainment allotted to their display”.
Belfast Newsletter 30th March 1875
The assault performance included examples of broadsword, cavalry sword exercises, boxing and melee (close-quarter fighting), and sword versus bayonet contests. Further demonstrations included the “deft specimens of skill by cutting an apple on the hand and the back of the neck of a brother soldier, dividing bars of lead, and a sheep with one blow of a sword etc”. These feats were witnessed “with the utmost attention, and their successful completion hailed with a flattering outburst of cheering”.
Hot Air Ballooning
The most awaited feat of the day was, however, the ascent of a balloon, which had caught the interest of so many. As it was inflated and the balloon filled out, the crowd anticipation mounted. At 4pm the balloon, with Professor Simmons (a well-known aeronaut) took flight and floated over the city towards North Down to the loud cheers and applause of those attending.
In advance of the full flight a number of ascents to a height of 100 feet were offered to members of the public (4 people at a time in the balloon) at a cost of 5s each.
The events of the day were then brought to a close.
Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations
On the 22nd March 1875 the Belfast Newsletter reported on a number of St Patrick’s Day events…
KILREA
A force of 100 constabulary from County Meath combined with local constabulary entered the town, mindful of previous confrontations in the town. In the event, the small procession consisted chiefly of girls and little boys with few men carrying banners. They proceeded through the town accompanied by fifes and drums, on their way towards the chapel, and afterwards on their return homowards.
The conduct of all parties was exemplary, not an offensive word being spoken during the day; and, though the places of business and resort were all open, the friends of the Patron Saint did not indulge in the practice of “drowning the shamrock” to such an extent as on former occasions. The utmost good feeling prevailed throughout
PORTGLENONE
A force of fifty men of the County Antrim Royal Irish Constabulary were brought into town to keep the peace.
Early on the morning of the 17th the procession entered the town, and went in the direction of the County Derry. At noon the procession returned to the town, carrying six green flags. After marching round the town they left for Gulladuff, County Derry before returning in the evening about seven o’clock. All passed off quietly throughout the day.
‘GREAT PROCESSION IN MOURNE’
“On St Patrick’s Day a vast procession, about three quarters of a mile in length, and numbering 3,000 people, with twenty-five flags and fifteen drums, marched through Mourne, beginning at the Roman Catholic Chapel, through Lisnaoree, Millbay, Greencastle, Ballynahattin, and Kilkeel, to Ballymartin, where they broke up, and separated to their several homes. Many of the processionists wore green sashes, and this colour prevailed in the banners and flags”
Again it was noted that:
“not a single instance of drunkenness or disorder took place during the day… it is hoped the good feeling Inculcated by the clergy of all denominations will long manifest itself in the district”
Other News
CURIOUS INVENTION IN TABLE FURNITURE – Belfast Newsletter 1st March 1875
Reporting on an article that first appeared in the Furniture Gazette on the invention of Mr Moran (a “Californian genius”) designed to remove the need for servants around the table at meal times.
The invention was a movable table-top railway circling inside the plates that are to be served. The table-top train is operated by the person who sits at the head of the table i.e. the one who does the carving.
This individual uses his/ her feet to operate a treadle (similar to those found on sewing machines) to send the food plates “sailing round at lightning speed to the spot of destination, followed up with the condiments, cutlery, etc necessary to the thorough enjoyment of the meal”.
The advantages of this innovation are apparent – quicker service, the removal of servants around the table and avoidance of serving ‘accidents’ whereby soup may be spilled on the shoulders of guests as the servants try to place the bowls on the table.
The Courts
A LOCAL BARD IN TROUBLE – Belfast Newsletter 23rd March 1875
Acting Constable Jones brought up in court Arthur Quinn, known as the Ballymacarrett poet, charged with drunk & disorderly behaviour in North Street, Belfast the previous Saturday night.
In evidence, the constable reported that, although the prisoner was in possession of a number of ballads, he was too drunk to sing them.
In his defence, the ‘bard’ stated that he had not been before his worship since the previous July and promised that, if this offence was set aside, he would not reappear before the court for at least a year.
Unimpressed, his worship ordered the prisoner to pay a fine of 20s and costs.
ALLEGED BURGLARY – Newsletter 17th March 1875
On the 17th March, the Belfast Newsletter reported that “a rough-looking character named William Campbell was charged by Sub-Constable Ellis with having burglariously and feloniously entered the dwelling-house of Mr. Robinson, York Street”.
Providing evidence for the prosecution, Mr. William Robinson stated that, in the early hours of the 16th March, his mother came to his bedroom and informed him that someone had entered the house. William and his brother proceeded downstairs silently and found the prisoner in the hall. Confronting the intruder, Mr Campbell was unable to provide any reason for his presence in the property. The brothers restrained the accused while the alarm was raised and the constable arrived.
On further investigation a number of dresses belonging to Mr Robinson’s sister were found, rolled into a bundle in readiness for the accused’s exit. The scullery window was found to be slightly raised, the apparent point of entrance to the property. His brother, Mr. John Clarke Robinson, gave corroborative evidence.
The prisoner was remanded in custody for a week.
LARCENY OF A HAM – Northern Whig 16th March 1875
On the 14th March in the Belfast Court, James Craig and Samuel Callow were brought up in custody, charged with having stolen a beef ham, from Thomas Quinn of Church Lane.
A bookkeeper, William John Davis, employed by Messrs Anderson nearby, reported that he saw the prisoner, Craig, with the ham in his possession. Suspecting that it had been stolen, he visited Mr Quinn’s shop to raise the suspected theft. A further witness gave evidence that he had witnessed Craig loitering suspiciously near the entrance to Mr Quinn’s premises.
Pursuing the suspect, they found Mr Craig in the company of Mr Callow who had the ham concealed under his coat. They detained the pair.
The prisoners were sent to jail for six months.
CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH – Belfast Newsletter 26th March 1875
On the 26th March the Belfast Newsletter reported that “a respectable looking woman named Jane Moore” was brought up in custody of Constable Eastwood, charged with concealing the birth of her infant child the previous Tuesday evening.
A witness named Hugh Kirkwood, residing in the townland of Skegoneil, stated that he was returning from work to his home when he heard the cries of a child from a nearby field. Investigating the source of the cries, a dry ditch, he found the child undernath a heap of grass and sods. The male child was lifted from the ditch, still crying.
He recalled seeing, before entering the field, a woman loitering on the Cavehill Road, about 100 yards from the infants location. He noticed that the woman appeared to be looking in the child’s direction and that she appeared to be frightened and was walking “very feebly“.
Mr Kirkwood provided this information to the police and was able to identify the accused who was still in the vicinity. A number of other witnesses were examined, who gave corroborative evidence. The prisoner was remanded for a week. The child is at present in the workhouse.
Related Posts
Botanic Gardens Belfast – An Eventful History
The Blackstaff River – Recreation, Pollution, Flooding and Death
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