Lisburn Standard - Friday, 07 December, 1917
Births
CHAPMAN -- November 28, 1917, at Ballycarney, Tramore, to Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Chapman -- a son.
REA -- November 25, at Dufferin Villas, Ballyholme, the wife of George F. Rea, of a son.
Marriages
HENDERSON--ANDERSON -- On Nov. 29th, at Portstewart Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. David Aiken, B.D., assisted by the Rev. E.R. Moncrieff, M.A., Thomas George Henderson, Lieutenant R.I.R., Portstewart, to May Isabel, daughter of J.S. and Isabella Anderson, Rathcoole, Portstewart.
RUTHERFORD--ROBB -- On 29th Nov., at Balmoral Methodist Church, by Rev. Randall C. Phillips, assisted by Rev. Charles Davey, D.D., Rev. James S. Rutherford, M.A., to Bertha Corrigan, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Robb, Ulsterville Avenue, Belfast.
TAYLOR--SEDDALL -- November 29, 1917, at Brompton Oratory, London, Philip S. Taylor, Second-Lieutenant E.L.C., to Daisy, youngest daughter of Edward T. Seddall, late District-Inspector Royal Irish Constabulary, and Mrs. Seddall, of Athlone, Count Westmeath.
Deaths
CRORY -- December 3, 1917, at 25 Holywood Road, Belfast, Arabella, daughter of the late Rev. Samuel Crory, Presbyterian clergyman of Drumlough, Hillsborough, and late matron of Lisburn Union.
LLOYD -- October 9, 1917, at Melbourne, Australia, Jackson, eldest son of the late Richard Lloyd, Tamnamore, County Tyrone.
MARTYN -- On the 27th November, at 89 Stephen's Green, Dublin, Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver Martyn, aged 95 years.
Thanks
Mr. ROBERT GILMORE and Family desire to return their sincere thanks to all the kind friends who expressed sympathy, personally and by letter, in their recent and sad bereavement. Also to those who sent wreaths, especially the overlookers and employees of the Reeling, Spinning, and Twist Departments of Island Spinning Co., Ltd. 7 Beechside Terrace, Lisburn.
Clippings
SOME EXTRACTS FROM THE
RECORDS OF OLD LISBURN
AND THE MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.
-- -- --
Edited by JAMES CARSON.
-- -- --
LX.
-- -- --
A. T. STEWART, MILLIONAIRE, 1801-1876.
Extracts from a Sketch of His Life by Hugh M'Call.
In the last quarter of the eighteenth century John Turney, a very intelligent farmer, resided on the Hertford estate, at a part of Lissue near the Maze. It was usual at that time for men who had capital to spare to do a little in the manufacture of linen as well as to attend to the business of the field. As one of the descendants of the Huguenot exiles that settled in the town and about the neighbourhood of Lisburn one hundred years before, Mr. Turney inherited much of the spirit of industry and peaceful disposition of his forefathers, and, like them, had great taste for the beautiful, whether in nature or art; his garden was quite a model in floriculture, and, what was not usual in country houses, he had in his parlour two or three oil paintings of a style which was rare as the works were valuable.
One of his neighbours, Thomas Lamb, of Pear Tree Hill, greatly admired the pictures, but laughed heartily at the estimate their owner placed on them. Mr. Lamb, a sturdy Quaker, and Elias Hughes, another member of the same sect, who resided in that locality, were also engaged in the making of coarse linens.
John Turney's family consisted of his wife and a daughter named Margaret, and very happy was his household; but during the troublous times of Ninety-Eight the former, who was a delicate and rather nervous woman, had been much shocked by some local occurrence, and became very ill.
After lingering some weeks, she passed away into the Unseen Land.
There lived at that time near the Red Hill, and not far from Mr. Turney's place, Thomas Stewart, and his wife Martha, a very industrious and very quiet people. Their family consisted of five sons and three daughters.
The head of the house had been brought up on a farm situate near the Rock Chapel, but several years before he had taken some land at Red Hill, in Lissue.
The second son, Alexander, a steady-going and very energetic young man, commenced life as an agriculturist on a twenty-acre farm on the Hertford estate.
In the list of Margaret Turney's admirers young Alexander Stewart had a high place, but her father could not think of his daughter giving her hand to a small farmer who had only commenced to make his way in the world.
More than twelve months had gone by since the second marriage of her father had made the previous happy home a scene of unpleasant and divided feeling.
At length she left her father's house and got privately married to Mr. Stewart, immediately after which the young husband took her home to the farm cottage at Red Hill, a picturesque part of the Hertford estate, situate about two miles from Lisburn.
Birth and Early Life.
The young couple lived very happily together. Stewart was a good-natured, industrious fellow, and worked hard at the farm. Among the saddest years of Ireland's eventful history was that of 1801, the time of dearth, disease, and privation; the previous harvest was a failure, and every article of food had gone up to famine price. Extra exertion was necessary to keep farmers afloat, and in his anxiety to get finished some outdoor work the farmer over-heated himself, and eventually fell into consumption, which carried him off in some few months. Not many weeks had elapsed after the death of Alexander Stewart when the young wife, still in her teens, was confined of a son; and in that cottage which still stands (in 1881) on the farm of Mr. James N. Richardson, of Lissue, the future merchant prince of Broadway first saw the light, and in due time received the baptismal name of Alexander Turney, in honour of his father and grandfather.
As soon as she was able to leave the cottage her father had her and the infant removed to his own place. A purchaser soon turned up for the little farm, the stock and furniture were disposed of to good advantage, and the proceeds set apart for the young widow and her son.
Some time afterwards David Bell, a farmer, began to pay court to the widow, and in April, 1803, got married to her. The father of the bride, for a second time, was still more annoyed at that affair than he had been on the previous occasion. Bell sold his farm and stock and prepared to embark for America. He himself, as well as his wife, was anxious to take the child, then eighteen months old, along with them, but Mr. Turney would not permit that arrangement, and took it home.
Having received a good education himself, Mr. Turney determined that his grandson should enjoy the full advantages of modern acquirements, and at the proper time become a minister of the Church of England. There was then in the Causeway End a teacher of children famed for instructing them in the rudiments of spelling, reading, and writing; and all that course was to be taught juveniles without the use of the rod. That model school-master's name was William Christie, and if he lived in these days, when, in some schools, flogging is still a sort of pastime with the principals, he would deserve canonisation. Many of the people of Causeway End -- John Hodgen, George Briggs, John Anderson, and others -- recollected the thoughtful-looking lad passing along the road that led from his grandfather's house to the village seminary, conning over his Manson's Spelling-Book as he went on his way. In due time the lad was sent to the Lisburn English and Mercantile Academy, then conducted by Mr. Benjamin Neely, one of the ablest of teachers, as well as one of the most efficient flagellators that ever flourished a ratan. Many of that gentleman's pupils rose in after days to places of high distinction in the world. Thomas Spence, the famous writing-master, was one of his early scholars; James W. Hogg, afterwards known as chairman of the East India Board, and member for Honiton, a great favourite of Sir Robert Peel, who conferred on him the honour of a baronetcy, Brigadier-General Nicholson, one of the leading heroes of the Punjaub; Serjeant Armstrong, celebrated as a chief of the Irish Bar; and several other men mark, were also taught at the Lisburn Academy.
This most popular classical seminary in the rural districts of that part of Antrim County was then presided over by the Rev. Skeffington Thompson, LL.D., of Magheragal, and on the first day of February, 1815, Alexander T. Stewart was entered there as a student. Early in the following month John Turney took ill, and it was evident his day of life was coming to a close. Thomas Lamb, his valued neighbour, visited him very frequently, and, with the never-failing attention to worldly affairs that forms the leading characteristic of Quakerism, advised his friend to settle his affairs, and in doing so not to forget his daughter, Margaret Bell, and her children.
He died on the 16th of April, 1815.
After the old man's death Mr. Lamb brought Alexander T. Stewart to reside in his house, where he became thoroughly at home, the two sons, John and Joshua, looking on the orphan boy as, if possible, something more than a brother.
Stewart had now quite given up any idea of going on for the clerical profession, and in order to fit him for business Mr. Lamb advised that, instead of emigrating to New Tork, as he proposed to do, he should go to Belfast and learn something of shopkeeping. The good old Quaker arranged with a grocer in that town that the well-educated lad should become his apprentice, and in course of a few weeks he commenced his duties there. But neither the place nor the business suited the taste of A. T. Stewart. During the short time he was at the grocery business he spent the time from each Saturday evening till Monday at the house of Mr. Matthew Morrow, whose daughters conducted a ladies' school in Chichester Street, and where he met with the utmost kindness. But before the end of April he told the grocer that he did not like the business; and, having begged his guardian's permission to carry out the project of going to America, Mr. Lamb did not stand in the way, and thus all was amicably arranged.
America, 1818.
His guardian handed him fifty pounds out of the fortune then awaiting his coming of age. With that capital, in May, 1818, he left Belfast, in a ship bound for New York, and six weeks afterwards he found himself in the city on the Hudson.
After considerable difficulty he found his mother's residence. His half-brother, James Bell, had, some weeks before, ran off from home, and gone to sea, and the family then consisted of his half-sister Mary, his mother, and stepfather. Determined not to remain a burden on the family, he sought employment as an assistant teacher, and was engaged at four hundred dollars a-year -- a sum barely equal to pay his board and maintain him in respectable clothing. Having found himself fully equal to the duties of the school, several additions were made to his salary during the next two years, and in 1820 he found himself master of an annual income of six hundred dollars.
A course of communication was maintained between him and his guardian all that time, and in December, 1822, he received a long letter from the honest Quaker, stating that the property left him having been realised, the proceeds were lodged in a Belfast bank. Mr. Lamb also advised his ward that the money arising from the sale of the meadow and two fields, together with small cottage and garden (£140), was lent at 5 per cent. interest to a linen draper, and the seven pounds arising from that investment were paid quarterly to Mrs. Turney, his step-grandmother.
Early in the following your A. T. Stewart left New York for Liverpool, and when he reached that port in May, lost no time in taking his passage in the next steamer for Belfast, where he arrived in due course, and from thence made his way to Lisburn. The first person he called on was Fanny Fox, a Quaker lady, then engaged, in the haberdashery and millinery business. Miss Fox pressed him to remain all night, and next morning, on speaking to that lady respecting his business in Ireland, he requested her to introduce him to a lawyer, which she did by taking him to the office of Mr. Dillon. Having had some legal advice from that solicitor, the young man set off on foot -- a distance of about four miles -- for Pear Tree Hill, the residence of Mr. Thomas Lamb, his grandfather's executor, where he was received with the utmost attention, and in the course of the day all the accounts of Mr. Turney's estate, from April, 1815, were laid before him, with the several amounts received and the sums paid, and the vouchers in each case. Various estimates have been made respecting the sums paid over to A. T. Stewart; nothing definite, however, is known on the subject, but it must have amounted to several hundred, or perhaps one thousand, pounds.
It has been stated that Mr. Stewart had received from his guardian the full amount of money arising from the proceeds of property left him by his grandfather; but on getting the cash into his hands he found some difficulty in arriving at any definite conclusion as to how it should be invested. The bustle and prosperity he had seen in the everyday commerce of New York had stirred in his mind a desire for business; he therefore consulted a Belfast friend on the subject, and in doing so frankly acknowledged his ignorance of mercantile affairs. That friend told him that with his educational attainments and aptitude for learning he would soon master the details of trade. "It was most erroneous," he added, "to suppose that because a young man was a classical scholar he would not succeed when engaged at the matter-of-fact details of life as they existed behind the counter."
Acting on that shrewd counsel, the student made his first purchase from a manufacturer in Rosemary Street in that town, comprising a large lot of fancy goads, high-class muslins, insertions, tambours, and some flouncings. These articles were all of a quality which the embryo merchant was assured had rarely before been seen in any American city. He had also bought from the eminent firm of James N. Richardson & Co., of Lisburn, a parcel of the finest linens and some specialities in French cambric. Having thus invested the greater part of his capital in first-class goods, he once again sailed for New York, and arrived safe in July, 1823. There was then to be let the store afterwards known as "283, Broadway," situate between Murray and Warren Streets. The locality was central, and although the store was a mere wooden structure, twenty feet square, and the rent 37S dollars a-year, he entered as tenant, made some improvements, and in that tiny spot, with his Belfast and Lisburn purchases, and a job lot of laces, silk gloves, and general hosiery, the man who in after years became the financial counsellor of Presidents and the wonder of Wall Street commenced his marvellous career.
Marriage in 1825.
In 1825 Mr. Stewart married Miss Cornelia Clinch, daughter of a very wealthy ship chandler of New York. The young lady had received a very good education, but in the course of that sowing of intellectual seed the duty of industry had not been forgotten, and immediately after having taken upon herself the responsibilities of a wife she set about aiding in the transactions of the store, as it was on her own exertions much of the future success depended. It has been said that, on the delivery of the goods which her husband was in the habit of purchasing at the auction sales, she would refinish parcels of gloves and also the lots of ing in the transactions of the store, as if it just from the hands of the manufacturer. [sic]
The concern 283 [sic] had ceased to accommodate the customers and and contain the stock, and during the three years previous to the autumn of 1832 A. T. Stewart had made two removals, in each case to larger places of business. No 257, Broadway, was an extensive store, situate between Murray and Warren Streets, and this had been fitted up with great care and taste, the young merchant's classical education having given him a love of the decorative that was seen even in his selection of fancy fabrics. Nine years' successful commerce had made him a person of civic celebrity and a wonder to the plodding speculators of Wall Street.
In the spring of 1847 the premises of A. T. Stewart & Co. were found totally inadequate to meet the growing extension of their business. Washington Hall, a famous commercial hotel and its mercantile club, were then in the market, and at a cost of sixty thousand dollars the site was purchased by Mr. Stewart. The area of that building ground comprised two acres, and after clearing away the buildings that stood over it the erection of the world-renowned Marble Palace was commenced.
Famine, 1847.
Ireland in 1847 was undergoing one of those periodical seasons of sadness which seem coincident with her history. Two millions of her people were in the very whirlpool of destitution, dearth, and disease, and towards the relief fund which had been got up the Broadway merchant sent to the Irish Committee, then sitting in Dublin, a contribution of ten thousand dollars, and a cargo of food to the Lisburn Committee value for £5,000.
A. T. Stewart had then been in the dry goods trade for more than one quarter of a century, and his power of arranging the daily duties of an entire army of rank and file assistants showed how well the algebraic and mathematical lessons he had been taught by Mr. Benjamin Neely must have been acted upon in course of his commercial life.
The marble palace had become more than ever the resort of the fashionable and the gay of high life, when A. T. Stewart saw that it was time for him to make another move in the upward direction. He accordingly, in 1860, purchased the fee-simple of more than two acres of ground situate between Ninth and Tenth Streets and Fourth Avenue. There he commenced the erection which, when finished, stood, from the level of the street to the top cornice, eighty-eight feet in height, and was the largest store ever erected in any part of the world. It consisted of eight floors, six above and two below the ground, thus making an area of eighteen acres in all.
About the time of the commencement of the war between the Southern and Northern States of America Mr. Stewart purchased immense quantities of military stores, and when demand for such goods rose with the requirements, sales were made at very large profits, and yet, as it was afterwards proved, the purchases made by Government at A. T. Stewart's were on much better terms than any that had been bought from other holders.
Some of A. T. Stewart's biographers have written of him as if he had been a man whose only enjoyment was the accumulation of riches. Nothing could be further from broad fact than such statements. It is true that to casual observers he may have seemed cold and frigid, and that in the management of his great business he exacted scrupulous attention to details on the part of his army of assistants, but in connection with that stern love of discipline and a determination to have the line of conduct he marked out strictly adhered to, he had a heart brimful of benevolence, and a disposition which ever prompted him to distribute with no sparing hand a portion of his wealth in doing good to his less fortunate brethren.
The munificent contribution which Mr. Stewart sent to the Lisburn Relief Committee has been mentioned. He also chartered the ship Mary Edson to take over on her return voyage a number of the cotton weavers to New York. When those emigrants reached that city the Broadway merchant had temporary homes prepared for them, and until they got into employment all were supported at his expense.
Death, 1876.
He delighted to gather around him the most distinguished man of the city, and on the third Sunday in March, 1876, had his usual dinner party. On the occasion alluded to the party was intended to consist of sixteen gentlemen, including the host himself, but three of the invited guests were unable to attend, and, to Mr. Stewart's momentary annoyance, thirteen sat down to table. A very pleasant evenins was spent, however, for he was quite a different man in his own house from the plodding merchant of Broadway. Next day he felt very ill, and did not go to business. An internal disease which had first appeared three years before set in with increased severity. The family physician, Dr. Marcey, was in close attendance, and he rallied a little under that gentleman's care, but on Thursday, the 6th of April, he had caught fresh cold and became considerably worse. On the morning of the 10th he was quite unconscious, and before the close of that day the millionaire storekeeper, whose name had been a household word to every place of note in the world of commerce, had passed away to the Land of Spirits.
President Grant offered to appoint Mr. Stewart to the very important office of Secretary of the United States Treasury, but various obstacles intervened, and the matter fell through.
He died childless.
One of A. T. Stewart's peculiarities was that of being religiously reticent on the subject of his boyhood. He occasionally referred to John Turney, his maternal grandfather; but of Thomas Stewart and Martha, his paternal grandfather and grandmother, or of his four uncles and three aunts, he was never heard to speak. A friend once wrote him in favour of one of his relatives, then in poor circumstances, but he never replied to that letter. More than thirty years ago Tom Stewart, then the only surviving son of his grandfather, had got past the age of labour, and was badly off in Lisburn. On having been appealed to on the subject by Mr. Jon Owden, of the arm of J. N. Richardson & Co., A. T. Stewart sent the applicant means to pay his uncle ten shillings a week which sum was continued till the old man's death.
That disposition to ignore the existence of his relations in that country was evinced in his last will; and most remarkable is the fact that the world-renowned merchant, who is said to have died worth fifty millions of dollars, and whose benevolence towards the outside world was munificent, did not leave a solitary cent to those blood relations who, seeing that he died without issue, had direct claims on his testamentary action.
This neglect of his relations was one weak point in the character of one of the most wonderful of the world's commercialists. And yet he loved with national fervour the land of his birth, and in her times of need administered with liberal hand to Ireland's necessities. He has gone to his final resting-place, and, taking him for all in all, more than one generation will have passed before the world sees another A. T. Stewart.
Chamber's Biographical Dictionary, 1897.
Alexander Turney Stewart, 1803-1876, millionaire, born at Lisburn, near Belfast; emigrated to New York in 1823, where two years later he opened his first dry-goods store. His charities were numerous, yet at his death he left some £8,000,000. His body was stolen in 1878, and restored to his widow three years after on payment of £4,000 through a lawyer.
(Next Week: Betty, the Young Roscius.)
=========================
THE WAR
-- -- -- --
BRITISH RETIRE FROM BURLON.
-- -- -- --
BUT GERMANS IN UNHAPPY POSITION.
-- -- -- --
ANOTHER DECLARATION OF WAR EXPECTEO TO-DAY.
-- -- -- --
On the Cambrai front we have evacuated all the ground from Bourlon Wood to Novelles, the enemy also claiming the capture of Marcoing. In our retreat we have evacuated an untenable salient and fallen back on Flecquires Ridge to hold our capture of the Rindenburg line. The Germans now are on unprotected ground facing the back of their own defences -- an unhappy position.
From the French front there is nothing of importance to record; but terrific fighting is reported in Italy, where the Allies are making a splendid stand. Russia's condition grows more chaotic than ever.
It is confidently expected that America will declare war on Austria to-day.
Twenty-nine casualties (seven fatal) were caused by an air raid by 25 German machines on London yesterday. Two of the raiders were brought down.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
KILLED.
Captain David M'Causland, R.I. Rifles.
Corporal C. Kitchen, Canadian Infantry, Hillsborough.
WOUNDED
Captain D.C.H. Richardson, M.C., Lancers.
Second-Lieut. W.R. Martin, R.I.R.
Private James Fullerton, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Dunmurry.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
CAPTAIN DAVID M'CAUSLAND.
Captain David M'Causland, R.I.R., killed in action at Cambrai on the 22nd November, was a son of the late Mr. David M'Causland, St. Johnston, Londonderry, and brother of Mrs. Wilson, wife of Mr. T.M. Wilson, town clerk, Lisburn. He served in the Boer War with the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry (now the North Irish Horse), and was so pleased with South Africa that he settled down in business there when peace was declared. Shortly after too outbreak of the present hostilities he gave up a lucrative position, patriotically paid his passage home, and straightway joined his old corps. After serving for a time with the North Irish Horse he was given a commission in a reserve battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles (Ulster Division), and went to the front in June, 1916, being attached to the Central Antrim Volunteers. Since going to France he took part in all the heavy fighting in which the Ulster Division was engaged. He was wounded on the 7th June at Messines, but not seriously, and after having been fixed up at a field dressing station he immediately went back to his unit in the firing line. He was wounded again in the opening battle of Cambai, but continued to lead his company until he was killed by a sniper. He had been recommended for the Military Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty. Captain M'Causland got married a few weeks before be left Durban, South Africa, where his young widow resides.
-- -- -- --
At the monthly meeting of Lisburn Urban Council on Monday -- Mr. James M'Nally (chairman) presiding -- Dr. St. George feelingly referred to the death of Captain M'Causland. He said he had a sad motion to move that morning -- namely, one of deep sympathy with their respected town clerk, Mr. T. M. Wilson, on the death of his brother-in-law, Captain David M'Causland, R.I.R., which was notified that morning. That gallant young officer, who was a brother of Mrs. T. M. Wilson, had fought in the Boer War, after which he settled down in South Africa. On the outbreak of the present war he believed it was his duty to take his share in it, and, answering his country's call, he gave up his business and came over to the old country to enlist. He would, if he had desired, have got a commission, but he did not like to push for one. He was content to join as a private soldier, and he enlisted in the North Irish Horse. On proceeding to the front his abilities were recognised by his superiors, and he was rapidly promoted. He was one of the gallant men who "tried to snatch victory from fortune" at Messines, where he was wounded while leading his men in attack. After his recovery he returned to the front, and he fell to the great struggle at Cambrai. They deplored the loss of such a splendid and promising young officer, and their heartfelt sympathy went out to his widow in South Africa, also to his sister and brother-in-law, Mrs. and Mr. T. M. Wilson.
The Chairman said in regard to their good friend Mr. Wilson they were deeply sorry at the bereavement he and his wife had sustained. He would ask the Council to pass the resolution of sympathy standing.
The motion was then passed in silence, the members and all present standing.
The Town Clerk (Mr. Wilson) thanked the Council very sincerely for their kind expression of sympathy, which, he said, would be a source of great comfort to his wife. His need not tell them what a tremendous blow the death of her brother was to her, or what, they could all understand, it meant to the young widow away in South Africa. He assured the Council that their resolution of sympathy would be much valued.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Second-Lieut. W. R. Martin.
Second-Lieut. W. R. Martin, Royal Irish Rifles, wounded on 22nd ult., is a son of Mr. John Martin, P.L.G., Hallstown, Magheragall, Lisburn. He received his commission through Queen's University O.T.C. in December, 1916. He was studying for the ministry when the war broke out. He took part in the fighting at Messines in June last, and, coming through unharmed, he wrote a very graphic account of his experiences, which appeared in our columns at the time. A brother of this officer (Private Alexander Martin, Australians) was killed at the Dardanelles.
Captain D. C. H. Richardson.
Captain Derek C. H. Richardson, M.C., Lancers, who was severely wounded on 30th November, is the only soa of Mr. C. H. Richardson, J.P., and Mrs. Richardson, Cedarhurst, Newtownbreda.
-- -- --
Corporal C. Kitchen, C.I., killed, was the husband of Mrs. Kitchen, Park Lane, Hillsborough.
Private James Fullerton, R.I.F., wounded, is a nephew of Mrs. M. A. Reid, Shower Hill, Dunmurry.
=========================
LISBURN BARMAN'S SAD END.
VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DROWNING.
The body of Mr. Samuel Davidson Nicholson (20), who had been missing since 9th November, was recovered from the Lagan Canal in the vicinity of the Island Mill on Saturday. Deceased had been in the employment of Mr. William Jellie as a barman in the King's Arms Hotel.
Dr. Mussen held an inquest on the remains on Monday morning. Mr. Joseph Lord was foreman of the jury, and Sergt. Edgar represented the police.
Mr. Jellie stated that deceased left his work as usual at 2-30 on the 9th November, his half-holiday; and Mr. Samuel Chambers, with whom he lodged since coming to Lisburn, stated that deceased left his lodgings about four o'clock on that afternoon in his usual health and spirits. He was quite sober. Miss Agnes Carney, who last saw deceased alive, said she left him to the bend of Bridge Street about nine o'clock the same evening. He was under the influence of drink at the time. She saw him later in Canal Street, but he did not recognise her, and she could not take him to her lodgings, as there were only two women in the house.
Dr. D. C Campbell said from the appearance of the body ha believed it was in the water since the 9th ult. There were no marks of violence on the body.
Sergeant Edgar said that it had been rumoured that deceased had his watch in his hand at the time he was drowned. That was not so, as he actually broke the chain in trying to remove it from deceased's vest pocket.
The jury having heard the evidence, returned a verdict of accidental drowning,and joined the Coroner in expressing sympathy with deceased's relatives.
When the father of deceased (who resides at Legacorry, Lurgan) was signing his deposition Dr. Mussen remarked that he wrote a good hand gor an old man. "Thank God I do, sir," Mr. Nicholson replied; "I went to school, I and all my children. I have only sixteen left now -- three are dead."
=========================
MR. R. A. McCALL, K.C., HONOURED.
Mr. Robert Alfred McCall, K.C., elected Treasurer of the Middle Temple in succession to Lord Parmoor, is the son of an Ulster Journalist. He was called to the Bar 46 years ago and joined the Northern Circuit. His predecessor in the Treasurership was for many years Attorney-General to the Prince of Wales; and Mr. McCall has a similarly long record as Attorney-General and Queen's Serjeant of the Duchy of Lancaster. His election will be very popular. He has been a Bencher since 1894. One of his daughters is the wife of Mr. Gerald Woods Wollaston, M.V.O., Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms. -- "Daily Graphic."
=========================
BUTTER PROSECUTION.
Ballinderry Farmer Fined £5.
At Belfast Summons Court yesterday William Quinn, farmer, Ballinderry, was summoned for selling butter on 24th October James P. Skelton at 2s 2d per lb., when the maximum price was 1s 10½d.
Mr. J.T. M'Connell Lisburn, pleaded guilty on behalf of defendant.
The defendant was fined £5 and costs.
=========================
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LISBURN,
Early on Thursday morning a fire occurred in the premies of Mr. John Coulter, builder, Young Street, Lisburn, which resulted in all the valuable machinery being rendered into scrap. A considerable quantity of stock was consumed. The Fire Brigade was early on the scene, and did good work in cutting off the flames from other inflammable buildings in the vicinity.
=========================
FIRST AID IN LISBURN.
While three young ladies were walking along Bow Street a few days ago, whom we afterwards discovered to be Misses Lowry, Gaston, and Stewart, of the Thompson Memorial Home, a middle-aged working man stumbled and fell, his head striking the kerbstone. Blood flowed freely from the wound he received. He lay in an unconscious state for some time. These young ladies immediately rendered first aid. Their efforts proved successful, and the man, after a lapse of less than half an hour, was able to proceed on his way, being assisted by some friends who in the meantime had heard of the accident. Notwithstanding that the day was wet and the streets very dirty, these young ladies did not hesitate to do all in their power to succour the man. Truly their act was the action of the Good Samaritan.
^ top of page
Lisburn Standard - Friday, 14 December, 1917
Births
DOUGLAS -- December 9th, at 26 Kansas Avenue, Belfast, the wife of Isaac A.
Douglas -- a son.
Marriages
LYND--BAYNE -- December 8, at the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Dublin Road, Belfast, by Rev. John Lynd, father of the bridegroom, William S. Lynd, M.B., Surgeon (temporary), R.N., and Lilian Isabel Bayne, B.A., youngest daughter of Rev. E.S. Bayne, Hillsboro' N.S., Canada.
HILL--BLAIR -- December 1, at 71 Cambridge Drive, Glasgow, by Rev. Hill, M.A., Thomas E. Hill of Ballinderry, to Agnes, youngest daughter of the late Thomas Blair, Builder, Glasgow.
BLAINE--BLAIN -- December 5th, 1917, at Moira Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. S. Murray, B.A., Cargycreevy, Andrew T. Blaine, Insurance Broker, Ashvale, Annahilt, County Down, to Elizabeth (Lizzie), third daughter of Robert Blain, of Carricknaveagh, Saintfield, County Down.
Deaths
DUNDAS -- December 10, at Gloucester Lodge, East Molesey, Colonel Sir Lorenzo G. Dundas, K.C.B., dearly-beloved husband of Lily Dundas.
KING -- December 8, at Rostrevor, the Rev. Thomas Waldron King, Rector of Currin Parish, Clones, aged 68 years.
Roll of Honour
SMYTH -- December 3, killed in action, Major Edmund F. Smyth, Royal Irish Rifles, of Brookfield, Banbridge.
THOMPSON -- December 1st, killed in action, Major R. Lloyd Thompson, M.C., Royal Field Artillery, only son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Thompson, Penrhyn, Belmont, and grandson of the Right Hon. Robert Thompson, D.L., M.P.
In Memoriam
BULL -- In loving memory of Brigadier-General George Bull, D.S.O., Royal Irish Fusiliers, who died on December 11th, 1916, of wounds received in action on the 7th, the third and last surviving son of Mr. R.G. Bull, Resident Magistrate, Newry, County Down. For 28 months in the trenches. Aged 39 years.
Clippings
SOME EXTRACTS FROM THE
RECORDS OF OLD LISBURN
AND THE MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.
-- -- --
Edited by JAMES CARSON.
-- -- --
LXI.
-- -- --
WILLIAM HENRY WEST BETTY, 1791-1874
(The Young Roscius).
From "Ireland and Her Staple Manufactures," 1870, by Hugh M'Call.
W. H. W. Betty was son of a linen bleacher, and passed the early part of his boyhood amid the bustle of business at his father's house in Chapel Hill, Lisburn. His grandfather, Doctor Betty, was a celebrated physician in that town, and who, besides attending to the duties of a large and lucrative practice, was owner of an extensive bleachfield situate a few miles out in the County of Down. The old gentleman in his day had been an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and when the house of worship, still owned by the first congregation, was being erected he was himself a liberal contributor to the funds and a most successful collector from others.
The house in which the family resided is situated in Chapel Hill, and nearly opposite the property then owned by Mr. Luke Teeling. After the doctor's death his only son, William Henry, succeeded him in the bleaching concern, and in 1790 married Miss West, a lady belonging to Shrewsbury, where, in September of the following year, the subject of this brief notice first saw the light. At the end of autumn Mrs. Betty and her son returned to Lisburn, and continued there for many years. Mr. Betty in the meantime pursuing his business in the purchase and finish of linens. The embryo Roscius received the rudiments of his education in the school of Mr. Goyer, and he also attended the classical institution conducted by the Rev. Mr. Dubourdieu. It appears that during his scholastic studies he never exhibited any special evidence of that precocious talent which afterwards took the world by storm.
From the time of the Insurrection the handsome town of Lisburn had been the station for a troop of horse and a numerous company of foot soldiers. A splendid band accompanied them, and what with the daily parades, inspection of troops and periodical bugle calls, the inhabitants were bidding fair to imbibe much more of the military spirit than is usually found to exist in provincial towns. Besides these sources of excitement, a respectable company of theatricals, under the management of Mr. Robert Owenson, father of the future Lady Morgan and Lady Clarke, added largely to the intellectual amusement of the citizens. Mr. Owenson's theatre was situate in the rere of Mr. Stewart's house opposite the road since made to Hillsborough, and the lessee himself and his two daughters resided next door.
Miss O'Neill, afterwards Lady Beecher -- then a young and rapidly rising performer, took the leading parts in the cast of characters, and rejoiced in the moderate salary of thirty shillings a week. This lady, as well as the Owenson family, were frequent visitors to Mr. Betty, when the hostess, who was famed for her "love of the lamp," occasionally entertained her friends with readings and recitations from celebrated dramatic authors.
Brought up in a home-school where the military and dramatic element formed the largest share of fireside education, young Betty became strongly impressed with a desire for the stage. This feeling was still further strengthened by his having witnessed the performance of Mrs. Siddons in the character of Lady Macbeth, at the Belfast theatre, and he felt so struck with the peculiar beauty of her elocution that he came home determined to try his fortune as a player.
At that time he was under eleven years of age, yet he seemed to have had conceptions of his future career, settled and ambitious as if he had seen thirty summers. The linen bleacher entertained very different views respecting the after pursuits of his son, and when he first learned of his leanings towards the theatrical profession he expressed himself strongly against that course of life. Mrs. Betty, however, had opposite ideas on the subject -- the "green room" to her was the land of promise, and, as is usual in most cases of domestic policy, the "weaker vessel" stood out for the rights of the sex, and ultimately had it all her own way. But not only did she exult over her boy's predilection for the stage, she also undertook the charge of his dramatic education, and for a considerable period she spent some hours each day in that labour of love.
Theatre Royal, Belfast, 1803.
Under this course of study, added to his own natural taste for the art, Betty speedily became a local celebrity, but his fame did not long remain bounded by the environs of Lisburn. Mr. Atkins, who was lessee of the Belfast theatre from its opening in 1791, had heard some reports about the precocious genius of the young tragedian, and after obtaining further information on the subject from his brother manager Mr. Owenson, he was so much interested by the report that he went up to Lisburn and concluded an engagement with the elder Mr. Betty for five nights performances. In course of the following week the blank walls and fronts of untenanted houses in Belfast were nearly covered with large posters, announcing, in flaming capitals, that a wonderful performer, only eleven years of age, would appear on the local boards in the character of Osman, in Voltaire's celebrated tragedy of Zara.
The Theatre Royal on that occasion was crowded to excess. All the open space at the end of Arthur Street and Castle Lane with blocked up with anxious play goers, and so great was the struggle to secure places in the different parts of the house that before six o'clock in the evening every seat in the gallery was crammed, the upper and lower boxes had not a vacant spot, and two noblemen, then members of Parliament, were glad to get a small-area of standing-room in the pit. Master Betty had not then attained his twelfth year, but, as he was well grown, he appeared at last two years above that age. The theatrical critics of the Northern Athens were perfectly astounded at the correctness of enunciation, judicious delivery, and thorough conception of character displayed by the young gentleman. His performance was a triumphant success, the occupants of the boxes lustily applauded, those of the pit were enthusiastically delighted, and the gods sent forth peal after peal of vociferous acclamation. At the conclusion of the piece Mr. Atkins was called before the curtain, and having returned thanks to the audience for their hearty response to his notice that he had an "extraordinary novelty" to produce for their gratification, he announced that Master Betty would appear next evening (Saturday) in the same character, and that on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the succeeding week he would have the honour of coming out respectively in the characters of Romeo, Rolla, and Norval. On each of these occasions the popularity of the young actor had so much increased that vast numbers of persons were disappointed in their attempts to obtain seats, and only left the doors of the theatre after all chances of getting standing places had been given up.
The marvellous success of his son and the tempting proposals which poured in on him for engagements in the theatre changed the entire current of Mr. Betty's ideas as to the lad's future pursuits. He therefore sold off all his stock of linens, as well as the farm and bleachfield, that he might be at perfect liberty to accompany his son as the keeper of his purse and the guardian of his person in a proposed tour through the kingdom.
Dublin, 1803.
In course of the autumn which succeeded Betty's debut as a public performer, many overtures were made him for engagements. Among others, the lessee of the Dublin Theatre Royal offered two hundred pounds for twenty nights' performance. This was considered liberal in the extreme; but the dread of appearing before an audience famed as the most fastidious, as well as the most accomplished, critics in Europe, and in a city where, as has been rightly said, "the wit of the gods in the gallery is usually keener than that of the author on the stage," kept negotiations in abeyance for some weeks.
At length, in November, 1803, the young Roscius went to Dublin, where he appeared in the character of Hamlet, and was received with a perfect ovation. Previous to his engagement there the local patrons of the drama had fallen into one of those periodical fits of dulness to which public communities as well as private individuals are occasionally subject. But almost immediately after the appearance of the young star the wild excitement cut of doors and the crowds that assembled in the theatre every night told that the theatrical taste which exists in such greatness on the border of the Liffey had been aroused in all its strength. This engagement proved most successful, and he left the city with a new wreath of laurels on his brow. In the early part of 1804 he visited the West of Scotland, and while performing in Edinburgh he was invited to dine with Lord Meadowbank and Mr. Home. The author of Douglass paid him the high compliment of stating that his admirable personation of young Norval proved him to be the genuine offspring of the Douglass. It should here be stated that while performing in Dublin Mr. Macready, father of the great tragedian and joint lessee of the Birmingham theatre, was present, and felt no less astonished than any of the outsiders at the remarkable genius of young Betty, and some time afterwards an arrangement was made for the introduction of the young gentleman to a Birmingham audience. He appeared there in August, 1804, and marvellous was the excitement which that event caused in the great depot of mosaic jewellery and brass buttons.
In a notice of the Birmingham performance the writer, said:-- "The theatrical annals of the town furnish nothing equal to the commotion which Betty's appearance excited. The hotels and inns were completely occupied during his stay by persons who came from every part of the adjacent country to witness the novelty. Nine characters were sustained by him in Birmingham."
Birmingham, 1804.
An amusing incident connected with this engagement is related by one of the biographers of the young Roscius. Mr. Jackson, who shared the management of the Birmingham theatre with Mr. Macready, had been requested to secure the services of this "prodigy" for twelve nights, at a salary of ten pounds a night; but as the appearance of the lad off the stage was not calculated to impress beholders with the idea of great excellence in the histrionic art, he had no sooner been introduced to him than he begged to be released from what he considered "a ruinous engagement." Betty's relatives expressed their willingness to cancel the affair, provided they were paid their travelling expenses from Edinburgh. During the discussion Mr. Macready proposed that the arrangement might be made in another form, "Suppose," said he, "that for general expenses sixty pounds be taken from the gross receipts of each night's performance, and the balance divided between the 'star' and the lessees." This proposal was agreed to but so immensely did the receipts exceed Macready's calculation that his colleague the over-cautious manager, found he had to pay the "star" fifty pounds a night instead of ten. From Birmingham Master Betty proceeded to Sheffield, where he was no less attractive. Doncaster races were going on at the time, and carriages labelled "Theatrical coach to carry six insides to see the Young Roscius" were stationed near the course to convey passengers from the sports of the turf to more intellectual amusements of the stage.
His next appearance was in Liverpool and there the struggle to get places in the theatre exceeded all previous excitement. On the morning that preceded his first performance, when the box-office was opened, some gentlemen had their cloth torn to tatters, others had their hats and shoes carried away in the crowd, and a third party sometimes severely bruised and almost suffocated in the attempt to obtain tickets for themselves and their friends. During the first twelve nights of his performance in that maritime capital the total receipts of the house amounted to about twenty-seven hundred pounds. Of this sum he received on an average ninety pounds a night; and, including the profits of his benefit, he realised by that engagement about fifteen hundred guines. Before he left Liverpool he was presented with two very valuable silver cups, and at the conclusion of the engagement the managers of the theatre offered to give him one hundred pounds a night for a further series of performances, but, having made other arrangements, he could not accept those very liberal terms. On Monday, the 12th of November, 1804, young Betty appeared in the Manchester theatre.
(To be Continued.)
=========================
THE WAR
-- -- -- --
FIGHTING AT BULLECOURT.
-- -- -- --
Enemy Penetrate a Portion of Our Trenches.
-- -- -- --
Inquiry to be Hold into Cambrai Setback.
-- -- -- --
Fighting continued yesterday east of Bullecourt, where the enemy on Wednesday penetrated a portion of our trenches. Sir Douglas Haig reports that our men during Wednesday's fighting repulsed two separate attacks, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. Yesterday morning a German post south of Villers-Guislain was attacked, the whole of its garrison being either killed or taken prisoners. Six German aeroplanes, including a Gotha, have been brought down, while none of
our machines are missing.
The French have repulsed enemy forces at Caurieres Wood and Juvincourt. German airmen have again bombed Dunkirk, but without causing any casualties.
The Italians in the Col Delia Beretta region, as the consequence of a counter-attack, have retaken the greater part of the trenches captured by the enemy the day before. The Austro-German attack in the Calcino Valley failed. The Austrians claim to have taken 293 guns and 16,000 prisoners in four days on the Melette front.
General Kaledin, the Russian Cossack commander, is besieging Rostoff, which is partially occupied by the Bolshevist Red Guards. Heavy fighting is reported as
having occurred in the vicinity of the town.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
KILLED IN ACTION.
Major E. F. Smyth.
The news of no death in action was received in Lisburn with more profound and
general sorrow than that of Major Edmund F. Smyth, Royal Irish Rifles (South Antrim Volunteers), who was killed by a shell while on reconnaissance duty on the 3rd inst. A son of the late Mr. Wm. Smyth, J.P., and Mrs. Smyth, Brookfield, Banbridge, the deceased was educated at St. Columba's College, Dublin, and Owens
College, Manchester. He afterwards became managing director of the Lisburn Factory, Limited, and was also a director of Smyth's Weaving Company, Limited
(Brookfield Mills), Banbridge. Major Smyth was a prominent figure in athletic
circles, being an international hockey player, and a member of the Royal County Down Golf Club, the North of Ireland, Rugby Football Club, and the Windsor
Tennis Club, Belfast. He was also a member of the Union Club, Donegall
Place. A company commander of the Ulster Volunteer Force in Lisburn, Major
Smyth, in conjunction with Major A. P. Jenkins, took a prominent part in the formation of 1st Lisburn Battalion South Antrim Regiment of that force. He was
promoted to the rank of captain on 1st February, 1915, and was wounded in the
attack before Thiepval on 1st July, 1916. He was subsequently appointed second-in-command of the battalion, with the rank of major, and in August last was offered the position of lieutenant-colonel commanding a Belfast battalion, but declined on the ground that he preferred to remain with the men with whom he had joined the colours. The late Major Smyth was a brother of Major Robertson Stewart Smyth, M.D., R.A.M.C., who died on 5th April, 1916, of illness contracted on active service, and of Mr. D. W. Smyth, Huntly, Banbridge. He was a cousin of Lieut.-Colonel G.B.F. Smyth, D.S.O., R.E., and of Major G.O.S. Smyth, M.C., R.A., while another cousin, Captain W. Haughton Smyth, Royal Irish Rifles (County Down Volunteers), fell in action on 1st July, 1916.
Private Joseph Ferris,
Irish Guards, reported killed in action, was a son of Mr. John Ferris, Grove
Street, Low Road, Lisburn. Prior to the war he was a vanman in the employment
of the Lisburn Co-operative Society.
^ top of page
Lisburn Standard - Friday, 21 December, 1917
Births
CLARK -- December 8, at Novara, Antrim, to Mr. and Mrs. James Clarke -- a son.
JAFFE -- December 15, at 1 Leonard Place, Kensington, London, to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jaffe -- a daughter.
Marriages
MASON--PHILLIPS -- December 13, 1917, at All Saints' Church, Blackrock, by special licence, the Rev. Canon Hannay officiating, Captain John I. Mason, Royal Sussex Regiment, eldest son of Professor Mason, of the Royal College of Science and Dublin University, to Eileen Jane, only daughter of George Phillips, M.P.S.I., Roscommon.
STRINGER--BEGGS -- December 13, at Rendham Church, Suffolk, by the Rev. T. M'Clelland, M.A. (uncle of the bride), Albert Edward Stringer, B.A.I., Lieut. R.E., youngest son of T. Stringer, Esq., Merrion Hall, Merrion, Co. Dublin, to Jane, second daughter of the late Wm. H. Beggs, and Mrs. Beggs, and Mrs. Beggs, Scotch Quarter, Carrickfergus.
Deaths
ROBINSON -- December 16th, 1917, at his residence, Clonlee, Taunton Avenue, Lansdowne Road, William F. Robinson, B.A., Head Master of Duncairn Gardens National School and Chairman of the Belfast and District Branch of the Irish Principal Teachers' Union.
Roll of Honour
EARNEY -- December 7, died of wounds received in action on 5th inst., Lance-Corporal HArry Earney, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Earney, Carnasure, Comber (late of Rademon, Crossgar).
LONG -- Killed in action, 8th December, Lance-Corporal (Royal Irish Rifles) Richardson, youngest son of the late Richardson Long and Mrs. Long, Low Road, Lisburn.
In Memoriam
DUNLOP -- In loving memory of my brother, Hans Dunlop (late of Ingleside, Old Cavehill Road), whose work and trouble ceased on December 16, 1916.
JAS. DUNLOP, Glenpark, Cregagh.
Clippings
SOME EXTRACTS FROM THE
RECORDS OF OLD LISBURN
AND THE MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.
-- -- --
Edited by JAMES CARSON.
-- -- --
LXII.
-- -- --
WILLIAM HENRY WEST BETTY, 1791-1874
(The Young Roscius).
From "Ireland and Her Staple Manufactures," 1870, by Hugh M'Call.
(Continued.)
London, 1804.
But now comes the great epoch in the professional life of Betty. The lessee of Covent Garden had been for some time in negotiation with the elder gentleman for the purpose of securing the services of the son, and at length the matter was arranged on the terms of fifty pounds a night. Great preparations had been made for his debut on the London boards, and on the evening of the 1st of December, 1804 -- ten days after the termination of his first engagement in Manchester -- he appeared at Covent Garden Theatre, in Dr. Brown's adaptation of Voltaire's tragedy, Merope. Nothing could have exceeded the excitement produced on this occasion. It seemed as if the world of London had been taken by storm, and for the time being the "Young Roscius" was lion of the West End, and the magnate East of Temple Bar. The "Morning Chronicle" thus alludes to the first night's performance:--
"So early as ten o'clock on Saturday morning, many gentlemen began to parade the Piazzas and Bow Street, in order that they might be near the doors when the crowd should begin to assemble. Before one and two o'clock numbers had taken their stations near all the doors leading to the pit, boxes, and galleries; and long before the doors were opened they stretched out in long, thick, close-wedged, impenetrable columns to the extremity of the Piazzas, in Covent Garden, and quite across Bow Street. Peace officers were provided inside the theatre, and a strong detachment of guards procured outside. The heat in every part of the house became excessive very soon after it was filled. In the pit many gentlemen fainted, and were dragged seemingly lifeless, up into the boxes. The ladies in one or two boxes were employed almost the whole night in fanning the gentlemen who were beneath them in the pit. Frequently we heard screams from those who were overcome by the heat, but could neither get out nor obtain the slightest relief. Upwards of twenty gentlemen who had fainted were dragged up into the boxes; we observed several more raising their hands, as if in in the act of supplication for mercy and pity. It was with satisfaction that we observed but few females exposed to this distressing state in the pit; they were but thirteen, and they fortunately were placed in situations so near the proscenium as to derive the full benefit of the air from the stage. Behind the scenes were many of the first personages, both for rank and learning in the country. Besides the Lord Chief Baron, Lord Melville, and Mr. Const, the counsel, there were all the theatrical judges of merit. Numerous groups of ladies of the first fashion were also content to stand during the whole of the performance in any hole or corner where they could get a glimpse. The Prince Regent occupied Lady Miller's box on the night of the first appearance at Drury Lane, and joined several times in the applause pealed forth by the general audience. Mr. Charles Kemble assisted on the occasion. Master Betty's reception of the character was classically correct. His performance was not the successful repetition of a mere lesson, but that of an experienced tragedian, rich in understanding and discrimination. He did not appear in the least degree fatigued by the exertions, but rather increased in energy during the progress of the piece. In the third act his restrained tenderness -- his apparent transports at the praises bestowed on him by his mother -- the difficulty with which he refrains from declaring himself -- the discovery of her son being alive, and the determination of the son to revenge her wrongs, were admirably conceived, and so effectually rendered as to bring down bursts of applause from all parts of the house."
The receipts of the theatre during the twenty nights of Betty's first London season amounted to twenty-seven thousand guineas, being the largest aggregate ever before realised in any similar period at either of the great houses. Of that sum the fortunate performer received one-tenth share, which represented fifty guineas a night for three nights, and one hundred guineas a night for twenty-five nights. Besides this he had four free benefits that brought the aggregate up to three thousand eight hundred guineas, and, in addition, he received presents of plate, which made a grand total of four thousand guineas for about a month's performances.
This unparalleled success is said to have almost turned the heads of the fortunate youth's parents, and to himself the rapid change of position, the magical turn of affairs that brought him from the comparative quiet of a linen warehouse to the exciting scenes connected with theatrical life, must have appeared as the realisation of some fairy tale. The young gentleman was then little more than thirteen years of age; he had been about eighteen months on the boards, and during that time he had netted as many thousand pounds as he was years old.
Park Lane and Piccadilly turned out their hosts of patrons in all the blase of jewelled coronets and diamond necklaces.
Rubicund dowagers and red-faced aldermen from the regions east of Temple Bar migrated from the city to gaze on the "wonderful boy." George the Third summoned the youthful prodigy to attend at St. James' Palace, where select readings were given from different authors before his Majesty and the rest of the Royal household. When "Hamlet" was to be performed at Covent Garden, Mr. Pitt actually adjourned the House of Commons that he might see Master Betty in the role. Sheridan brought the lad into his box at the conclusion of the piece, and presented him as the Young Roscius to Fox, Burke, and Curran, who had left the Senate House to witness the performance.
Critics.
In the midst of all this popularity, and when wealth was pouring in on the favoured tragedian as if he had been in possession of the philosopher's stone, the whole course of events did not run in his favour without a ruffle. A few of the critics stood away from the admiring throng, and strongly dissented from the "childish enthusiasm" for the boy-player. Partisan spirit was aroused in several quarters, and the jealousy of the green-room -- perhaps the bitterest of all such feeling -- added strength to the minority. At the very time when young Betty drew immense crowds to Drury Lane, and when he was receiving one hundred guineas a night, Mrs. Siddons and her brother, John P. Kemole, were playing to thin houses at Covent Garden on the respective salaries of £30 and £25 a night. Envy, hatred, and malice followed this turn of affairs, and the advocates of the "legitimate drama" fought furiously against the mania for "infantile prodigies." Richard Cumberland, the dramatist, devotes some pages of his autobiographic memoirs to a very ungenerous critique on Master Betty, and becomes savagely facetious in his remarks on what he designates "beardless youths usurping the popularity of votaries of the stage." "How delicious," says the green-eyed Richard, "is it to be praised and panegyrised by leading critics. To be caressed by dukes, and, still better, by the daughters of dukes; to be flattered, by wits, feasted by aldermen, stuck up in the windows of print-shops, and, last of all, set astride upon the cut-water of a privateer, like the tutelary genius of the British flag."
Master Betty was very tall for his years, and when he stood before a London, audience he had considerably improved in the power of self-possession. He was exceedingly handsome in personal appearance, and highly graceful in action. His voice was round and full, and of such remarkable compass that, without apparent effort, he could make himself distinctly heard in all parts of the largest theatre. But his was a popularity as evanescent as it had been wonderful. Once on the inclined plane, the descent was rapid and irrecoverable.
1824.
It is a strange feature in his history that, from the time he arrived at the age of sixteen, his power over the play-going public began to wane, and when he took leave of the stage as the "Earl of Warwick," in the Southampton Theatre in 1824, the house was not half filled. The "marvellous boy" had by that time degenerated into a very commonplace man. It seemed as if the wand had been broken by which, in his juvenile days, he had charmed the most fastidious critics, the highest men of the theatrical world, and nearly every patron of the profession, and that the enchanter was no longer able to cast his spell over the play-going multitude. Having seceded from the stage, he commenced to study for the Church, and very soon afterwards became an ordained minister; but, not finding himself at home either in the reading-desk or the pulpit, he had the good sense to leave the field of theology and to retire into private life. His failure, in that case, forms a strange passage in the history of genius.
Betty, the favoured actor, who, when in the height of his popularity, wielded almost superhuman power over the theatrical world, was unable, when he became a Church clergyman, to preach in such a style as would Keep up the attention of a country congregation for half an hour. Mr. Betty, has, since then, lived in complete retirement, at least so far as regards theatrical life; but he never forgot either the stage or its people, and his hand was always open when actors in distress solicited his assistance.
Chambers's Biographical Dictionary.
He quitted the stage in 1808, but after studying for two years at Cambridge, returned to it in 1812. He retired finally in 1824, and lived for fifty years on the ample fortune he had so early amassed. He died in London, August 24, 1874.
(Next Week: Harry Munro.)
=========================
THE WAR
The war news to hand this morning contains new feature of outstanding importance.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL FOR LISBURN SOLDIER.
A/S.Q.M. Sergeant T. Mulligan, Army Service Corps, Dublin Road, Lisburn, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of valuable services rendered with the armies in the field.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
KILLED IN ACTION.
Lance-Corporal Richardson Long, Royal Irish Rifles.
Lance- Corporal Richardson Long, Royal Irish Rifles, youngest son of the late Mr. Richardson Long and Mrs. Long, Low Road, Lisburn, was killed at the front on the 8th inst. Prior to volunteering he was in the employment of Liptons, Limited(Lisburn Branch). The family have received many messages of sympathy. The captain of Lance-Corporal Long's company wrote:-- "He was carrying out his usual duty of conveying rations up to the battalion when an unlucky shell exploded near by, killing him instantaneously. He had worked directly under me for nearly two years, and I found him a faithful, steady soldier, always ready to do what he could. He died doing his duty -- the best of all deaths." The chaplain wrote:-- "It will be a matter of consolation and pride to know that Lance-Corporal Long died at his post of duty -- in his case a hazardous and self-sacrificing task. We all feel his loss very keenly. He was one of the original members of the battalion, and during his long service he had won the goodwill and esteem of officers and men. He was looked upon as one upon whom the utmost reliance and trust could be placed. One hears on all sides expressions of regret at his loss, and a praise for the services which he always so cheerfully and efficiently rendered."
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
11/13 RIFLES AMALGAMATE.
Owing to the amalgamation of the 11th and 13th Battalions of the Royal Irish Rifles, Mrs. C. C. Craig has been obliged to discontinue her special collection for the South Antrim Regiment from the People of South Antrim, because a South Antrim Battalion no longer exists, and she felt that it was not likely that the people of South Antrim would wish to provide comforts for a battalion of which their men only formed a portion, as to do this would entail a considerable outlay of money, as well as large numbers of wollen garments.
Mrs. Craig does not think that a collection organised for one portion of a battalion could possibly work satisfactorily, as it would not be fair to ask the O.C. to distribute comforts to special men in his battalion, neither would he have time to do so.
Mrs. Craig gives up her comforts fund very reluctantly, but circumstances have forced her to do so, and she is glad to say that the Ulster Women's Gift Fund have taken over the care of the combined 11/13 Royal Irish Rifles Battalion, so that Mrs. Craig hopes that all who have supported her collection in the past will now contribute to the Ulster Women's Gift Fund.
^ top of page
Lisburn Standard - Friday, 28 December, 1917
Births
BYRNE -- December 20, to Mr. and Mrs. John A. Byrne, Quay House, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim -- a daughter.
Marriages
MORROW--MORROW -- December 12, at Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. R. J. Morrell, Edwin Morrow, Second-Lieut. 14th Royal Irish Rifles, youngest son of Mr. W. J. Morrow, White Hall, Dhu Varren, Portrush, to Alice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Morrow, 2 Dufferin Avenue, Bangor.
HADDEN--WAIDE -- By special licence, on 21st December, at Cooleen, Ballyclare, by the Rev. W. Guy Macbeth, B.A., James, son of Samuel Hadden, Belfast, to Nora, daughter of the late Hugh Waide, Cookstown.
Deaths
MOORE -- December 21, at Dundesert, Crumlin, Miss Anna Moore, aged 76.
MOORHEAD -- December 22, at Donaghadee, Minnie Moorhead, daughter of the late Rev. Robert Moorhead, of Loughaghrey.
Clippings
SOME EXTRACTS FROM THE
RECORDS OF OLD LISBURN
AND THE MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.
-- -- --
Edited by JAMES CARSON.
-- -- --
LXIII.
-- -- --
HARRY MUNRO.
From "Ulster in '98," by Robert M. Young, B.A., M.R.I.A., 1893.
Harry Munro was born at Lisburn in May, 1758. His father was a man of superior literary taste. The family consisted of a son and daughter, and both received very good educations. Harry, when in his fifteenth year, was taught linen-weaving -- an art in high estimation, and in social life regarded as much above that of any other handicraft. As a member of the Episcopal Church, Harry was a regular attender of the Sunday services at the Cathedral, and was highly respected by the rector and his curate. He became a buyer of linen webs for the then leading bleachers, Hancock, of Lisburn, and M'Cance, of Suffolk. Finlay M'Cance commanded an outpost at the battle of Ballynahinch, and only retired when all was lost, at the urgent appeal of Munro.
Harry Munro during the two years that followed the spring of 1796 had continued his adherence to the Society of United Irishmen. Spies and informers abounded in Belfast and Lisburn, keeping regular correspondence with Lord Castlereagh and the other authorities in Dublin. Vast quantities of arms, as well as ammunition, had been collected by the Society throughout Ulster, and during the month of May, 1798, preparations were made to take the field. The member who had been appointed to lead the United men declined at nearly the last moment to act as commander, and on the night of Saturday, the 9th of June, a Belfast lawyer, the legal adviser of the Society, but who was said to be the paid protege of Lord Castlereagh, called on Harry Munro at the latters residence in Market Square, Lisburn. Munro had some years before married the handsome daughter of Robert Johnston, an extensive linen bleacher, who lived at Seymour Hill, Dunmurry. The attorney reported the refusal of the man who was appointed as commander to take charge of the National army, and said the only hope was that Harry Munro should accept the command. The enthusiast at once agreed. His wife set off to her father's place, and early on Monday, the 11th, Munro, dressed in in uniform, presented himself as chief to the army assembled at Edenavady, in the grounds of Lord Moira. The chiefs of the rebel at Ballynahinch were dressed in green jackets, turned up with white or yellow, white vest, buckskin breeches, half boots, hats with white cock neck feathers, and green cockades.
When Munro's division, beating down all opposition of the regular troops, stormed the town of Ballynahinch under a dreadful fire of musketry and grape, the British general ordered the retreat to be sounded. As the trumpet-call was heard by the pikemen, it was mistaken for the signal to charge, and, thinking the enemy was heavily reinforced, they wavered, and sullenly retreated in a southerly direction, the Royal soldiers falling back to the north. As the Light Dragoons charged on the stubborn peasants, mangled as they were by a raking fire from the artillery of grape and round shot, they held their ground manfully moving slowly back with heavy loss. Colonel Forde, who observed many of his own tenants dropping in the insurgent ranks, said to an officer riding at his side, " G--o d--n these stiff-necked Presbyterians, they won't run."
Battle of Ballynahinch.
The actual fight took place on Wednesday, the 13th, at Ballynahinch, and, as is well known, the insurgents were completely routed and fled in all directions. Munro gallantly tried to rally the remnant, but in vain, and at length he himself, worn out and fairly prostrated by fatigue and disappointment, retired from the scene of strife. Early on Thursday morning he reached a farmhouse and sought shelter there. The owner paid the unfortunate rebel all the attention he could. He had refreshment prepared for him, after partaking of which he had a bed made in an outhouse, and secreted him there until Saturday morning, when, dreading vengeance for concealing an outlaw, he told him before daylight he must seek some other place of refuge. Munro set off and travelled to near Dromore, where he gave a man named Holmes some money he retained, and begged to be concealed for a few days until the Government offer of pardon to rebels who gave up arms should be issued.
Holmes took the money, promised to shelter the fugitive, but, instead of doing so, went to Hillsborough and told the yeomanry of having Munro concealed in an outhouse. A guard immediately accompanied him and the unfortunate man was handcuffed, brought to Hillsborough, and thence to Lisburn, where he was placed in the temporary prison. It was then late in the afternoon, and he was kept watched by soldiers till Monday forenoon, when he was brought before the court-martial that sat in Castle Street to be hanged and beheaded. As Munro was very popular in his native town, some difficulty occurred in finding a carpenter willing to erect a gallows, but at length one offered to do the work, and from out a window situated nearly opposite the condemned man's dwelling the dread structure was erected. At four o'clock Munro was brought out under a strong military guard. He begged to be allowed to go into the house of the rector, Dr. Cupples, to receive the sacrament. The request was granted, and, after partaking of the sacred rite, the procession again commenced, and on reaching the place of execution a wretched prisoner from the guard-house, with a black crape over his face, stood ready to perform the part of hangman. Munro stood at the foot of the gallows and sought leave from the officer of the guard to speak to a friend who lived near. Permission was granted, the friend was sent for, and the soldiers gracefully stood back during the short conference. Standing up firm and undismayed, he said, "I have deserved better of my country," and after a short prayer stepped on to the ladder, and, as his hands were tied, he missed, his footing, one of the rungs gave way, and he fell. Rising up lightly, he said to the crowd, "I am not cowed, gentlemen." On the ladder being adjusted he went up with the rope round his neck, the executioner turned the ladder, and, in a few minutes all was over. Then came the horrid finale of beheading, which was done, the hangman holding up the severed head and crying out, "There is the head of a traitor." Three other men were hanged in Lisburn. H. J. M'Cracken sent a man called Crabbe to the South to tell the rising was commenced, and entrusted him with a written communication. He was taken to Lisburn, and ate his despatch. His hat was knocked off, and a green cockade found in it; he was hanged half an hour after. He refused at tell his name, message, whence or whither he was going. Dick Vincent was the name of another man executed. Tom Armstrong, who was found near the town with a United cockade concealed in the lining of his hat, and the words "Remember Orr," was tried, condemned, and executed two days before Munro met his fate. Very tragic, full of the chivalry of greatness, was an episode in the last hours of Armstrong. He knew many secrets of the United men, and was offered pardon if he informed on other leaders, and his wife was brought to the guard-house in the hope that her entreaties would induce him to turn traitor. The poor woman cried bitterly, went on her knees, and begged of her husband to save his life for the sake of her and their two children. Armstrong seemed agonised for some moments, but at length, drawing himself an to his full height, he cried out: "No, Mary, I will not save my life on such terms. Were I to do so. great numbers of wives would be left widows, and many children deprived of their chief protectors. I will leave only one widow and two children, and the God of the widow and the fatherless will take charge of them."
The heads of the four men that suffered were stuck on spikes, and were placed on each corner of the Lisburn Market-house. They remained there until August, when the sight became so revolting that they were taken down and buried.
Harry Munro had attained to such military skill in the use of arms during the weekly parades of the Volunteers that, on the death of the veteran who had been drill sergeant for many years, he was appointed to that office, and in 1790 was raised to the rank of adjutant. Considerable bodies of military men encamped on Blaris Moore, and a great number of toot and horse soldiers were quartered in Lisburn for some time before the breaking out of the Rebellion in June, '98. On the morning of Wednesday preceding the battle of Ballynahinch, Harry was told by one of his lieutenants that in the evenings many of the soldiers stationed in the Lisburn barracks were in the habit of getting drunk, and that if Munro marched a sufficient number of his men that afternoon into Lisburn he could force a surrender of the Royal army, seize their arms and the ammunition, and set fire to the town. The rebel general listened to the proposal, but his chivalrous sense of dignity overcame the old adage that "All's fair in love and war," and he replied: "We will not act the part of midnight assassins, but in the open day meet and, I trust, gain one victory for Ireland." A spy who, decked out as a milk-woman, and bearing cans of milk, which was sold to the rebels who were posted in Mr. Ker's demesne close to Ballynahinch, had heard of the proposal to storm Lisburn, but not of Munro's refusal to accede to it, made way into the latter-named town and reported to the colonel in command. -- This was about seven o'clock in the evening. Of course, there was great commotion in military as well as civic circles. An order was issued that all lights and fires in the households of the inhabitants should be put out at nine o'clock, and, except the regular soldiers and local yeomanry, no one was to go out of doors after that hour. The Lisburn guard-house, situate at the Castle Street entrance to the cathedral, had in its dark recesses eight men, natives of the town, who had been suspected of sympathy in favour of the United Irishmen, but were not actually members. Sergeant White, of the Lisburn Yeomanry, and half a dozen of his men were in charge of the prisoners, all of whom were townsmen of his own. About nine o'clock, when all was still and silent in the streets, the clatter of a horse's hoofs on the pavement was heard by the prisoners. The rider stopped at the door of the guard-house, called out Sergeant White, and had a short conversation with him, after which he clanked down the street towards the horse barracks. The prisoners, suspecting some dread news, knocked at the door of their cell and begged of the sergeant to tell them what was the report. "It is a melancholy one," replied White; "the orderly was a dragoon. He said Harry Munro, with a large contingent of the rebel army, was expected to assail the troops in town. A sentinel had been placed at Bridge End, on the County Down side. A gun would be fired in Market Square to warn the loyal army of the assailants' approach; in which case," continued the sergeant, "our order is to put all prisoners to death."
As already stated, the report of Munro's assault on the town was erroneous; but the few hours of terrible suspense passed by the prisoners was a time of intense suffering quite indescribable.
The Axe that cut off Munro's Head.
The story is that a rebel was pardoned on condition that he would execute Munro. The morning was wet, and the handle of the axe was so slippery that the man said he could not hold it properly, so one of the dragoons who was in attendance pulled a piece of chamois out of his wallet and threw it to him. He wrapped it round the handle and used it, but the handle was broken by the force of the blow. The axe, handle and all, were put in the grave with the headless corpse, and on the grave being opened recently the chamois was found sticking to the axe handle. Munro was a very active man, a great jumper and runner. He was often known to jump the locks of the Lagan Canal. Mr. Breakey, Ballibay, used to tell that one morning Munro, with other linen buyers, was leaving his house to take their horses for their usual journey to the next town. He came out to the hall-door, and, telling tho groom to arrange them side by side, he sprang clear over the whole lot, landing safely on the other side.
=========================
"Old Blank's nieces and nephews don't dare baulk him in the slightest thing."
"He must have great, will-power." "You bet he has! He can will five million pounds."
"Everybody at the party was talking at once." "They were quite right," commented Miss Sharp. "Everybody might as well talk. There was absolutely no fear of interrupting anything worth listening to."
"Can I have another plate of ice-cream, mother?" "No. Too much ice-cream isn't good for little boys." "How do you know it isn't, mother? Did you ever hear of a little boy having too much ice-cream?"
A prisoner in an Assize Court pleaded guilty of larceny, and then withdrew the plea and declared himself to be innocent. The case was tried, and the jury acquitted him. Then said the Judge -- "Prisoner, a short time ago you stated that you were a thief. Now the jury say you are a liar. Consequently you are discharged!"
Rev. Jeremiah Jenks -- "My friend, you must take things as they come in this world." Burglar Bill -- "That's just what I got run in for."
=========================
LISBURN PETTY SESSIONS
(Continued from Page 6.)
Alleged Assault.
Eleanor Stitt had her husband, Samuel Stitt, summoned for, as alleged, assaulting her.
Mr. W. G. Maginess, solicitor, appeared for the complainant, and Mr. D. Barbour Simpson, solicitor, for the defence.
On the case being called Mr. Simpson applied for an adjournment for a fortnight to see if some amicable settlement could be arrived at.
Mr. Maginess was inclined to proceed owing to the treatment the complainant had received, and to the fact of a settlement being improbable, as complainant wished a separation.
Defendant having given an undertaking to leave the house that day, the case was adjourned to the next court.
Lisburn Publican Fined.
Verner Gilpin Dever, publican, Bow Street, Lisburn, was charged with selling intoxicating liquor to a drunken person on the 21st inst.
Mr. W. G. Maginess appeared for the defendant.
Constable Boyle said that on the night in question he saw two soldiers on the street. One of them was drunk. Both went into Dever's. He followed them in, and found the drunken man on his knees on the ground, and the other standing at the counter. The drunken soldier said he was looking for some money that he dropped; he could not get up. He asked Mr. Dever to account for them, and he said he was upstairs helping Mrs. Dever to nurse the children at the time the soldiers came in. There were two bottles of stout on the counter. There was a civilian (Arthur M'Neice) in the bar. Witness asked Dever who the stout was for, and he told him that one was for the soldier who was standing and the other was for M'Neice. After coming out of the public-house the soldier was so drunk that fell on the street. His comrade took him home.
By Mr. Maginess -- Any man would have known the soldier was drunk.
For the defence,
Dever said that he was in charge of the bar. When the soldiers came in he was upstairs minding the baby and getting a parcel for the civilian, M'Neice, to take to his (Dever's) people. The two soldiers were standing against the counter when he came down. He noticed nothing wrong with either of them, and served them with two bottles of stout. One of the men went to pay for the drink, and he dropped a sixpence. He stooped to recover it, and just at that moment the policeman came in. The policeman stated that one of the soldiers was drunk, and witness then took the drink away. He did not get paid for it. He saw no sign of drink on the soldier or he would not have served him.
District-Inspector Gregory -- Are you still satisfied the man was sober?
Witness -- I am not, but I did not know he was drunk until the policeman came in and told me. Neither of the men spoke a loud or offensive word.
Arthur M'Neice corroborated, and in cross-examination said that one of the soldiers certainly had some drink taken, but he was neither drunk nor sober. Mr. Dever did not say the stout was for him.
Mr. Maginess asked their Worships to believe Dever's story. It was a simple, straightforward story. He asked them to hold that a bona-fide mistake had been made and dismiss the case.
District-Inspector Gregory said he would leave the case to their Worships.
The Chairman said they had heard the case and Mr. Maginess' plea. They believed the soldier was drunk and that the publican did not take sufficient care. Dever would be fined £1 and costs.
Drunkenness.
Constable Henry summoned Robert J. Bell for drunkenness when in charge of a bicycle on the 18th inst. First offence. Fined 5s and costs.
Alleged Larceny.
William Henry Stewart, of Hill Street, was charged with, as alleged, stealing some trestles and wooden rails, the property of the trustees of the Good Templar Hall.
Acting-Sergeant Duffy deposed to finding part of the missing property in the defendant's yard on 19th inst.
Defendant denied all knowledge of the articles.
Joseph M'Comiskey stated that during the past two months a considerable number of trestles and rails had been taken from the place where they were stored.
Defendant -- I know nothing about it. (To Mr. Allen) -- My yard is an open one.
Replying to the Chairman, Mr. M'Comiskey said he had known the defendant all his life and never knew anything against him.
Mr. Gregory said he also, in a way, knew Stewart, who had given assistance to the police in a burglary case.
The Chairman (to defendant) -- The goods being found in your premises, it is considered you are the guilty person. You must be vary careful in the future, and in the present case we discharge you.
Adulterated Buttermilk.
William Robert Quigley was prosecuted for selling buttermilk which, on being analysed, waas found to contain an excess of water in addition to the 25 parts allowed.
Complainant said that the defendant had four rundlets in his cart at Millbrook Road on 24th ult. He (complainant) took samples from two of them, and on their being assessed No. 1 contained 8 per cent. of water beyond the quantity allowed, and No. 2 5.7 par cent. He had received complaints about the defendant prior to his taking the samples. Defendant had been previously fined in May, 1916.
Defendant, in reply to the Chairman, said he was getting 2½d per quart for the buttermilk.
The Chairman -- And it used to be sold at ½d per quart. You will be fined £1 and 10s 6d costs in each case. We hope this will put a check on parties committing similar offences.
=========================
THE WAR
-- -- -- --
PEACE TERMS OFFER TO RUSSIA.
-- -- -- --
RETURN OF GERMAN COLONIES AN INDESPENSABLE CONDITION.
-- -- -- --
The Central Powers have announced their peace terms to the Russian delegates at Brest Litovsk. They declare that they are willing to forego annexation or indemnities, but state that the return of the German colonies is an indispensable condition. According to an unofficial report, the Russian Government has been asked to negotiate with the Allies in order to secure a general peace. Failing this, it is stated that strategic points in Russian territory will be occupied in order to force the hands of the Allies.
The infantry lull on the British front continues, but artillery duels are reported from the neighbourhood of St. Quentin, Arra, and Messines, and east of Ypres.
The Italian communique reports a great aerial battle, in which both British and Italian aeroplanes participated. Eleven enemy aeroplanes were brought down, eight in the Allied lines.
A Portuguese official states that there have been three days' fighting in Mozanbique, resulting in the capture of a Portuguese position by a force of 2,000 Germans.
No item of outstanding interest is reported to-day from any other theatre.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
WELL-KNOWN FOOTBALLER MISSING.
Lance-Sergeant James Forbes.
Irish Guards, officially reported missing since the 27th ult., is the elder son of Mrs. Forbes, 42 University Avenue, Belfast, and brother-in-law of Mr. Thomas Pelan, Westbourne Terrace, Lisburn. He is a well-known footballer, and played for Linfield and Cliftonville clubs. He was captain of the battalion team. A younger brother is serving with the Y.C.V.'s.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.
The following officers have been mentioned in despatches by Field-Marshall Sir Douglas Haig:--
Lieut.-Colonel P. L. K. B. Oliphant, D.S.O., Royal Irish Rifles,
head of the old Scottish family of Kington-Blair-Oliphant, of Ardblair, Blairgowrie. Before the war he was prominently identified with the U.V.F., being the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion South Antrim Regiment (Lisburn). He won the D.S.O. in the battle of the Somme, and this is the third time he has been mentioned in despatches.
Captain W. J. B. Wilson, R.I.R.,
son of Mr. George J. Wilson, Brooklyn, Lisburn. Captain Wilson was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force. He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on the outbreak of war, and subsequently received a commission in the Royal Irish Rifles. He was awarded a parchment certificate by Major-Generat W. B. Hickie, C.B., for gallant conduct in the field on 18th March, 1916, and was wounded on 16th August last in the operations north-east of Ypres.
Lieut. Samuel Waring, R.I.R.,
son of Mr. Lucas Waring, Glenavy, County Antrim, and brother of Lieut. Lucas Waring, of the same regiment. This officer has been thrice wounded, in March, August, and October of 1916.
Lieut. J. H. Simpson, R.I.R.,
son of Mr. James Simpson, Cremorne, Antrim Road, Lisburn, and brother of Mr. D. Barbour Simpson, solicitor. He belonged to the local battalion of the U.V.F.
Hon. Major John Burke, M.C., Quartermaster, Royal Dublin Fusiliers,
son of the late Sergeant John L. Burke, Tullynacross, Lisburn, and brother of Mr. Thomas Burke, Lisburn Co-operative Society. This officer, who rose from the ranks, won the D.C.M, in the Boer war and the Military Cross in the present campaign. This is the third time for this officer to be mentioned during the present war.
Lieut.-Colonel T. R. A. Stannus, D.S.O., Leinster Regiment
(died of wounds), brother of Mrs. Nicholson Pim, Hillsborough, and cousin of Miss Stannus, Lisburn. The late Colonel Stannus was previously mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig, and was the D.S.O. during the present campaign.
Brevet Lieut.-Colonel R. Airth Richardson,
brother of the Misses Richardson, Lambeg House, Lambeg. Colonel Richardson, who lives in Warwick (the county town of Warwickshire), was Mayor last year. He was publicly thanked in the Warwick Town Hall last month at a meeting at which his successor was appointed.
Quartermaster and Hon. Lieut. Long,
is an old soldier, and belongs to Lisburn. He is a relative of Sergeant-Major S. Breathwaite.
========================
The fool sayeth in his heart, "I shall not marry" -- but few hold out to the end.
Two Irishmen were once crossing the ocean, when it became very rough. It was turning the boat about badly, and Pat said to Mike -- "Shure the boat is going to go down!" "Niver mind," said Mike, "it don't belong to us."
A conjurer was recently performing the old trick of producing eggs from a pocket-handkerchief, when he remarked to a little boy in fun: "I say, my boy, your mother can't get eggs without hanes, can she?" "Of course she can," replied the boy. "Why, how is that?" asked the conjurer. "She keeps ducks!" replied the boy, amid roars of laughter.
=========================
ROLL OF HONOUR
Lisburn and District Churches.
Christ Church, Lisburn.
Rector, Rev. R.H.S. Cooper.
FALLEN.
Captain Cecil F.K. Ewart
Captain ? Hamilton Sinclair
Sec.-Lieut. Garrett P. Jenkins
Sergeant William Lavery
" " Robert M'Carthy
" " Thomas Donegan
" " James Cherry
" " Robert M'Carter
Corporal Joseph Buckley
" " Charles Dowds
" " Samuel Larmour
" " James Lunn
" " Peter Mitchell Stewart
" " William J. Frazer
" " Henry Topping
" " Hill Dougan
L.-Corporal George Henry Hull
" " David Walsh
Bugler Samuel Ward
Gunner James Mearns Woods
Private W. J. Allen
" " James Andrews
" " William Curry
" " Samuel Donegan
" " William Johnston
" " Isiah Jackson
" " Robert Smyth
" " Robert Lindsay
" " George Bratty
" " Thomas Logan
" " George H. M'llwrath
" " William R. Abbott
" " Samuel Lyttle
" " William Totten
" " Henry Brown
" " John Brown
" " George Cleland
" " James Dunleavy
" " Daniel Gorman
" " Thomas Haddock
" " William Lamont
" " Thomas M'Clure
" " Samuel Haire
" " George Kingsberry
" " Edward Toole
" " Charles M'Ilwrath
" " William Morgan
" " William Gribben
" " Robert Pews
" " Joseph Hanna
" " John Harvey
" " Daniel Lappin
" " William Lappin
" " William Henry Leathem
" " William Leckey
" " Joseph Lindsay
" " Robert Marks
" " David Martin
" " George M'Cready
" " Robert M'Geown
" " Samuel M'Kee
" " James M'Mullen
" " William Patton
" " William Pews
" " Thomas Russell
" " William Stanway
" " John Steadman
" " Samuel Troughton
" " George F. Walker
" " William Walsh
" " James Mulholland
" " Richard Orr
" " Daniel M'Ilfatrick
" " Henry Lowry
" " George Dorman
" " Robert J. Orr
" " Walter Baker
" " Samuel Purdy
" " James M'Dowell
" " Isaac Keery
" " John M'Gurk
" " James Totton
" " William Huddleston
" " George Cordner
PRISONERS OF WAR
Major A.P. Jenkins (wounded, since exchanged)
Sergeant J. Lavery
Private James Bratty
" " George Graham
" " William Kain
" " John Little
" " Joseph M'Callister
" " George Robinson
REPORTED MISSING
Private Edward Lavery
" " William Little
" " Henry Lowry
" " William McDowell
" " William Russell
" " [?] M'Ilwrath
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lisburn Congregational Church.
Minister, Rev. Henry M'Ilwaine.
FALLEN
Private James Andrews
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Sloan Street Presbyterian Church, Lisburn.
Minister, Rev. J.W. Gamble
FALLEN
David Cathcart
James Holmes
William Reid
John Gibson
|
Lisburn Roman Catholic Church.
Parish Priest, Rev. Mark M'Cashin.
FALLEN.
Chris. Pelan
Joseph Rice
Patrick Sharkey
Patrick O'Brien
Patrick Furfey
John M'Quaid
John Magee
Thomas Graham
Richard Dongan
J. Sharkey
Thomas Neill
P. Stoops
Hugh Sharkey
John M'Comiskey
James Sterling
John Hodgen
John Mearns
James Dunleavy
W. Boston
Hugh Donnelly
Dan Crilly
William Crossey
John Hughes
Patrick Murtagh
James Hutton
T. Teggart
Robert Dickey
Ed. M'Namara
Joseph M'Namara
Joseph Ferris
T. Donnelly
Ed. Corrigan
Thomas Maguinness
Charles Lavery
Henry Lavery
MISSING
Patrick Magennis
James Welsh
James M'Cann
Joseph Tippin
Sam Sharkey
George Finn
James M'Kendry
Charles Doherty
PRISONERS OF WAR.
William Sharkey
J. Belshaw
J. Tennyson
R. Young
Harry Haughey
James Sharkey
Joseph M'Master
John M'Parland
M. Moran
M. Heaney
Joseph Quinn
John Lavery
John Pelan
J. Fitzsimons
Joseph Teggart
J. Doyle
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Railway Street Presbyterian Church, Lisburn.
Minister, Rev. R. W. Hamilton.
FALLEN.
George King
Isaac M'Nair
William Lewis
John Bell
James Braithwaite
Thomas Cathcart
Quintn Dunlop
Francis Neagle
John Ramsay
Constable Cunningham
William Skelly
J. M'Lain
Douglas Morrison
PRISONERS OF WAR.
Thomas M'Cormick
David Hanna
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
First Lisburn Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. J.J.C. Breakey.
FALLEN
Ralph Adams
James Beck
James Chambers
John Clay
Samuel Dickson
Samuel Douglas
William Gill
T.J. Kirkwood
Charles Knox
Robert Lindsay
Joseph Simpson
Francis Todd
Jon Waring
PRISONER OF WAR.
William Cree
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Moira Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. Geo. M.Farland
FALLEN
Hall Davison
Harry Lowry
James M'Cracken
|
Lisburn Cathedral.
Rector, Rev. Canon W.P. Carmody, M.A.
FALLEN.
Lieutenant F.C. King
Sergeant Harry Corkin
Corporal Robert J. Corken
Lance-Corporal Geo F. Walker
Private William Atkison
" " David Boyd
" " Alex. Cairns
" " Colwell
" " William Fenton
" " William Leathern
" " George Laird
" " David Tate
" " William Walsh
" " David Walsh
" " James E. Morton
" " Robt. J. Clarke
" " Henry Love
" " Robt. Sally
" " James M'Dowell
" " Robt. M'Bride
" " James M'Kibben
" " Samuel Patterson
" " Robt. Heron
" " John Corkin
MISSING.
Private Alex. Welch
" " William Clarke
" " Samuel Topping
PRISONER OF WAR.
Private James Wilson
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Derriaghy Parish Church.
Rector, Rev. C.E. Quin
FALLEN.
Lieut. Edward Brown
" " Joseph Laverty
Sergeant T.J. Cairns
" " Charles Wheelwright
Corporal Edward Cairns
Private Henry Addis
" " Joseph Buckley
" " Charles Floyd
" " William Irvine
" " James Jefferson
" " Thomas Marks
" " John D. M'Henry
" " Adam M'Clurg
" " James Neill
" " Alfred K. Noble
" " John Orr
" " David Reid
" " Thomas Smyth
" " Lance Smyth
" " William Watson
" " James Waring
" " David Watson
" " David Henry Watson
PRISONERS OF WAR.
Major Harold Charley
Captain A.F. Charley (wounded, since exchanged)
L.-Corporal William Fenning
Private John Crowe
" " Alexander Woods
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Drumlough Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. Thoams Bill.
FALLEN
David Wilson
Edward Hamilton
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Drumbeg Parish Church.
Rector, Rev. Alexander R. Ryder
FALLEN.
Second-Lieut. John Alexander
Lance-Corporal Robert Bell
Private Robert Alexander
" " Bertie Blakely
Herbert Daley, R.N.
William Gillespie, R.N.
Private William Harrison
" " James Irvine
Christopher Mallon, R.N.
Private George M'Claren
" " Archibald Massey
" " Robert M'Cauley
" " William Snoddy
" " Jmaes B. Waring
" " James Waring
MISSING
Captain Henry P. Beggs
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Magheragall Parish Church.
Rector, Rev. W.H. Dundas
FALLEN
Second-Lieut. Claude Walker
Co. Q.M.S. Robert Holdcroft
Private Thomas Stitt
" " Alex. Martin
" " Albert Gill
" " James Tolerton
" " Wm. John Graham
Driver George Tolerton
MISSING
Private Robert Tolerton
" " Thomas Hawthorne
|
Hillsborough Parish Church.
Rector, Rev. Francis Matchett.
FALLEN.
Second-Lieut. Claude Walker
Sergeant Joseph Pentland
" " William Magill
" " James Berry
Corporal Christopher Kitchen
Private Robert Coburn
" " Thomas Moore
" " Wm. James Berry
" " Richard Crawley
" " Albert Crangle
" " James Henry Vryans
" " Oliver Crossey
" " Samuel Hamilton
" " Robert Harrison
" " George Heenan
" " William Johnston
" " Thomas Mercer
" " Edward M'Namara
" " Jack Smith
" " Joseph Thompson
" " Moses Thompson
" " Robert Johnston
" " James Andrews
" " George Jess
" " John William Gregg
" " Robert Woods
" " Robert Thompson
" " Robert Johnston
" " Samuel Kane
MISSING.
Sargeant John James Beattie
Lance-Corporal James Gibson
-- -- -- -- -- --
Hillsborough Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. J. Herbert Orr.
FALLEN.
Private Samuel Hamilton
" " Henry Toman
" " Andrew Morrow
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Maze Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. Thomas Dunn.
FALLEN
Private Samuel Kane
" " Albert L. Neill
" " John Faulkner
" " Thomas H. Emerson
MISSING
Private William Nelson
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
All Saints', Eglantine.
Rector, Rev. A.D. Mitchell.
FALLEN
Private Alexander Boyd
" " Wm. John Berry
" " Samuel Kane
" " John Smith
" " Joseph Thompson
" " Moses Thompson
" " James Andrews
" " Thomas Mercer
" " Thomas Thompson
" " William Watson
" " Robert M'Carthy
" " Joshua Singleton
MISSING.
Private William Nelson
PRISONER OF WAR.
Private Thomas Singleton
" " James Law
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
St. Matthew's Church, Broomhedge.
Rector, Rev. John Leslie.
FALLEN
Sergeant Robert Megarry
David Dalton
William H. Chapman
Albert Crangle
Herbert Crangle
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Magheragall Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. H.J. Lilburn.
FALLEN.
Private Henry Scott
MISSING.
Private Richard Fenning
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Hillhall Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. Wm. M'Nutt (on active service);
Rev. W.C. Cowden, locum tenens.
FALLEN.
James Browne
Samuel Irvine
Edward Lewis
John M'Nair
Robert Morrow
James Stewart
Thomas Stewart
David Irvine
Samuel Blakley, jun.
Archie M'Caugherty
MISSING.
William Cairns
William Irvine
PRISONER OF WAR.
Richard Porter.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Anahilt Presbyterian Church.
Minister, Rev. Josias Mitchell.
FALLEN.
Thomas Henry Philpott
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Seymour Street Methodist Church, Lisburn.
Rev. E.W. Young reports with grateful heart that so far none of those who went out from Seymour Street Methodist Church have fallen.
|
^ top of page