10/7/1909    SUDDEN – William Turner had been very indisposed.  He first met with a slight accident in the mine and was compelled to leave off work.  He recovered somewhat and it appeared probable that he would soon be at work again, but he contracted a chill which was followed by pneumonia and on Sunday while having his dinner he bowed his head and it was observed that he has passed away.  He was one of the pioneers of the Court Little John, A.O.F., and was a P.C.R., and always took great interest in local Court and Forestry generally.  He worked at the Fair Oak Colliery Where he met with the slight accident.  He was about 64 years of age.  The funeral took place on Thursday.

24/7/1909    It was autumn last year, if one remembers correctly, that Mr.Ben Baker had a “Send Off” from Cheslyn Hay on his undertaking a position at Assam in Burmah.  Ben was a hale fellow well met.  He had gained the necessary certificate, and had secured a lucrative post in the Far East.  All who know him wished him God speed and a happy return, as was stated when his friends in connection with the Social Class assembled together.  His parents heard from him and it appeared that he was going on well.  The company however cabled that this promising young man at the age of 25 years died of malarial fever on June 30th.  The company communicated with the vicar of Walsall who was from home and hence it was some days before the vicar of Wyrley received the sad intelligence, which in his kind Manner had the melancholy duty to break to the friends of the deceased.  The death has been the cause of much discussion in the township.  Officer Cooper, now stationed at Cheslyn Hay, was quartered at Burmah with his regiment the “Munsters”.  He explained that malarial fever is prevalent and he suffered from it.  It is generally caught by reclining when heated on decaying material such as sugar canes.  Much sympathy is felt for the friends of Mr.“Ben” Baker who went out under such promising features.

7/8/1909    A Sunday Morning in Salem Sunday Schools
Salem Sunday Schools, Cheslyn Hay, stand as a concrete and convincing argument to the devotion and efforts of the members and friends of Salem church.  They have done in the past, and are still doing a work that should command the gratitude and earn the encouragement of all parental life in Cheslyn Hay, viz. that the ministering and spiritual necessities of child life and giving attention to the sowing of the seeds of good thought, that may later on ripen into high ideals, beautifying life and character.  The Sabbath equipment of these schools is no light task, and time and thought are lavishly expended on the potential possibilities focussed within its walls.  Whilst sitting there on Sunday morning last the depths of ones being were stirred by the sight of youthful faces, and also by the hearty singing of the hymns all based on the love and fatherhood of God, and one also felt that Mr. George Wooton, the superintendent, who lives a very active and energetic life deserved the thanks of all present for the sage advice and fatherly council he tendered to the children in his address.  One could not help but remember that “advice based on experience is always augmented in value just by the reason that it is so based.  He first gained the ear of his little folk by his opening reference to their school holidays which was not only a tactful move but a happy thought to capture attention; then pressing on to some recent press reports of speeches made at some of the higher schools prize distributions previous to the vacation holidays, intimating first of all that a) school life and education did not necessarily and primarily mean the cramming of the mind merely with figures etc. but b) rather with the moulding or fashioning of child life that it might ultimately evolve into useful citizenship.  As an instance of this he spoke of the boyhood of a once poor lad, the son of a soldier.  This lad is now M.P. for North Camberwell.  He referred of course to Dr.Macnamara, secretary to the Admiralty who visited Cannock last week and who swayed such a large audience of people.  This was said Mr.Wooton, when he had finished his ordinary school days and was persuaded by his schoolmasters to stay on for a while as a monitor promising at the same time to remunerate him for his service at a shilling a week.  He, after consulting with his father stayed at this first post for some time.  Then by the patient self denial of his father, he entered a college whereby personal study, effort, and grit equipped himself for his present position.  This said Mr. Wooton in a fine closing appeal should be incentive for you boys and girls to begin to think seriously and to spend less time and thought in learning catchy songs, but to indulge more in quiet and patient study and patient study fitting yourselves for the good men and useful women that will be wanted for our future citizens.

14/8/1909    The Allotments at Cheslyn Hay
Splendid prospects – THE BOYS PLOTS
It is somewhat difficult to overestimate the appearance of the allotments at Cheslyn Hay just now, in each and all the fields the crops look excellent.  In nearly every case the work is being carried out thoroughly and with the exception of the beans – especially runners – the crops proved remarkably well.  In the case of the runner beans they appear to be a little “sickly” in some cases.  The potato crop appears to be more than ordinary grand and no complaints are heard relating to this; on the contrary much pleasure is felt at the manner the allotees think of the plots and the success that attends hem in their efforts to make the land pay well for the working.  While talking with an allotee of about ten roods he remarked that Cheslyn Hay folks would require several more greengrocers carts were it not for the allotments.  He said on the ten roods last year the produce was sufficient to supply him with fresh green food during the summer and also provide sufficient potatoes for the winter.  If that is the case of one it would be a similar experience for in other cases.  Besides he added, he would not take six gold sovereigns for the produce of the plot on it as it was.  The rent is ten pence per rood and the rental of the plot is soon “totted up”.  In another case an allotee raised a tremendous quantity of early potatoes.  This is most satisfactory and the council in supplying the allotment have done remarkably well, but there is more land needed for the purpose although there are between 30 and 40 acres under spade culture in a relatively small area.
The boy plots
An inspection of the plots cultivated by boys showed that the efforts of Mr. Walton and Mr. Payne to instruct the lads in the rudiments of cultivation have not been without their effect.  It appeared that perhaps the plots are hardly sufficiently large still that the youngsters have shown much intelligent interest in the cultivation of the land is evident.  There was a row of peas there one evening last week which were distinctly creditable, the parsnips were very good, the beet excellent and some splendid lettuce.  One did not dare to sample the potatoes, or indeed, any of the produce, but it is pleasing to observe that the boys show such interest in the cultivation and that their efforts are rewarded.

21/8/1909     Death from Blood Poisoning
Result of an accident
At the Wolverhampton town hall on Tuesday, before the Deputy Coroner, Mr.Maynard Martin, an inquest was held touching the death of William Ponder, (52) a miner of Cheslyn Hay, who met with an accident at the Old Coppice Colliery, Cheslyn Hay, on July 27th, and died at the Wolverhampton General Hospital, on the 15th August.  There were present to watch the proceedings Mr.J.R.Felton, Assistant Inspector of Mines, Mr.L.K.Fairley, Acting Manager of the Old Coppice Colliery, and Mr.John Baker, represented the Cannock Chase Miner’s Association.  Ellen Ponder, widow of the deceased, stated that her husband returned from work at the Old Coppice Colliery, on 27th July, with an injury to his hand, which he stated was sustained when placing a tree at the colliery.  Deceased was attended by a doctor but as the injury got worse, he was removed to the Wolverhampton General Hospital, where he died on 15th August.  Witness did not hear her husband blame anyone in connection with the accident.  Brian Bentley Metcalf, house surgeon at the Wolverhampton General Hospital stated that the deceased was admitted into the hospital on 5th August, and died on the 15th.  During the ten days he was at the hospital there were three operations.  Death was due to blood poisoning resulting from the injuries to the hand.  Those injuries were consistent with the statement that they had been sustained by a fall of rock.  William Bryan, fireman at the Old Coppice Colliery, stated that he was near deceased when the accident occurred.  He was putting a tree in position when a piece of rock fell and cut his right arm.  Witness believed that deceased examined the roof to see if it was safe before he put the tree in position.  It was one of the witness’s duties to make an examination of the workings before the night and day shifts commenced work.  This he had done an hour before the night shift came on.  In witnesses opinion it was purely an accident.  The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”.

1 Comment »