Thursday 1 June 1899

A sad accident took place at Sea Point, Capetown, on Saturday night when a little boy named Henry Rose SIEBERHAGEN was thrown out of a [….], and, falling on his head, sustained injuries from which he died shortly afterwards.

Friday 2 June 1899

DEATH OF A FREEBOOTER
An interesting sale has recently taken place of the old homestead of Adriaan DE LA REY, in the Blaauwbank district of the Transvaal. Adriaan DE LA REY, who died some three months ago, was a week-known freebooter and the founder of the Stellaland Republic. He was declared an outlaw by the British Government and a price of £500 was set upon his head, and whenever there has been fighting in the Transvaal for the last five and twenty years Adriaan was in it. He was in fact one of the most active in the [Mogatoland] Campaign.

Tuesday 6 June 1899

BIRTH at Evelyn House, Grahamstown, on June 4th, the wife of F.Z. MELVILL a son.

OBITUARY – LATE MR. CUTHBERT RIPPON
It is our sad duty to chronicler the death of Mr. Cuthbert RIPPON J.P., of the farm Proctor’s Fontein in the District of Albany, which took place on the Queen’s Birthday 1899. The late Mr. RIPPON was a son of Cuthbert RIPPON Esq., of Stanhope Castle, Durham, England. He came to this Colony in 1842 (the voyage taking three months) to try his hand at farming. He first settled at [….] River, in the Humansdorp division, but dd not remain there long. He then moved to Rooi Kop in this division, where he had his first experience of a Kafir war, coming out [..thless] although losing some stock from native depredations. He remained in that vicinity until he moved to his late residence, about 10 years ago. That he was a man highly respected goes without saying. For twenty years he was a member of the Albany Divisional Council, where his abilities as a man of deep thought and attention to duty soon became apparent. For upwards of 30 years he was Churchwarden of St.Peter’s, Sidbury, and it should be with pride that his children think of him as the father of the church in these parts. He represented the congregation at many of the Diocesan Synods. Though he was a man of but few words, he had the courage of his opinions, and would not yield when truth and justice demanded it, even if he were in the minority. He held the Bishop’s [Licence] as Lay Reader, and was instrumental in keeping the congregation together when the ministrations of a clergyman were not obtainable. He was one of the J.Ps for this division and did his work faithfully and well until growing infirmity prevented him. He was a man from whom anyone might seek advice and to follow it was generally to the best advantage. That he was one of the progressive farmers of the division is fully demonstrated by the many improvements which he has effected on the farm Proctor’s Fontein.. [the final half dozen lines are too faint to read].

Rev. E.P. WHEATLEY, vicar of St.Alban’s, Cathcart, who had been ailing for some time, passed peacefully away on Saturday last.

At Somerset East on Friday at an enquiry held by the Magistrate it was stated that the death of Mr. W.T. GREEN was due to his having drunk by mistake a quantity of sulphuric acid from an unlabelled bottle, and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

Wednesday 7 June 1899

MELVILL – BAKER
At Commemoration Church on the 7th June, by the Rev. A.T. Rhodes, George MELVILL of Johannesburg, youngest son of the late S. MELVILL Esq., of Capetown, to Mildred Stella, youngest daughter of Mr. George BAKER of this city.

A PRETTY WEDDING
BAKER – MELVILL
Commemoration Church was the scene of a very pretty wedding this morning at 11 o’clock, when Miss Mildred Stella BAKER, youngest daughter of Mr. George BAKER of this city, was joined in the bonds of Holy Matrimony by the Rev. A.T. RHODES to George MELVILL Esq., youngest son of the late S. MELVILL Esq. of Capetown. The bride looked charming and was dressed in a lovely costume fashioned of white liberty satin with [….] sleeves and yoke. True lover’s knot […] sequins and beads adorned the bodice and skirt. A court train was attached to the shoulders, with silver [panelled] buckles, at the one corner of which was a spray of orange blossom and at the other a true lover’s knot. A pretty [diamond] shaped pocket […] and trimmed with silver […] and orthodox wreath and veil finished off the costume, which was a splendid exhibition of the workmanship that can be obtained in Grahamstown, being made at Mr. R. R. STOCKS’s establishment. Miss Elise HARPER, daughter of Mrs. [Olive] HARPER of Albany, looked very sweet as bridesmaid, being dressed in a white figured silk costume, trimmed with white silk lace and chiffon, and a white felt hat trimmed with ostrich tips and […] completed this [….], which was the handiwork of Miss […..] of Market Square. Mr. E. ROBERTS ably acted as best man. The service was fully choral, and the respected organist, Mr. T.E. SPEED, contributed not a little to the brightness of the ceremony by the efficient way he presided at the organ, especially in his rendering of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. The Church choir was present to witness the sacred ceremony. The service was conducted by the Rev. A.T. RHODES, Secretary to the Wesleyan Conference.
[Transcriber’s note: This article was very difficult to read as many of the letters had faded away. The piece continues with what appears to be a list of wedding presents and their donors but it is too faint to transcribe]

Thursday 8 June 1899

The Royal Humane Society has granted its medal to Mr. J.R.P. OTTO, the engineer engaged on the construction of the Greytown Railway, who on November 27 plunged into the Umgeni River at a point about 200 yards above the Albert Falls, and after a great struggle rescued a man who had ventured into the current. Mr. OTTO reached the bank on the verge of the falls, which are [68] feet high.

On Tuesday Mr. Edward William MIDDLEDITCH, a member of a prominent firm of engineers at Krugersdorp, met with his death under sad circumstances, while driving home with his parents from a shooting trip. His gun, which he believed to be unloaded, and which he had entrusted to a [….], went off on account of the jolting of the trap. A part of the charge entering his lung, death occurred shortly afterwards.

One of the earlier Natal colonists, David [PEACOCK], died on the 23rd ult. at [E….]. in the Transvaal, at the ripe old age of nearly 87 years. Born in Birmingham June 9 1812, and arrived in Natal at the time of the great flood of 1856, and for several years he engaged in the growing of arrowroot and [….] at [S…..]. In 1897 he trekked to the Transvaal, where he lived to the time of his death. A hale old man, he was out shooting on the 20th inst, being a great sportsman and an excellent shot.

A quiet but pretty wedding took place at the Cathedral this morning, when Miss Sarah Ann COCKCROFT, of Lawrance Street, Grahamstown, was united in the bonds of Holy Matrimony to Mr. John SCHWARTZ by the Rev. D. HURST-JONES. The bride was dressed in a pretty white dress with a gathered silk front and orthodox wreath and veil. The Misses [HOWELLS] were the bridesmaids, being dressed in pretty green costumes. Mr. [W….] ably acted as best man. The happy couple leave by this afternoon’s train for Shaw Park, where they will spend their honeymoon.

Friday 9 June 1899

BIRTH at Grahamstown on the 9th June, the wife of Henry E. DALLIMORE of a son.

Monday 12 June 1899

DIED on the 11th June 1899 at the residence of her parents, R.W. and Rachel NELSON, Grahamstown, Winifred Edith, wife of Frederick W.E. CONNOCK, Stationmaster of Graaffreinet, aged 26 years and 7 months.

Tuesday 13 June 1899

THE LATE MRS. FRED. CONNOCK – WINNIE NELSON
We briefly referred in our last issue to the death of Mrs. Fred. CONNOCK, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.W. NELSON of this City. Mrs. CONNOCK was [well] known here as Miss Winifred NELSON and must be well remembered for her beauty not only of person but of disposition. Grahamstown is proud of her lovely daughters, and one of the “polished corner of her temple” was unquestionably she who was so much loved by husband, parents and friends – Winnie NELSON. Mrs. CONNOCK was married on 12th August 1896 to Mr. Frederick CONNOCK (a son of the late Mr. CONNOCK of Port Elizabeth), who is one of the Stationmasters on the Cape Government lines, and was recently promoted to the important Station of Graaffreinet from Sandflats, where many Grahamstown and other friends were glad to renew acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. CONNOCK, and to admire their beautiful baby girl “Gladys”.
Some symptoms of inflammatory consumption – pulmonary phthisis – were noticed in Mrs. CONNOCK at Sandflats, and by the advice of Dr. GREATHEAD of this City (whose kindness and unremitting attention to Mrs. CONNOCK we are requested to acknowledge here) Mrs. CONNOCK went for a short visit to Tafelberg, then to her old home in Grahamstown, and lastly to Graaffreinet. In the latter months of […] the symptoms of the disease increased, and the advice of a London Specialist on lung complaints was obtained, but without favourable results, and after all medical opinion had pronounced her condition incurable, it was decided to [bring] the invalid to the more genial climate of this City, which she reached early on last Friday afternoon, after a journey in a through carriage specially put on by the Department for her use. Upon arrival here Mrs. CONNOCK was very weak but cheerful and expressed herself as greatly pleased to be at her former home: and hopes were entertained that she might linger for some months. These were not to be realised. On Sunday morning about 6:30 she called her husband, “Fred”, the last word she said, and then suddenly ceased to breathe; there was just time, and no more, for her husband, parents, brothers and sisters to see this and know that the end had come.
Yesterday about 4am Mrs. CONNOCK’s funeral took place. It was a tenderly, beautiful and simple ceremony, the body, in an oak coffin with purple velvet pall and wreaths of lovely flowers, being carried up to the Mortuary Chapel close by, where the Vicar General, the Very Rev. Dean HOLMES and the Rev. W.H.T. WHITE met the sad procession. After the lesson, which was read by the Dean, the hymn “Oh God our help in ages past” was sung, and then the body was taken to the grave where the Rev. W.H.T. WHITE read the committal service. The grave plot was covered with numerous beautiful wreaths sent by sympathising relatives and friends here, from Port Elizabeth, many stations on the line, and some specially beautiful ones from Graaffreinet. The pall bearers were eight in number: Traffic Inspector F. SOWREY, Locomotive Inspector William A. WEBB, Mr. R.E. TRACEY, Station Master G.T. Mr. W. WILLIAMS (C.G. Railways), Mr. P. BROOK, Mr. J.W. BAYES, Mr. J.S. WILLCOX J.P. and Mr. Cecil O. MURRAY. The chief mourners were Mr. Frederick W.E. CONNOCK, Mr. R.W. NELSON, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert H. NELSON, Mr. George C. NELSON and Miss E. Chardie NELSON, Lieut. Colonel NELSON, Mr. W.H. NELSON and Miss Agnes NELKSON, Mr. and Mrs. H.M. FELLOWS, Mr. Ernest CONNOCK and Mr. and Mrs. Alfred CONNOCK. During yesterday a very large number of telegrams and letters were received by Mr. Frederick CONNOCK and Mr. and Mrs. R.W. NELSON, expressing sincere sympathy from friends, many of whom were associates of Mr. CONNOCK in the Railway Department. The attendance of friends at the funeral was not only numerous but representative, most of the railway men from the local station attending.
Mrs. CONNOCK was attended to during the last six or seven months of her illness by her sister, Nurse Florence M. NELSON, whose tender and loving care did everything for her that could be desired. Dr. WELSHMAN, of Graaffreinet, was most kind, and in this way we are asked to say that Mr. and Mrs. S. [HARDY] of the Graaffreinet Hospital, old friends of Mrs. CONNOCK’s parents, were unremitting in kindnesses which seemed to be inexhaustible. The arrangements of the funeral yesterday were entrusted to Mr. A. WILL, whose management of the [service] was prefect. The engraved inscription on the coffin plate was:
Winifred Edith CONNOCK
(“Winnie NELSON”)
Born 10th November 1872
Died 1th June 1899

Friday 16 June 1899

SAD ACCIDENT
At Middleburg a builder, Mr. WARD, lighted the dry grass in his yard, and almost immediately after his little son ran out and was caught in the flames. His mother heard the screams and rushed out and snatched him away, but not before all the lower parts of his body and arms were badly burnt. Dr. MOORHEAD was in attendance at once and did all that was possible for the boy’s relief, but he pronounced the case almost hopeless, fearing the bad effect of the shock, in addition to the very severe burns, would prove fatal.

A PRETTY WEDDING
On Wednesday 7th inst. was witnessed at the littler Anglican Church at Cuylerville one of the prettiest weddings it has been our good fortune to attend for many a long day. The contracting parties were Mr. William CRON WRIGHT, son of the late E. CRON WRIGHT Esq. J.P. and M.L.A. for Albany, and of Mrs. E. CRON WRIGHT of Hill Street, and Miss Ada SAMPSON, youngest daughter of the late Charles SAMPSON Esq. J.P. of Cuylerville and of Mrs. Chas, SAMPSON of Sea View Farm, Cuylerville. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. Bazett SAMPSON, looked lovely, being attired in a crème silky material, with bridal veil and wreath, and was attended by Miss Agnes CRON WRIGHT (sister of the bridegroom), charmingly attired also in a crème material of the same description. The bridegroom was supported by J.E. HAYTON Esq. jun, of Elmhurst Farm, the officiating minister being the Rev. Mr. HEATHCOTE of Bathurst. As the bridal party turned to leave the altar the grand old Wedding March was struck up, Mrs. Milton TIMM (who had very kindly come from Shaw Park for the purpose) being the able performer. Many friends and neighbours congregated at the Church for the occasion, and for a time the little edifice bore a close resemblance to the proverbial bee-hive, on a warm, sunshiny day. The church had been beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the manner in which the work had been done speaks volumes for the good taste and skill of the decorators, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. FLETCHER and Miss CLAYTON. The day was all that could be desired, being fresh and sunshiny, soft refreshing showers having fallen the preceding night. After the ceremony the bride and bridegroom, having received showers of rice and good wishes from everyone present, took their departure with their friends for the residence of the bride’s mother, where a natty little breakfast had been tastefully arranged. After puddings, fruit and other refreshments of a more solid nature had been partaken of, the cake was cut by the bride, wine and cake being the order of the day. The Rev Mr. HEATHCOTE being called upon by the hostess proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom in a neat and taking little speech, which was promptly responded to by the bridegroom. After the bridesmaids’ and various other healths had been drunk, the company arose: and at about 3 o’clock a general parting took place, the happy couple driving off to their future home at Moorcrofts Hall. Among the presents, some of which were both elegant and costly, was the bridegroom’s present to the bride, being a beautiful piano by Collard & Collard, and a silver tea set presented by the Cuylerville Church congregation in token of their appreciation and esteem, Mrs. W. CRON WRIGHT having for years gratuitously acted as organist.
Mrs. CRON WRIGHT desires to take advantage of the present opportunity to thank the community for their kind wishes and handsome present, and also to thank those who kindly decorated the church for the occasion. We join in wishing Mr. and Mrs. CRON WRIGHT every happiness in their new life.

Saturday 17 June 1899

MARRIED by Special Licence at the Coombes division of Bathurst, on the 15th June 1899, by the Rev. G.W. Cross, Bertram Montagu, eldest son of Mr. Charles PURDON, of Thorndon, to Mildred May, eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas BROOKSHAW of Coombe’s Vale.

Wednesday 21 June 1899

DISTRICT OF BATHURST – APPRENTICESHIP OF JUVENILE DEFENDER
Whereas William HENDERSON, aged 11 years, was on 13th June 1899 convicted in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Bathurst, of the crime of theft, and sentenced under the provisions of Act 8 of 1889 to be apprenticed until he shall have reached the age of 16 years: Notice is hereby given that application for the apprenticeship of the said Juvenile Offender will be received at this Office for a period of six weeks from this date.
T.E. MINTO
Acting Resident magistrate
Resident Magistrate’s Office
Port Alfred, 14th June 1899

DIED on Sunday June 18th at Grahamstown, Lilian Grace, infant child of F.W. and A.J. MANN, aged 11 months and 11 days.
“He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom”.

At the Circuit Court, Durban, on Tuesday the Chief Justice granted an order of judicial separation from his wife to Nicholas Fitzsimmons BLACK, Customs Locker at the Point. The parties had been married twenty years. The wife is a Dublin woman of aristocratic connection and refined accomplishments, but she has given way to drink and misconduct, having been in gaol as an incorrigible drunkard, and having been lately seen in the company of disreputable drunkards.

Friday 23 June 1899

Mr. R.W. MURRAY Jun., late of the Cape Times, died on Monday morning at Johannesburg.

HORRIBLE DEATH
On Saturday night, whilst a German named Johannes ALBRECHT was attempting to enter a carriage at Mowbray Station, Capetown, he fell between two of the coaches. The train started at the time, and his mangled and headless body was found on the line 100 yards from the station. The head could not be found, but yesterday afternoon it was discovered entangled in the [machinery] of a carriage, standing at Observatory Station, which had passed over ALBRECHT. The deceased is supposed to have been under the influence of liquor.

Saturday 24 June 1899

A GOLDEN WEDDING
On the 14th June 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas HILL, of Thorn Farm, District of Bathurst, celebrated their Golden Wedding. There was a large number of friends present and a sumptuous spread was provided. On the conclusion of the dinner, a toast was proposed and drunk to the effect that the happy pair ought to be spared to celebrate their Diamond Wedding. Mr. HILL responded heartily for himself and also on behalf of his wife. He gave a sketch of their history, which was to the effect that shortly after their marriage they sailed for the Cape, arriving in Capetown in September 1849, where they spent a few months. They then proceeded to Algoa Bay, and thereon to Bathurst. Shortly after their arrival in Lower Albany the war of 1850 broke out, and Mr. HILL had to take up arms in defence of the Colony. On the expiration of the war he had to make another start in life, on account of having lost all his oxen, which unfortunately were not paid for. He therefore joined the Constabulary at Bathurst, until he was able to pay for the oxen. When the farmers began moving back to their farms, Mr. HILL hired the farm he now occupies on a long lease, which he has had in common with his neighbours. Mr. HILL is thankful to “Him who ruleth all things” that they have been spared to celebrate their Golden Wedding.

Monday 26 June 1899

CRUSHED TO DEATH
A shocking accident, attended with fatal results, occurred in the railway yard in East London on Friday evening, a man named Edward HARPER being crushed to death on the line. It appears that the deceased, who was in the employ of the Railway Department, was engaged in his ordinary occupation, checking some trucks which were standing on the main line, and appeared to have become confused by the movements of two engines, one of which was taking a number of trucks down the “jetty road” and the other was shunting between the station and the good sheds. HARPER, who was standing close to the trucks he was engaged with, was caught by a box truck in front of the engine on the main line and dashed on to the metals under one of the trucks, which crushed him in a shocking manner, the poor fellow being practically disembowelled. Dr. SKINNER (Railway Medical Officer) was sent for, but death had ensued before his arrival. The body was first taken to the police station in the ambulance and afterwards, on the Chief Constable’s instructions, to the hospital mortuary, where it was viewed by the Acting Magistrate (Mr. J.A. SMELLERKAMP) and Dr. SKINNER. The deceased had been in the employ of the Railway Department for nine years, and was 45 years of age. He leaves a widow and four children. An inquest was held by the Acting Magistrate on Saturday morning.

Wednesday 28 June 1899

BIRTH at Uitenhage on June 24th, the wife of J.T. NUNN of a son.

DEATH OF REV. E. GEDYE
We regret to announce the decease of this esteemed Minister, which occurred on Sunday last at the Lesseyton Wesleyan Institute, Queenstown, of which he had been for some years the Principal. We have not learned particulars, but we believe that although Mr. GEDYE’s health for a long time past had not been good, no cause for alarm was felt, and his death was sudden. His daughter, Mrs. C.H. STIRK, of this City, was summoned on his being found to be in a dangerous condition, but did not reach Lesseyton in time to see her father alive. Mr. GEDYE was a missionary, highly esteemed for his earnest labours, which were of many years’ standing, his career dating from [1857]. We offer our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.

Dr. Charles STENBERG, who for the last six months has been in Bethlehem, has committed suicide. At the inquest a verdict was given of suicide whilst temporarily insane, through taking an overdose of chlorodyne.

A Mr. PRETORIUS, who died last week at Tarkastad, weighed no less than [500] lb. The coffin in which he was buried was 7 feet 10 inches in length and 2 feet 10 inches in depth, and was altogether too bulky to take into the house. It was accordingly placed on trestles outside, and the body carried out to it.

Friday 30 June 1899

PASSED AWAY at Lesseyton on June 25th, Rev. Edwin GEDYE, aged 64.
“So He giveth His beloved sleep”.

A MURDERER EXECUTED
Gilbert HAY, the Riversdale murderer, was executed at Riversdale on Wednesday morning.