IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 24 - 30 JUNE 1924
This week's many stories from a century ago include an update on the measles epidemic in St Helens, the run of car crashes that took place on one evening, the inaugural Clock Face Band Contest takes place, the brotherly fight over a will, the Rainford village walking day, a Socialist Rally is held in Prescot, a fatality down Sutton Heath Colliery and the boy that tore off a reel of film at Thatto Heath station.
In 1916 the St Helens Medical Officer of Health said 10,000 children in England and Wales were dying annually from measles. Then in the following year it was stated that there had been over 1,000 deaths from measles in St Helens over the previous 10 years. By 1924 the disease was no longer causing a huge number of deaths in the town, as the introduction of free home nursing a few years before had done much to treat sufferers and prevent its spread. But during any epidemic there were invariably some fatalities and other youngsters that contracted the disease would be disabled for life.
On June 24th the St Helens Medical Officer of Health told the council's Health Committee that the current measles epidemic was still continuing in the town. Dr Frank Hauxwell called attention to a case in which a mother had taken her infected child out into the street and said the public must be made aware that in such cases prosecutions would likely follow. The doctor said parents tended to get very lax about measles. Some would not isolate their children but allow them to go into their kitchen or bedroom with other kids.
There were no less than four motor accidents in St Helens during the evening of the 24th because of the town's narrow, congested streets. None had very serious consequences for those involved but some people had lucky escapes. One crash took place in Duke Street and was the result of a tram being parked near the Talbot Hotel.
A car and a bicycle travelling in opposite directions collided as they both went past the tram at the same time, with the bike rider called Singleton coming off worst. He was flung over the handlebars of his machine onto the car bonnet and although Mr Singleton shattered the vehicle's windscreen, his injuries were not very serious.
The lack of any motorways, bypasses or the East Lancs Road meant that vehicle drivers would take routes that would seem strange to us. In a second accident that occurred that evening a man was returning home to Wolverhampton after spending a camping holiday in Southport. I don't think anyone making that journey today would consider going through Parr as their quickest route – but large volumes of traffic going to places like Manchester and further afield would travel through the district.
However, the corner of Traverse Street and Ashcroft Street was renowned as a dangerous location and the chap who was returning to Wolverhampton with four kids in his car collided there with a lorry. Fortunately there were no injuries, although the front of his car was described as badly battered. Car insurance was not made mandatory until 1930 but luckily for the driver he had taken it out a week before.
Films for showing at local cinemas were usually despatched by train and then delivered by a junior member of staff on his bike. Speaking to me in the 1990s, the late Eric Coffey described how as a boy he'd had the responsibility of delivering films to the Sutton Empire on his push bike:
"I'd meet the train at quarter past two and rush it down to the Empire cinema in Junction Lane, that lovingly we called the “Bug”. They would queue up outside the Empire and as soon as they caught sight of me peddling like fury up Junction Lane, I'd wave to them and they'd let out a cheer that they were going to see a film that afternoon."
On the 26th a 12-year-old boy named McGhee was charged in St Helens Police Court with damaging a film that had been destined for the Thatto Heath Empire. The lad had been sent on an errand to Thatto Heath station and had seen the reel of film in a box on the platform after its arrival by train.
He tore off a portion of the film and placed it in his pocket for looking at later and then hid the rest of the reel under a cabin. It was a film starring George Robey that had four reels, which meant when the Empire received it from the station they were a reel short. How the cinema got round that difficulty when showing the film was not explained in court but the boy was given a ticking off and bound over on probation.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 27th how the annual Rainford field or walking day had taken place last weekend: "Much disappointment was caused as the hour for the procession to proceed on its usual route drew nigh, for ominous clouds which had been gathering for some time burst, and a deluge of rain fell, delaying the start for an hour. Then lo, as though in answer to the prayers of the hundreds of disappointed children, old King Sol shone forth in all his glory, and the little faces, which a few moments before had been overshadowed, were wreathed in sunny smiles."
Moss Bank Band and the York Street Mission Band provided the music for the procession that was deemed to have been the longest on record. After tea at which 800 persons were fed, everyone proceeded to the recreation ground where a huge fair took place. Just who had provided the amusements was not stated in the report but like today's Rainford walking day it was probably Silcock's. Dancing took place on the field until dusk and another dance was also held in the village hall.
On the 27th the Mayor of St Helens presented William Lowe with a bravery certificate on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. The 17-year-old from Park Road had rescued a child from the St Helens Canal in May.
A row between two brothers over their mother's will was the subject of a hearing on the 27th that the Reporter described as "a case of a very unusual character". Samuel Glover from Westfield Street summoned his brother Arthur from Rivington Road to St Helens Police Court accusing him of assault. Samuel had been left out of his mum's will and thought its execution had been undertaken in a "rather peculiar way". And so he had a solicitor's letter sent to Arthur, which so annoyed his brother that he went to see Samuel and the pair had a row.
According to Samuel he was dragged into his yard and dealt with very roughly by Arthur who attempted to choke him. The Reporter wrote: "Complainant, giving evidence, said defendant pulled him about like a dog, got hold of him by the neck and shoulder and doubled him up and screwed him all ways, put his fingernails in his flesh, and also injured him internally."
On the following day a discussion took place about the incident and Samuel accused his brother of committing a savage assault on him. To that Arthur replied: "I am only sorry I did not hurt you more," which he did not deny saying in court. In his defence Arthur explained that his mother had left Samuel out of her will because he had been out of work for three or four years "through his own fault" and she had spent as much as £250 in keeping him.
Arthur also explained how he had turned his brother out of their house on a number of previous occasions. Another brother called William corroborated Arthur's testimony and the Bench decided to dismiss the case.
The inaugural Clock Face Band Contest took place on the 28th – but it was not a great success. The intention was for it to become an annual event but it rained all day which affected the attendance and only three bands from Penketh, Litherland and Aigburth took part. And the contest on the colliery recreation ground got off to a delayed start as one of the charabancs "got mislaid whilst penetrating the wilds on the way to Clock Face" – as the Reporter put it.
During the evening of the 28th what was described as a Socialist Rally took place in Aspinall Street in Prescot that was organised by the left-wing Independent Labour Party. A lorry served as a platform for the speakers but no more than 100 persons were said to have attended.
Stones and debris were still falling with regularity on top of miners down St Helens' pits and killing them. The latest victim was Gerard Winstanley of Heath Street in Thatto Heath and his inquest held on the 30th was told that he had been fatally injured at Sutton Heath Colliery when a large stone fell onto him from a concealed place.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Peasley Cross Lane multi-vehicle motor accident that also involved a horse, the man unlucky in love charged with attempting to drown himself and the respectable young man who broke his pregnant wife's jaw.
In 1916 the St Helens Medical Officer of Health said 10,000 children in England and Wales were dying annually from measles. Then in the following year it was stated that there had been over 1,000 deaths from measles in St Helens over the previous 10 years. By 1924 the disease was no longer causing a huge number of deaths in the town, as the introduction of free home nursing a few years before had done much to treat sufferers and prevent its spread. But during any epidemic there were invariably some fatalities and other youngsters that contracted the disease would be disabled for life.
On June 24th the St Helens Medical Officer of Health told the council's Health Committee that the current measles epidemic was still continuing in the town. Dr Frank Hauxwell called attention to a case in which a mother had taken her infected child out into the street and said the public must be made aware that in such cases prosecutions would likely follow. The doctor said parents tended to get very lax about measles. Some would not isolate their children but allow them to go into their kitchen or bedroom with other kids.
There were no less than four motor accidents in St Helens during the evening of the 24th because of the town's narrow, congested streets. None had very serious consequences for those involved but some people had lucky escapes. One crash took place in Duke Street and was the result of a tram being parked near the Talbot Hotel.
A car and a bicycle travelling in opposite directions collided as they both went past the tram at the same time, with the bike rider called Singleton coming off worst. He was flung over the handlebars of his machine onto the car bonnet and although Mr Singleton shattered the vehicle's windscreen, his injuries were not very serious.
The lack of any motorways, bypasses or the East Lancs Road meant that vehicle drivers would take routes that would seem strange to us. In a second accident that occurred that evening a man was returning home to Wolverhampton after spending a camping holiday in Southport. I don't think anyone making that journey today would consider going through Parr as their quickest route – but large volumes of traffic going to places like Manchester and further afield would travel through the district.
However, the corner of Traverse Street and Ashcroft Street was renowned as a dangerous location and the chap who was returning to Wolverhampton with four kids in his car collided there with a lorry. Fortunately there were no injuries, although the front of his car was described as badly battered. Car insurance was not made mandatory until 1930 but luckily for the driver he had taken it out a week before.
Films for showing at local cinemas were usually despatched by train and then delivered by a junior member of staff on his bike. Speaking to me in the 1990s, the late Eric Coffey described how as a boy he'd had the responsibility of delivering films to the Sutton Empire on his push bike:
"I'd meet the train at quarter past two and rush it down to the Empire cinema in Junction Lane, that lovingly we called the “Bug”. They would queue up outside the Empire and as soon as they caught sight of me peddling like fury up Junction Lane, I'd wave to them and they'd let out a cheer that they were going to see a film that afternoon."
On the 26th a 12-year-old boy named McGhee was charged in St Helens Police Court with damaging a film that had been destined for the Thatto Heath Empire. The lad had been sent on an errand to Thatto Heath station and had seen the reel of film in a box on the platform after its arrival by train.
He tore off a portion of the film and placed it in his pocket for looking at later and then hid the rest of the reel under a cabin. It was a film starring George Robey that had four reels, which meant when the Empire received it from the station they were a reel short. How the cinema got round that difficulty when showing the film was not explained in court but the boy was given a ticking off and bound over on probation.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 27th how the annual Rainford field or walking day had taken place last weekend: "Much disappointment was caused as the hour for the procession to proceed on its usual route drew nigh, for ominous clouds which had been gathering for some time burst, and a deluge of rain fell, delaying the start for an hour. Then lo, as though in answer to the prayers of the hundreds of disappointed children, old King Sol shone forth in all his glory, and the little faces, which a few moments before had been overshadowed, were wreathed in sunny smiles."
Moss Bank Band and the York Street Mission Band provided the music for the procession that was deemed to have been the longest on record. After tea at which 800 persons were fed, everyone proceeded to the recreation ground where a huge fair took place. Just who had provided the amusements was not stated in the report but like today's Rainford walking day it was probably Silcock's. Dancing took place on the field until dusk and another dance was also held in the village hall.
On the 27th the Mayor of St Helens presented William Lowe with a bravery certificate on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. The 17-year-old from Park Road had rescued a child from the St Helens Canal in May.
A row between two brothers over their mother's will was the subject of a hearing on the 27th that the Reporter described as "a case of a very unusual character". Samuel Glover from Westfield Street summoned his brother Arthur from Rivington Road to St Helens Police Court accusing him of assault. Samuel had been left out of his mum's will and thought its execution had been undertaken in a "rather peculiar way". And so he had a solicitor's letter sent to Arthur, which so annoyed his brother that he went to see Samuel and the pair had a row.
According to Samuel he was dragged into his yard and dealt with very roughly by Arthur who attempted to choke him. The Reporter wrote: "Complainant, giving evidence, said defendant pulled him about like a dog, got hold of him by the neck and shoulder and doubled him up and screwed him all ways, put his fingernails in his flesh, and also injured him internally."
On the following day a discussion took place about the incident and Samuel accused his brother of committing a savage assault on him. To that Arthur replied: "I am only sorry I did not hurt you more," which he did not deny saying in court. In his defence Arthur explained that his mother had left Samuel out of her will because he had been out of work for three or four years "through his own fault" and she had spent as much as £250 in keeping him.
Arthur also explained how he had turned his brother out of their house on a number of previous occasions. Another brother called William corroborated Arthur's testimony and the Bench decided to dismiss the case.
During the evening of the 28th what was described as a Socialist Rally took place in Aspinall Street in Prescot that was organised by the left-wing Independent Labour Party. A lorry served as a platform for the speakers but no more than 100 persons were said to have attended.
Stones and debris were still falling with regularity on top of miners down St Helens' pits and killing them. The latest victim was Gerard Winstanley of Heath Street in Thatto Heath and his inquest held on the 30th was told that he had been fatally injured at Sutton Heath Colliery when a large stone fell onto him from a concealed place.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Peasley Cross Lane multi-vehicle motor accident that also involved a horse, the man unlucky in love charged with attempting to drown himself and the respectable young man who broke his pregnant wife's jaw.
This week's many stories from a century ago include an update on the measles epidemic in St Helens, the run of car crashes that took place on one evening, the inaugural Clock Face Band Contest takes place, the brotherly fight over a will, the Rainford village walking day, a Socialist Rally is held in Prescot, a fatality down Sutton Heath Colliery and the boy that tore off a reel of film at Thatto Heath station.
In 1916 the St Helens Medical Officer of Health said 10,000 children in England and Wales were dying annually from measles.
Then in the following year it was stated that there had been over 1,000 deaths from measles in St Helens over the previous 10 years.
By 1924 the disease was no longer causing a huge number of deaths in the town, as the introduction of free home nursing a few years before had done much to treat sufferers and prevent its spread.
But during any epidemic there were invariably some fatalities and other youngsters that contracted the disease would be disabled for life.
On June 24th the St Helens Medical Officer of Health told the council's Health Committee that the current measles epidemic was still continuing in the town.
Dr Frank Hauxwell called attention to a case in which a mother had taken her infected child out into the street and said the public must be made aware that in such cases prosecutions would likely follow.
The doctor said parents tended to get very lax about measles. Some would not isolate their children but allow them to go into their kitchen or bedroom with other kids.
There were no less than four motor accidents in St Helens during the evening of the 24th because of the town's narrow, congested streets.
None had very serious consequences for those involved but some people had lucky escapes.
One crash took place in Duke Street and was the result of a tram being parked near the Talbot Hotel.
A car and a bicycle travelling in opposite directions collided as they both went past the tram at the same time, with the bike rider called Singleton coming off worst.
He was flung over the handlebars of his machine onto the car bonnet and although Mr Singleton shattered the vehicle's windscreen, his injuries were not very serious.
The lack of any motorways, bypasses or the East Lancs Road meant that vehicle drivers would take routes that would seem strange to us.
In a second accident that occurred that evening a man was returning home to Wolverhampton after spending a camping holiday in Southport.
I don't think anyone making that journey today would consider going through Parr as their quickest route – but large volumes of traffic going to places like Manchester and further afield would travel through the district.
However, the corner of Traverse Street and Ashcroft Street was renowned as a dangerous location and the chap who was returning to Wolverhampton with four kids in his car collided there with a lorry.
Fortunately there were no injuries, although the front of his car was described as badly battered.
Car insurance was not made mandatory until 1930 but luckily for the driver he had taken it out a week before.
Films for showing at local cinemas were usually despatched by train and then delivered by a junior member of staff on his bike.
Speaking to me in the 1990s, the late Eric Coffey described how as a boy he'd had the responsibility of delivering films to the Sutton Empire on his push-bike:
"I'd meet the train at quarter past two and rush it down to the Empire cinema in Junction Lane, that lovingly we called the “Bug”.
"They would queue up outside the Empire and as soon as they caught sight of me peddling like fury up Junction Lane, I'd wave to them and they'd let out a cheer that they were going to see a film that afternoon."
On the 26th a 12-year-old boy named McGhee was charged in St Helens Police Court with damaging a film that had been destined for the Thatto Heath Empire.
The lad had been sent on an errand to Thatto Heath station and had seen the reel of film in a box on the platform after its arrival by train.
He tore off a portion of the film and placed it in his pocket for looking at later and then hid the rest of the reel under a cabin.
It was a film starring George Robey that had four reels, which meant when the Empire received it from the station they were a reel short.
How the cinema got round that difficulty when showing the film was not explained in court but the boy was given a ticking off and bound over on probation.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 27th how the annual Rainford field or walking day had taken place last weekend:
"Much disappointment was caused as the hour for the procession to proceed on its usual route drew nigh, for ominous clouds which had been gathering for some time burst, and a deluge of rain fell, delaying the start for an hour.
"Then lo, as though in answer to the prayers of the hundreds of disappointed children, old King Sol shone forth in all his glory, and the little faces, which a few moments before had been overshadowed, were wreathed in sunny smiles."
Moss Bank Band and the York Street Mission Band provided the music for the procession that was deemed to have been the longest on record.
After tea at which 800 persons were fed, everyone proceeded to the recreation ground where a huge fair took place.
Just who had provided the amusements was not stated in the report but like today's Rainford walking day it was probably Silcock's.
Dancing took place on the field until dusk and another dance was also held in the village hall.
On the 27th the Mayor of St Helens presented William Lowe with a bravery certificate on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.
The 17-year-old from Park Road had rescued a child from the St Helens Canal in May.
A row between two brothers over their mother's will was the subject of a hearing on the 27th that the Reporter described as "a case of a very unusual character".
Samuel Glover from Westfield Street summoned his brother Arthur from Rivington Road to St Helens Police Court accusing him of assault.
Samuel had been left out of his mum's will and thought its execution had been undertaken in a "rather peculiar way".
And so he had a solicitor's letter sent to Arthur, which so annoyed his brother that he went to see Samuel and the pair had a row.
According to Samuel he was dragged into his yard and dealt with very roughly by Arthur who attempted to choke him. The Reporter wrote:
"Complainant, giving evidence, said defendant pulled him about like a dog, got hold of him by the neck and shoulder and doubled him up and screwed him all ways, put his fingernails in his flesh, and also injured him internally."
On the following day a discussion took place about the incident and Samuel accused his brother of committing a savage assault on him.
To that Arthur replied: "I am only sorry I did not hurt you more," which he did not deny saying in court.
In his defence Arthur explained that his mother had left Samuel out of her will because he had been out of work for three or four years "through his own fault" and she had spent as much as £250 in keeping him.
Arthur also explained how he had turned his brother out of their house on a number of previous occasions.
Another brother called William corroborated Arthur's testimony and the Bench decided to dismiss the case.
The inaugural Clock Face Band Contest took place on the 28th – but it was not a great success.
The intention was for it to become an annual event but it rained all day which affected the attendance and only three bands from Penketh, Litherland and Aigburth took part.
And the contest on the colliery recreation ground got off to a delayed start as one of the charabancs "got mislaid whilst penetrating the wilds on the way to Clock Face" – as the Reporter put it.
During the evening of the 28th what was described as a Socialist Rally took place in Aspinall Street in Prescot that was organised by the left-wing Independent Labour Party.
A lorry served as a platform for the speakers but no more than 100 persons were said to have attended.
Stones and debris were still falling with regularity on top of miners down St Helens' pits and killing them.
The latest victim was Gerard Winstanley of Heath Street in Thatto Heath and his inquest held on the 30th was told that he had been fatally injured at Sutton Heath Colliery when a large stone fell onto him from a concealed place.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Peasley Cross Lane multi-vehicle motor accident that also involved a horse, the man unlucky in love charged with attempting to drown himself and the respectable young man who broke his pregnant wife's jaw.
In 1916 the St Helens Medical Officer of Health said 10,000 children in England and Wales were dying annually from measles.
Then in the following year it was stated that there had been over 1,000 deaths from measles in St Helens over the previous 10 years.
By 1924 the disease was no longer causing a huge number of deaths in the town, as the introduction of free home nursing a few years before had done much to treat sufferers and prevent its spread.
But during any epidemic there were invariably some fatalities and other youngsters that contracted the disease would be disabled for life.
On June 24th the St Helens Medical Officer of Health told the council's Health Committee that the current measles epidemic was still continuing in the town.
Dr Frank Hauxwell called attention to a case in which a mother had taken her infected child out into the street and said the public must be made aware that in such cases prosecutions would likely follow.
The doctor said parents tended to get very lax about measles. Some would not isolate their children but allow them to go into their kitchen or bedroom with other kids.
There were no less than four motor accidents in St Helens during the evening of the 24th because of the town's narrow, congested streets.
None had very serious consequences for those involved but some people had lucky escapes.
One crash took place in Duke Street and was the result of a tram being parked near the Talbot Hotel.
A car and a bicycle travelling in opposite directions collided as they both went past the tram at the same time, with the bike rider called Singleton coming off worst.
He was flung over the handlebars of his machine onto the car bonnet and although Mr Singleton shattered the vehicle's windscreen, his injuries were not very serious.
The lack of any motorways, bypasses or the East Lancs Road meant that vehicle drivers would take routes that would seem strange to us.
In a second accident that occurred that evening a man was returning home to Wolverhampton after spending a camping holiday in Southport.
I don't think anyone making that journey today would consider going through Parr as their quickest route – but large volumes of traffic going to places like Manchester and further afield would travel through the district.
However, the corner of Traverse Street and Ashcroft Street was renowned as a dangerous location and the chap who was returning to Wolverhampton with four kids in his car collided there with a lorry.
Fortunately there were no injuries, although the front of his car was described as badly battered.
Car insurance was not made mandatory until 1930 but luckily for the driver he had taken it out a week before.
Films for showing at local cinemas were usually despatched by train and then delivered by a junior member of staff on his bike.
Speaking to me in the 1990s, the late Eric Coffey described how as a boy he'd had the responsibility of delivering films to the Sutton Empire on his push-bike:
"I'd meet the train at quarter past two and rush it down to the Empire cinema in Junction Lane, that lovingly we called the “Bug”.
"They would queue up outside the Empire and as soon as they caught sight of me peddling like fury up Junction Lane, I'd wave to them and they'd let out a cheer that they were going to see a film that afternoon."
On the 26th a 12-year-old boy named McGhee was charged in St Helens Police Court with damaging a film that had been destined for the Thatto Heath Empire.
The lad had been sent on an errand to Thatto Heath station and had seen the reel of film in a box on the platform after its arrival by train.
He tore off a portion of the film and placed it in his pocket for looking at later and then hid the rest of the reel under a cabin.
It was a film starring George Robey that had four reels, which meant when the Empire received it from the station they were a reel short.
How the cinema got round that difficulty when showing the film was not explained in court but the boy was given a ticking off and bound over on probation.
The St Helens Reporter described on the 27th how the annual Rainford field or walking day had taken place last weekend:
"Much disappointment was caused as the hour for the procession to proceed on its usual route drew nigh, for ominous clouds which had been gathering for some time burst, and a deluge of rain fell, delaying the start for an hour.
"Then lo, as though in answer to the prayers of the hundreds of disappointed children, old King Sol shone forth in all his glory, and the little faces, which a few moments before had been overshadowed, were wreathed in sunny smiles."
Moss Bank Band and the York Street Mission Band provided the music for the procession that was deemed to have been the longest on record.
After tea at which 800 persons were fed, everyone proceeded to the recreation ground where a huge fair took place.
Just who had provided the amusements was not stated in the report but like today's Rainford walking day it was probably Silcock's.
Dancing took place on the field until dusk and another dance was also held in the village hall.
On the 27th the Mayor of St Helens presented William Lowe with a bravery certificate on behalf of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.
The 17-year-old from Park Road had rescued a child from the St Helens Canal in May.
A row between two brothers over their mother's will was the subject of a hearing on the 27th that the Reporter described as "a case of a very unusual character".
Samuel Glover from Westfield Street summoned his brother Arthur from Rivington Road to St Helens Police Court accusing him of assault.
Samuel had been left out of his mum's will and thought its execution had been undertaken in a "rather peculiar way".
And so he had a solicitor's letter sent to Arthur, which so annoyed his brother that he went to see Samuel and the pair had a row.
According to Samuel he was dragged into his yard and dealt with very roughly by Arthur who attempted to choke him. The Reporter wrote:
"Complainant, giving evidence, said defendant pulled him about like a dog, got hold of him by the neck and shoulder and doubled him up and screwed him all ways, put his fingernails in his flesh, and also injured him internally."
On the following day a discussion took place about the incident and Samuel accused his brother of committing a savage assault on him.
To that Arthur replied: "I am only sorry I did not hurt you more," which he did not deny saying in court.
In his defence Arthur explained that his mother had left Samuel out of her will because he had been out of work for three or four years "through his own fault" and she had spent as much as £250 in keeping him.
Arthur also explained how he had turned his brother out of their house on a number of previous occasions.
Another brother called William corroborated Arthur's testimony and the Bench decided to dismiss the case.
The intention was for it to become an annual event but it rained all day which affected the attendance and only three bands from Penketh, Litherland and Aigburth took part.
And the contest on the colliery recreation ground got off to a delayed start as one of the charabancs "got mislaid whilst penetrating the wilds on the way to Clock Face" – as the Reporter put it.
During the evening of the 28th what was described as a Socialist Rally took place in Aspinall Street in Prescot that was organised by the left-wing Independent Labour Party.
A lorry served as a platform for the speakers but no more than 100 persons were said to have attended.
Stones and debris were still falling with regularity on top of miners down St Helens' pits and killing them.
The latest victim was Gerard Winstanley of Heath Street in Thatto Heath and his inquest held on the 30th was told that he had been fatally injured at Sutton Heath Colliery when a large stone fell onto him from a concealed place.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Peasley Cross Lane multi-vehicle motor accident that also involved a horse, the man unlucky in love charged with attempting to drown himself and the respectable young man who broke his pregnant wife's jaw.