Reminiscences of Rotherham
by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevbeing made to the Parish Church steeple, determined to climb to the top and turn the weathercock round. Leaving his father’s shop, which was under the shadow of the church, he was missed by his cousin, who went outside to find him, and on bearing his familiar whistle, lie looked in the direction from which the ,ouiid came, and, to his astonishment and alarm, saw Sam in his elevated and dangerous position at the top of the steeple, turning the weather cock round.
Always a lover of dogs, Bennett could do anything with them; no dog, however fierce, resented his approach.
At one time he possessed a large mastiff named Lion, which he disposed of to a stranger. Whilst on a visit to Leeds, some time afterwards, he noticed an announcement that the largest dog alive was to be seen in one of the shows at the fair. Visiting the show to view this phenomenon, he was surprised to find his old dog Lion, which immediately recognised him. Mr. Bennett at one time was fond of travelling, and during one of his visits to the U.S.A. he called upon Fred Bell, the singing preacher, and a native of Rotherham, whom he found in flourishing circumstances and surrounded with every comfort any ordinary man could wish for.
COLLEGE YARD
For longer than I can remember the square has been popular with open-air orators. Innumerable have been the causes advocated from the steps leading to the Court House or from improvised platforms. At one time the advocates of total abstinence were the most persistent of the many speakers who displayed their eloquence there. Nowadays, Socialists and Communists are the more determined and untiring in their efforts to put the world on its feet.Religious gatherings representing most phases of thought, political meetings of Liberals, Conservatives, and Chartists have been held in this forum of the people. Municipal and protest meetings have had their fair share of orators.
Processions have made the square a convenient meeting-ground, the Salvation Army and other bands finding it a convenient centre of operation.
The improvements decided upon by the Corporation will, in a few years, be commenced and will make such gatherings impossible in the future, but some other site will no doubt be found by those who wish to make their appeals in the open air.
INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS OF PADDY LOGAN
The construction of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire line from Atter cliffe to Mexbro’ was carried out by Messrs. Logan and Hemingway. Mr. Logan, known more familiarly as 'Paddy' logan, had methods of his own when dealing with recalcitrant labour. His physique and determination were the dominant factors in many an awkward situation. Without hesitation, lurkers and shifty workers were told to get a move on or quit. Often a rough answer had to be met by calling the men from the trenches, and a fight would ensue to prove who was bossing the show. Afterr beating his man, Paddy has been known on many an occasion to give him a sovereign and tell him to get back to his job. He usually came off victor, but he realised that then, as now, no finer type of man can be found for physical strength than the railway navvy.On the completion of their contract my father received instructions to sell by public auction the whole of their plant. After several days’ sales of the usual implements, machines, timber buildings, carts, lorries, etc., used by railway contractors, the horses, numbering over a score, were offered. The sale took place in the George street yard. Big, fine draught horse, some of them very valuable, were brought into a ring surrounded by men from far and near. 'Big Dick' Hague, a man weighing probably 22 stones, with a flow of language unequalled for foulness, and a bully of the worst type, persisted in interfering with the man in charge of the ring. The pace the horses » next
prev « «