Sheffield Flood
Meeting in Aid of the Sufferers
«ReturnA public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Tuesday March 15th, for the purpose of considering and adopting measures to relieve the distress and suffering occasioned by the flood. The Mayor Thomas Jessop, Esq. presided.
The Right Hon. Earl Fitzwilliam, the Right Hon. Lord Wharncliffe and most of the gentry of position in the town and neighbourhood were present. Among them were the following:
- Mr. J. S.
- Mr. Dunn
- Mr. J. Brown
- Mr. W. F. Dickson
- Mr. W. Butcher
- Mr. H. Vickers
- Mr. T. W, Rodgers
- Mr. H. Rodgers
- Mr. J. W. Hawksworth
- Mr. H. Wilson
- Mr. J. N. Mappin
- Alderman Matthews
- Mr. R. J. Gainsford
- Mr. H. Unwin
- Mr. C. Atkinson
- Alderman Jackson
- Mr. H. Harrison
- Mr. M. J. Ellison
- Alderman Fisher
- Mr. J. G. A. Creswick
- Rev.Dr.Sale
- Revs. Blakeney, Newman, Aldous, Wilkinson, C.Wilkinson and Loxton
Earl Fitzwilliam was received with cheers when he spoke:
'The fearful inundation which has caused such awful loss of life and such immense destruction of property, necessarily occasioning wide-spread misery and desolation calls upon the inhabitants of this borough and neighbourhood and all who sympathise with the sad event at once to subscribe so as to alleviate as far as possible this great distress, and that a subscription be now commenced'.
'On such occasion as this, it affords me the deepest gratification to perform a duty at once so pleasing so melancholy. We must bear in mind that the first thing to be done is to alleviate those whose all has been taken. Families have been swept away, 'Breadwinners' have left fatherless families. These are the first cases we must call to our attention.'
Earl Fitzwilliam announced that he wished to donate £1000.
Lord Wharncliffe told the meeting that the Mayor had made £6000 available. He added that he hoped the whole country would render assistance.
The Rev. Canon Sale, Vicar of Sheffield moved a resolution appointing a Committee to receive and distribute funds and added the Archbishop of York had made a donation.
Mr. Dunn called upon the young men to band themselves together to help alleviate distress.
Mr. J. Brown moved that the Mayor should act as Treasurer.
Alderman Vickers announced that the Town Trustees had agreed to subscribe £500.
Councillor Harvey was of the opinion the local gentry had not done enough and urged them to double their subscriptions.
Dr. Hall said there could be no doubt that if the mud and filth were not removed from the houses, some serious epidemic would result.
Mr. James Dodworth, a small manufacturer suggested that the working men of Sheffield should give one days wages. He gave £25.
Mr. W. Spencer Stanhope of Cannon Hall said he would call a public meeting in Barnsley, and he had no doubt meetings would be held throughout Yorkshire.
It appeared that the workmen of Guest & Chrimes, Rotherham had already agreed to give the sum of £100.
Mr. J. G. Creswick of Ecclesall Grange suggested that property owners who had houses empty should offer them to the homeless.
Mr. Marcus Smith, agent to the trustees of the Duke of Norfolk announced they would subscribe liberally.
The committee had met at 5 o'clock and at the close of the meeting the following subscriptions were announced:
Earl Fitzwilliam £1000, Lord Wharncliffe £200, Town Trustees £500, Charles Cammell and Co. £200, Milner & sons, Liverpool £100, Harrison, Hawson & Co. £100, Martin & Hall £100, Benjamin Huntsman £100, Mr. George Dawes £100, Marsh Brothers £100, Mr. J. N. Mappin £100, Thomas Rawson & Co. £100.
Other subscriptions were received raising the total to £11,000. Mr. Roebuck telegraphed that his Royal Highness Prince of Wales would head the subscription. Continued »
