Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « preva man of the people, who, by his frugality alid industry, acquired sufficient to enable him to cease work as an artisan. He possessed a lot of old property in Masbro’, and rumour had it that on account of this he threw his weight in favour of the present site of the Great Central Station, which involved the demolition of a number of his houses. One of, if not the oldest, members of the Kimberworth Board of Health, he had great influence in Masbro’, acquired by serving and freely mixing with the people. Usually described as a discourteous critic, a plain spoken man, he accomplished much useful public work, and his sudden death, owing to an attack of apoplexy in the street, was greatly regretted.
A STORMY PETREL
Councillor Frederick Fell, one of the first representatives of the South Ward, thought himself an important personage. For years he prattled of his wisdom, boasted of his experience, and paraded his enterprise. Notoriety he fully earned. A few years’ residence in New York, U.S.A. had, so he thought, made a superior being of him. Were assertion logic, statement, fact, conceit, ability, and abuse an honourable, or calumny a weapon worthy of decent men, then Councillor Fell earned a niche in the temple of Fame, hie assailed men immeasurably his superior in all things that graced public life. he attacked public men indiscriminately. Alderman Habershon, so generally esteemed, and who commanded universal respect by his transparent honesty, tact, and judgment, came in for castigation. Councillor Fell impeached the Town Clerk. He sought to discredit and then to deprive him of office. Expressions were used against this official which ought not to have been permitted to go unrebuked, and assertions were made of so grave a character as to warrant their being substantiated or withdrawn. The Council’s answer, however, took the shape of a vote of confidence in their clerk and protestation against Councillor Fell for his unwarrantable attack on Ald. Habershon.Unfortunately, the Town Clerk suffered from ill-health, and was compelled to be away from duty. These attacks upon him were repeated, his hesitancy in utterance and loss of memory, owing to his illness, being made the stalking horse of their purpose. Attempts were made to get Mr. Packwood, the Town Clerk’s partner, appointed. Mr. Whitfield eventually offered to resign if granted a pension of £200.
A SCENE
In the seventies, during the Stormy Petrel’s career, which lasted six years, the following dialogue took place at a Council meeting: AId. Guest:'Don’t you talk of dodges, young man.' (Confusion.)Coun. Fell 'Oh, you’re too old for me, Ald. Guest,'
Mr. Marsh:'it isn’t a Yankee dodge, is it?' (referring to Fell’s having been in America)
Ald. Guest: 'Your life’s a dodge altogether, Mr. Fell.'
Mr. Fell: 'You’re an ‘artful dodger’ now; that’s what you are.' (Roars of laughter and great confusion.)
Many of the ratepayers present rose to leave the room, the tumult being indescribable. Aldermen and Councilors hammered the tables with their fists and gesticulated wildly. Members bawled at the top of their voices, and unparliamentary language was freely indulged in. Several pugilistic encounters were threateaed, fists being shaken in each other’s faces. The scene altogether was most disgraceful. During the tumult Councillor Taffinder and Alderman Morgan landed them selves into a loud and personal argument, which became so vehement thst the proceedings were abruptly brought to a close. And all about nothing. Wrangling had gone on for months about the new markets, and on the right of the Kimberworth members, which included the Masbro’, Kimberworth, and North Wards - to vote being questioned, this unprecedented scene resulted.