Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevCOCKLES’ PILLS
As the Conservative leaders entered the hall with their capture, the vast audience went wild with delight, cheering and waving Union Jacks and singing Rule Britannia and a number of jingo songs. A considerable time elapsed before the Mayor, who occupied the chair, was able to obtain order. The Liberal speakers were denied a hearing. Naturally, reprisals took place. The trump card played by the Conserative’ Party was undoubtedly the presence of a Liberal peer in the Conservative interest, it will be remembered that about this time Captain Burnaby, a popular idol, had written and published his well-known book, A Ride to Khiva. In this book the author advises all travellers going East to be sure and carry with them a box of 'Cockles Pills' When addressing the meeting, the Earl, desirous of emphasising the point he wished to drive home, exclaimed at the top of his voice : ‘Why did Captain Barnaby go l Khiva?' which observation brought forth the reply from the gallery like a shot from a Gatling gun. ' To advertise 'Cockles Pills' . So convulsed with laughter was the vast audience that some time elapsed before the speaker could proceed. Radical Rotherham on this occasion passed a vote of confidence in a Tory Government.'DIZZY' VISITS ROTHERHAM
Two years before, Benjamin Disraeli, in whose Governmment the vote of confidence was passed, paid a visit to the races at Doncaster. The week-end prior to the races he spent with Lord Wharncliffe at Wortley, and on the Monday, accompanied by Mr. Montague Curry, his private secretary, he drove from Wortley through Rotherham to Sandbeck, where he was the guest of Lord Scarbro’ for the race week. The carriage and horses were supplied by Mr. Brown, the landlord ef the Crown Hotel, and, on arrival there, the intention was to change horses before going forward to Sandbeck. Such an occasion was too great to miss, and a few enthusiastic Conservatives, having got wind of the arrangements, gathered together in the vicinity of the Crown to give the Prime Minister a courteous and loyal greeting to our ancient town. Unfortunately, he had not been apprised of these loyal intentions, and when the carriage drew up at the entrance to the Crown Yard, seeing a number of people congregated at the corners, he probably concluded, knowing the political character of the district, that they were hostile, so the blinds of the carriage were immediately drawn and the coachman instructed to drive on. The horses were, I believe, changed somewhere in Wellgate. Although the local Tories were chafled a great deal over the results of their loyalty, it seems a pity that the officials of the party did not bestir themselves and make arrangements to give so illustrious a visitor a suitable welcome.LIBERALISM'S STRENGTH
In 1878, shortly alter my appointment as honorary secretary ct the Liberal Association. I had the arrangement of a meeting at which the Right Hon. H. W. Fitzwilliam, M.P. and Mr. W. H. Leatham, M. P. were to speak. In those days there was no difficuIty in filling the platform with prominent and influential townsmen. My concern consisted in preventing these politicians who always persist in being conspicuous on these occasions who are so difficult to find at election times when work is required of them, from making themselves too prominent. Nor was there any trouble in filling the Drill Hall with an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. Amongst others on the platform were Messrs Milnes.Gaskell (Wakefield); Fredk. Thorpe Mappin and Frank Mappin (Sheffield);Geo- Haywood. Benj. Sellars, Thos. Cooper, I. D. Leader (Sheffield); J. H. Watson (Mexbro’); Dr. FaIding, Jno. Keswick, F. Parker Rhodes; and in additionl a number of Nonconformist ministers and members of the corporation next »
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