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Queenstown Free Press

Queenstown Free Press 1883 4 October - December

Tuesday, October 2, 1883

BIRTH,- At Queenstown, on the 1st October, 1883, Mrs. Alma GREEN of a Son.

Friday, October 5, 1883

AN ENTIRE FAMILY BURNED TO DEATH.
Early on Sunday morning information was lodged with the police authorities at Wynberg by one Avie SCHILDER that a hut oc-occupied Klass LABSER, a white man engaged in cutting and carrying reeds, had been destroyed by fire at Lilliefontein, on the Flats, and that the entire family had fallen victims to the flames. Chief Constable OSBORN, proceeded to the spot at daybreak, and on arrival at the hut of SCHILDER found LAUBSER lying on a bed, in a dreadful state. He was terribly disfigured by fire, and was unable to give any particulars as to the cause of this dire clamnity. Dr. WRIGHT, junr., was promptly in attendance, and ordered the poor fellow's removal to the Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries on the road. SCHILER says that on Sunday morning he was aroused by moans outside his door, and on going out to ascertain the cause, saw LAUBSER enveloped in flames, and presenting a most shocking spectacle. He at once took him in, and elicited from him that his hut and family were destroyed by fire. Mr OSBORN lost no time in starting for the scene of disaster, and says that the track of LAUBSER was plainly discernable by the remains of clothing, pieces of burnt bush, and even pieces of skin, showing that he must have dragged himself along the ground to his neighbours dwelling which was about 100 yards away, while enduring most terrible agony. On arrival at the hut Mr OSBURN, saw the charred remains of an adult female and a child laping on an iron stretcher, and another child laying on the ground. These relics of poor humanity were carefully gathered up an interred next morning. No clue is obtainable as to how the fire originated, as every person who was in the hut – which is known as a "hartbeeste hut," composed of poles and reeds – has perished. The evidence of the neighbours is to the effect that on Saturday evening LAUBSER was somewhat the worse for liquor, and it is probable that a candle or lamp was incautiously placed in too close proximity to the inflammable sides of the humble dwelling, with the melancholy results above recorded.

Tuesday, October 9, 1883

QUEENSTOWN
Fire Insurance, Loan, Trust, and Agency Company (Limited.)
NOTICE TO CREDITORS.
In the Insolvent Estate of William Adrian GOOSEN.
All persons claiming to be Creditors under this Estate are required to take notice that the undersigned has been duly elected to and confirmed in the appointment of Sole Trustee of the said Estate, and that the Master has appointed the third Meeting to be held before the Resident Magistrate, Queenstown, on Tuesday, the 13th November, 1883 at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, for the proof of debts, for receiving the Trustee's Report, and also for the purpose of giving directions to the said Trustee as to the management of the said Estate.
And all persons indebted to the said Estate are required to pay the same to the undersigned on or before the 13th November next, or proceedings will be instituted against them.
J.B. SHEARAR,
Sole Trustee.

Mr DE WET, the founder of Tarkastad, died at that town, and was buried in the cemetery there on Wednesday last.

Friday, October 12, 1883

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN CAPE TOWN.
The Cape Times of last Friday reports.- Yesterday morning a tragedy of the most horrible description was perpetrated in a house situated in a late of Castle-street, and between Bree and Long-streets, The dwelling had formerly been a stable with a hay loft overhead. In the loft lived the landlord and landlady of the place, while the lower portion was sublet to four people, two of them being a man named Isaac WYNHART, a wagon-driver in the employ of McKenzie & Co, and a woman named Maria PASHA. The latter had been married according to the Mahomedan rites to an Indian coolie named Mahomet ALLIEM, alias Pascoe, who for the past fifteen years or so had been in the service of Barry, Arnold; and then Robertson & Clements, stationers, and appears to have borne a good character. ALLIEM and his wife are said to have lived unhappily together, and about ten days ago the woman left her husband's house in Church-street and went to co-habit with WYNHARDT. A separation, it would seem, had previously taken place, but the woman had implored her husband to take her back, which he refused to do. It was after this that she went and stayed with WYNHART, occupying with him a portion of the room referred to off Castle-street. In this room there was one large bed occupied by the other couple sharing the department; the others sleeping on an extemporised bed on the ground and near the foot of the ladder leading to the loft above. At the time the tragedy was committed only the two victims were in the room, their fellow occupants having left some time previous. Soon after seven o'clock in the morning cries of "Murder" were heard proceeding from the room in question. The landlord rushed down stairs and discovered the Hindoo in the act of committing the murderous assault upon his wife and her paramour with a heavy meat chopper. ALLIEM turned upon the landlord, and would also have attacked him had he not hastily retreated back upstairs, and his cries brought in assistance. The first to enter was a Mr. Henry LUYT, whose house is opposite. The sight that met his view was a horrible one. The man and woman were lying on the ground in pools of blood, their heads almost severed from their bodies, which were still quivering in the last agonies of a frightful death. From the position in which the bodies were found it was supposed that the woman must have been struck first and that a similar blow was dealt to WYNHARDT as he got off the bed to her assistance. Dr. LANDSBERG was on the spot soon after the terrible tragedy had been enacted, but the victims were beyond all human aid. The Resident Magistrate subsequently visited the scene of the tragedy, and the bodies, which presented a most sickening appearance, were then removed to the Somerset Hospital. In the meantime Mr. LUYT had taken ALLIEM to the police station. He was in a state of perfect frezy when LUYT first entered the room, but became calm and self-possessed while walking to the station, remarking on the way that he went to the place that morning, and finding the couple in bed together, he pulled his wife out and killed her and then pulled out the man and killed him. When charged at the station, he stated that his wife had been going out night after night to see her sister. Last night she again went out, and not returning, he went to her sister's house in the morning and found she had not been there. He afterwards discovered her in the room in Castle-street with WYNHARDT when he committed the crime with which he was charged. This story, it will be seen differs from that given above namely, that the woman had left some ten days before, and which, so far as we can ascertain, is the correct version. On the arrival of the Assistant Magistrate the prisoner was removed to the gaol in Roelandstreet and will, it is expected, be brought up for examination before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday... The woman has two children by a former husband. ALLIEM had also been previously married. He is a native of Cashmere, and about 60 years of age. His honesty and steadiness are spoken highly of by his employers, and he was generally regarded as a trustworthy, inoffensive man...

Tuesday, October 23, 1883

BRUTAL MURDER.- A most brutal affair (says the Daily Independent) transpired in the Valley on Wednesday afternoon. A coloured child, aged only seven months was hooked to a Kafir woman named Kate NIZIWA. The woman with the child at her back was digging for some roots in the Valley when a man named Catistshana accosted her, assaulted her, and pushed her from a cliff on which she was standing. In her fall the child fell from her back into the water. The accused then took the child by the legs and dashed it three times on a stone.

Tuesday, October 30, 1883

MARRIED,- At Lady Frere, on the 15th instant, by the Rev. A.J. NEWTON, Mr. Ernest HOMER, to Mary Katharine, only daughter of Mr. Attorney JEFFREYS.

A farmer lad, of about twelve years of age named Daniel DU TOIT, was killed on Sunday last whilst on his way to church at Calitzdorp. The boy, by accident, fell over the splash board of the cart conveying the family to church, and the wheel passing over him, caused his death almost immediately, says the Oudtshoorn Courant.

A MELANCHOLY EVENT happened at Armoed. On Saturday afternoon, Miss JANSE VAN RENSBURG, a farmer's daughter, committed suicide by hanging herself on a tree near the homestead. Her father, it is said, had been busy "breying" reims, and missing one of them, went in search of it, and passing the tree, found his daughter suspended and lifeless. It is said that a love affair drove the unfortunate girl to this desperate step. – Oudtshoorn Courant.

Tuesday, November 6, 1883

BIRTH,- At Queenstown on the 28th ultimo, the wife of R.W. STANDFORD of a Son.

Friday, November 9, 1883

BIRTH,- At Queenstown, on tho 6th, the Wife of B, SUTHERLAND of a Son.

DIED,- At Queenstown, on the 6th November, 1883, Louie, the beloved daughter of R.W.S. and R.B, KIRK, aged 10 months and six days. The distressed parents tender their thanks for the sympathy of kind friends in their sad bereavement; and friends at a distance will please accept this notice.

DIED,- At Dordrecht, on November 6th, 1883, after a lingering illness, Ralph JOHNSON, for some time Clerk of the Works, Town Hall, Queenstown.

Tuesday, November 13, 1883

DIED,- At King Williamstown, on November 10th, Robert Lamplough (Bertie), only son of Mr. J.M. PARSONSON of this town.

DIED,- At Queenstown, on Friday, the 9th of November, 1883, George, the youngest and much-loved son of the late Honorable John AYLIFF, of Natal, aged 27 years.

It is our melancholy duty to record the death of the little child of Mr. And Mrs. KERK, followed by that of Mr. G. AYLIFF, son of the Hon. John AYLIFF of Natal. This gentleman came on a visit to his brother in the Lady Frere district, suffering from spinal affection which communicated with the brain rendering all hope of recovery impossible. He passed quietly away on Friday last in the presence of his uncle Mr. Renben AYLIFF, his aunt Miss S.A. AYLIFF, who came from Grahamstown to be with him in his sad affliction, and his mother who arrived from Natal just an hour before the final end.

Mrs. HILL, Snr., relic of the late Mr. John HILL, for some time Town Engineer of Grahamstown, was also taken from our midst during the past week. The deceased was conveyed to Wesley Church where the full burial service was read by the Revds. H.H. DUGMORE and J. THOMPSON, B.A., and from thence conveyed to the Cemetery followed by a large circle of sorrowing relatives and friends.

On Saturday morning the infant son of Mr. J.M. PARSONSON, grandson of the Rev. Mr. And Mrs. LAMPLOUGH was taken to its home in the skies, having died at King Williamstown. It was brought from thence for interment here. On Sunday morning the coffin was carried by the elder lads of the Wesleyan Sunday School and conveyed to the Cemetery, where it was deposited on the coffin of the mother...

Friday, November 16, 1883

MARRIED,- At Lesseyton, on Wednesday, Nov. 14th, by the father of the bride, William B.G. BLENKINS, son of the late Major W.B. BLENKINS, C.B., to Mary, daughter of the Rev. Geo. CHAPMAN.

Tuesday, November 20, 1883

McCABE-GORDON.- Married on the 15th November, at Burghersdorp, by the Rev. Father FITZ-HENRY, Edward McCABE, Klip Spruit Nek, to Ida, daughter of the late Capt. GORDON, H.M. 11th Foot.

Friday, November 23, 1883

DIED,- In great peace, at Queenstown, on the 8th of November, 1813, Celia Jane, relict of the late John HILL, Sen., of Grahamstown, in the 70th year of her age.

Friday, November 30, 1883

DIED,- On the 19th inst., at East London, the Venerable Archdeacon WATERS, of St. Marks' Mission, Transkei. Aged 64 years.

Friday, December 14, 1883

BIRTH,- At Queenstown, on the 7th inst., the Wife of T.H.J. LLOYD Transkei, of a Son.

We have to record the death of Mr. Thos. BARRABLE, Senr., which took place at his residence, in Owen Street, in this town, on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased had attained the ripe old age of 80 years. He was born in the town of Saltash, Cornwall, England, in 1804, and came to this colony in 1847. He remembered well some of the important events that took place in the early part of the century, such as the battle of Waterloo, and was fond of talking about them. When Napoleon was brought to England, in the Belorphon, in 1815, he was amongst the crowd that witnessed the arrival of the vessel with its distinguished occupant. At Molteno and Queenstown Mr. BARRABLE was well known and highly respected by all who were acquinted with him. He had been confined to bed for the last two months, and the sad event was daily expected. The funeral will take place this afternoon, at four o'clock.

Tuesday, December 18, 1883

DIED,- At Queenstown, on the 12th December, 1883, Mr. Thomas BARRABLE, Senr., at the age of 79 years and 9 months.

BIRTH, at Queenstown on the 13th December, the Wife of George RANKIN of a Son.

MARRIED,- On the 12th inst., at "Seven Fountains," in the District of Albany, by the Rev. J.W. WOOD, David BARNES to Lottie, youngest daughter of W.K. EMSLIE, Esq., - No cards.

MURDER AT BULTFONTEIN.- On Sunday morning last, a white-man, named Patrick ROIRDEN, was found murdered in his bed, at Bultfontein, having been cruelly beaten to death with a pick and a large axe, which were found near the body of the deceased, smeared with blood and hair. The murderers are believed to be natives, employed by the deceased, who did it out of revenge, because they had not received their wages. Several arrests have been made on suspicion, and it is to be hoped that the perpetrators of this foul tragedy will be brought to account for their hellish night's work. The place where the unfortunate man lived is a remote part of Bultfontein, some distance off what is known as the Cape Town Road, - Advertiser.

Tuesday, December 25, 1883

DOUBLE EXECUTION AT COLESBERG.- The Colesberg Advertiser says:- " The Hottentot murderers, Brander DIEMS and Kiviet JAGERS, who were respectively condemned to death at the last Circuit Court for the murder of their reputed wives, were done to death by hanging in the precincts of the gaol on Wednesday last, only the usual officials and Rev. G. BROOKES being present. After conducting the usual religious ceremony, Revd. BROOKES read the statements of the prisoners, acknowledging their guilt and that they had been justly convicted. The hill behind the gaol, and from which the prison yard can be overlooked, was crowded with spectators, principally natives, but their morbid curiosity was but partially satisfied as only the sound of the fallen drop and the tightened ropes made them acquainted with the fact that the quivering victims of our present barbarous law had been launched into eternity. After hanging the usual time, the bodies of the murderers were taken down and subsequently buried above the Pound Kraal:"

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