PEOPLE DYING IN THE STREETS OF LONDON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 354, 30 July 1863, Page 4

PEOPLE DYING IN THE STREETS OF LONDON.

(From the - Morning Post, Marpli 24.)

Anomalies must be expected to exist in every large concourse of human beings ; but there are some occurring every day around us which sound incredible. London, for instance, ought to be the best watched city in the whole world. It certainly does contain a population second to none in charitable feelings. Is it then creditable that individuals should fall down in our public streets unnoticed ; should lie there for hours unassisted ; should die without the hand of humanity or the protection of authority being extended towards them ? And yet two such cases have already happened within this month in our most populous districts.

On the 6th of this month, an old man, a pensioner, was seen standing in front of No. -51, Pulfoi-d-street, ‘ Pimlico holding on by the railings. He was covered with mud, moaning as if in pain, and bore marks of violence on his face. He was seen there by various persons between nine and eleven o’clock that night ; arid at about five the next morning he was found lying there insensible He was taken to an hospital, bht 'died immediate-' ly on his admission. On examination it was discovered that four of. his ribs were broken, his face severely cut, and his body covered with bruises. 'I he Medical testimony on the inquest attributed death to apoplexy, produced by violence ; and the jury returned a verdict of “ Death by violence, but by whoni perpetrated they were unable to determine.” Can one fancy a more fearful fate ] What must have been the last few minutes of consciousness granted to that unhappy man' lying there to die by inches in the midst of his fellow-creatures, who hastily concluded him to be drunk and passed on, not one having the heart to stop and see that so aged a being, even in that supposed state, received some protection ? ; An equally pitiable case occurred again within a fortnight, signalized by even a more striking absence of private humanity or public protection. Mr. Nix, a surgeon, residing in the Mile-end road, returning home at about five in the morning from a party,, with his son and two daughters, found a woman lying under his windows. They, as usual, concluded slip was drunk, and passed on. At about six a policeman found her there ; he also pronounced her drunk, “but would soon recover,” and so he passed on. At about seven another policeman, arriving on the beat, perceived her still lying there ; he raised her head, and found that she was fast sinking from exhaustion. He rang the surgery bell, and roused the surgeon, who took her in

and gave her a stimulating draught and some hot coffee. The policeman - then went to the woi-khou.se for a “ cradle” wherein to convey her thence to the infirmary. But the “man at the gate” would not supply one without an order from the relieving officer. In Milo-end district it seems that a human being may die i-ather than that succour may be administered, and through a responsible policeman, without a warrant from an official who may live a mile off. The policeman, who seems to have behaved admirably,-then got a stretcher from the police-station, and the poor creature was conveyed to the infirmary of the workhouse. It was half-past eight before she arrived there, and she was then dying, before they could even offer her any more assistance she was dead. Evidence on the inquest proved that she died of exposure to cold and actual starvation. The stomach was entirely empty of food. The heart was found to be slightly diseased, but the rest of,the organs were healthy ; and, sad to relate, if was evident 'that had warmth and proper food been supplied to her a little earlier, she most probably would have i-allied and recovered. She was clothed entirely in rags, and even these were saturated with water. , There was no smell or trace of drink about her, nor indeed of anything else ; she died in the middle of this great city of cold- and hunger. Mr. Humphreys, the coroner, declared that there were circumstances connected with tliis case so painful, and so suggestive of such culpable neglect, that he considered further evidence necessary. - It is quite clear that this poor creature had been allowed to lie more than three hours in a dying state on a public highway.

A Contented Vagabond.— Some officious [policeman in Birmingham not long ago arrested a man named Poole. Mr. Marcus jsaid the man was six foot long and broad in proportion, sitting On a door step, endeavouring to mend his tattered corduroys with a needle and a piece of twine. His head and feet was! bare and the only article of clothing about him except his pants, was a very dirty shirt. He protested . before the magistrates that he was comfoi-table, that he wanted neither work, food, nor clothing. When allusion was made to his scanty stock of the later, lie said “ upon my word and honour, I couldn’t hear another rag on nve. Habit’s everything. Look at Adam and t’other ’postles ; how d’ye ’spose they stand it; The thinner you learn to dress yourselves, the higher you come back to a state of innocence.” Fduke in Sheep. —A correspondent who has just commenced sheep farming writes to be informed as to the origin aud treatment of the above-named disease., Mauy different theories have been given as to-the-origin of flukes, whose presence in the ducts of the liver produces the: disr, ease called “rot,” or “ fluke.” Whether flukes are true parasites, or whether their natural habitat is in swampy [localities, is a question of little moment to the sheep farmer.He looks not to the scientific but to the practical aspect of the question. How it is generally found, that whenever the climate is moist., and ground swampy, and marshy, or wherover irrigation is applied without providing for carrying oil

all surplus water by proper drainage, this disease is liable *to break out amongst sheep. The proper way to prevent this disease breaking out is to drain off stagnant water, ana keep the flock supplied with plenty of rock salt. But if ground is naturally wet and marshy, or is in a level, damp,' forest country, it is not fit for sheep at all. With reference to the question, disease can be cured when once it has made its appearance, we would remark, that the general belief is that it is best to fatten and sell all sheep so diseased. Mr. Fletcher however, who is in charge at Phillip Island of the birds and animals belonging to the ■ Acclimatis-

ation Society, lias suggested to us a cure which deserves to be tested by experiment. He says that blue, or mercurial ointment applied in moderate quantity tb the bare parts under the forelegs of the sheep will be absoi*bed into the system of the animal, the flukes "will be killed, and the sheep cured. This to many may be r a valuable fact ; though like many other useful hints we have given, it may not be appreciated. - Yeoman. A Precious Mauri age.— A t the Guildhall police com-t, London, on the 18th, William Langford Jenkins, a smart military looking young fellow, who keeps a tavern in Whitecross-street, was summoned for an assault upon his wife. Mrs. Caroline Jenkins, an elderly lady, complained that her husband had shamefully ill-treated and neglected her, and that when she went to ask him for maintenance lie assaulted her and cut her lip.Alderman Humphrey : How old is your husband ]—Complainant: He is about 40 years of age.—Defendant : No sir ; I am only 34. Alderman Humphrey : and I suppose you are over 60 ? Complainant (reluctantly) : Nearly sir.—Alderman Humphrey : How came you at your age to marry ! such a young fellow ?—Complainant: Well, sir, I should not have had him but his mother pressed the match, as I had £6OO. 1 gave him <£3oo, and £3OO was settled on me, and I am 'receiving the interest—Alderman Humphrey : How long have you been married] —Complainant Twelve months last January, sir. I had only known him three mouths when I married hini. (Laughter.) I married him iif great haste, and am now repenting at leisure.—Altlernian Humphrey Of course. What could you expect ? You wanted a husband, I suppose? —Complainant : So does every woman. —(G.ieat Laughter.) His mother 1 had three husbands. —(Renewed laughter.)— Alderman • Humphrey (to defendant) : Have you ever been married before, Mr. Jenkins ?—Defendant : I was, but I was legally divorced three years ago.—Alder man Humphrey : \\ hat age was your first wife when you married her ?■ Defendant: Sixteen sir;—Alderman Hum' phrey : And your second sixty. (I.aughter.) What did you marry the old lady for]—Defendant : The fact is, sir, I could not help it. (Roars of laughter.) I had just returned from India in bad health, and they kept me in a state of semi-inebriation the whole time,, until I was married.—Complainant : It is not true, sir. He was only a soldier, and I took compassion on him, and’paid £2O to buy him out of the army.—-Alderman, Humphrey (to defendant) : Your wife has been very foolish, and you are a very, bad man, for you first marry a girl of sixteen, then get divorced from her, and now after marrying a woman old enough to be your mother, and getting her money, you want to get rid of her.—Complainant: Is there not some gratitude required of him, sir, for all that I have done for him ] (Laughter.) —AI derman Humphrey: Certainly my good woman, but I cannot supply him with it (Great Laughter.) I should recommend him to make you a pioper allowance ; but, iit the meantime, 1 shall ordei him to enter into his own recognisance in £2O to keep the peace towards you for six months.—This appeared to satisfy the old lady, and she withdrew to an adjoining room, exclaiming, “ I love him; Ido indeed ; 1 love him still,” to the great amusement of a crowded court.— European Times. A singular collision between the clergy of the ri val Churches occurred west of the Shannon a few days ago. A Mr. Smith, statioumaster on the railway at Woodlawn, died of consumption, having 1 been attended during his illness by the Rev. Mr. ; Fleming, che rector of the Parish. Th a .Western A tar states that the deceased was born a Protestant, and never expressed any desire to change his i*eligion. His wife was a Romau Catholic, and she bears the same testimony. It appears that when her husband had become insensible lie was visited by the parish priest, the Rev. Mr. Manning, who first baptised and then anointed him, Having thus transferred him to liis own Church, lie expressed his intention of attending his funeral and reading the Roman Catholic burial service over his remains. Mr. Fleming, a man of zeal and nerve, expressed his firm determination to attend also, and read the service of the Protestant church. Rumours to this effect caused a good deal of popular excitement; the magistrates were inlbnned that a breach of the peace might be apprehended, and accordingly an extra police force was brought to Kilconnell, in order to guard against mischief. The funeral was attended by 22 cars and a small concourse on foot. On its arrival in the streets the parish priest stepped forth, robed in his vestments, and commenced reeiting the service - for the dead. Immediately after the rector took up liis part in the solemn duet, robed in his surplice. Thus each perforated'the service as the procession moved slowly on. To do the people justice, they behaved very well under shell exciting circumstances, Mr, Fleming was rudely 1 jostled once or twice, and iu the copious sprinkling of the holy water the rev. gentleman got more than his share of it, but lie remained last upon the ground, and it is stated that though the priest

ordered bis'people td put oil their hats when he retired, iiiany Of them remained uncovered till the Protestant service was over. The most sensible remark made there that day was by an old woman, who, as the funeral passed, exclaimed, “ Did I ever .see the like ; two clargy at 1 one grave, and only one God in Heaven 1”