Friday, July 3, 1868

BIRTH, at Queenstown, on the 29th June, 1868, the wife of Mr. J.S. FRY, of a daughter.

Tuesday, July 14, 1868

SAD MILITARY AFFRAY NEAR KING WILLIAMSOTWN. – The Watchman of Thursday says: A most brutal affair occurred at the Izeli on Sunday last by some soldiers of the 11th Regiment, belonging to the working party on the water works, on one of their own comrades. It is said that some three or four men had obtained liberty for a short time to leave the camp, and that having indulged pretty freely they had made their way to McTavish’s canteen where they enquired for refreshments, after partaking of which a quarrel ensued between them, when the unfortunate deceased was made. It is alleged, the victim of revenge by the remainder of the party, who are said to have most brutally ill-used the poor fellow, and to have kicked him about the body so unmercifully as to have caused his death. The unfortunate man was buried on Tuesday with military honors, followed by the whole strength of the 11th in garrison , the band of the 1st 9th performing the funera dirge. Hisassailants have been apprehended, and underwent a preliminary examination yesterday. The name of the deceased was James WOODS, and the parties implicated in the affray were John McGEE, John NEVILLLE, and Thomas HILDEN. TheGazette, we observe, terms the sad occurrence a drunken brawl.

Tuesday, July 21, 1868

DIED at Tylden, on the 14th July, 1868, Mr.Charles RENNIE. Deceased was one of the original Settlers connected with the Scotch party. Friends at a distance will please accept this notice.

Tuesday, August 4, 1868

Sale of Valuable Farm, Live-stock, and other Moveables. In the Estate of the late Johannes Jacobus STRIJDOM, and surviving spouse Hester Cornelia STRIJDOM, born VERMAAK.The undersigned, having been duly empowered, will sell byPublic Auction, at the farm Droogefontein, On Tuesday, 1st Sept., 1st: That splendid agricultural and grazing farm “Droogefontein”. Situate in the division of Aliwal North, about three hours ride from the rising village of Dordrecht, and about four hours from Allwal North, measuring in extent 1952 Morgen. On this farm are two Dwelling Houses, Wagon House, Outhouses, and splendid Stone Kraals; Land for 10 muids of seed, with a never failing stream of water, and Fruit Trees in variety. In ordinary seasons an immense quantity of grain can be grown upon this farm; and the quality of the soil is such, that the crops require to be watered only once or twice to ensure a good harvest. The veldt of this place is unexcelled for cattle; it is also one of the best farms for sheep and horses in the District of Aliwal North. A better farm for large and small stock cannot be found. 2nd; Livestock including 1100 Merino Sheep, 20 Head of Cattle, 8 Horses, 17 Angora Goats also 10 x Wagon (complete) Ploughs, Scales, Spades, Wool Bags, Carpenter’s Tools, &c. &c. Household Furniture, Feather Beds, Bedsteads, Tables, Stinkwood Chairs, House Clocks, Silver Watch and Gold Chain, Sofas and many other articles too numerous to mention. The above will be positively sold without reserve. Refreshments provided. Sale to commence at 9 o’clock, sharp! Mark the Date! Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1868. C.C. KEMPTER, Auctioneer. Dordrecht, 25th July, 1868.

Tuesday, August 11, 1868

MARRIED, in Commemoration Chapel, Grahamstown, on the 5thAugust, 1868, by the Rev. G.H. GREEN – Mr. Robert KING, of Queenstown, to Alice, second daughter of John WEBB, Esq., of Grahamstown. – No cards.

MELANCHOLY DEATH. – The Transvaal Argus records the death of Mr. G. REED, Jr. of Smithfield. The deceased was a young man of 22 years. His foot slipped, the wheel of the wagon passed over his chest and death resulted.

FATAL ASSAULT. – A cruel and unprovoked assault, says the Watchman, was perpetrated on the morning of Thursday last at Alice by a native upon an European, terminating fatally. The assaulted was a man of sixty-eight years of age, familiarly known by the name of General Jackson, but whose real name was Henry SULLIVAN, a native of the north of Ireland. He resided sometime in the Western Province, and came to the frontier with the Capetown Levy in the beginning of the war of 1849, and has resided in this district ever since. He was a stone mason by trade, and generally lived with some of the farmers doing such work as was required.

Friday, August 14, 1868

The King Williamstown papers record the death of Mr. D.H.CAMPBELL, at Robben Island.

Tuesday, August 8, 1868

DESTITUTE CHILD. John BISSET, aged about 12 years, whose parents are both believed to be dead, was this day brought to my office in a state of destitution,- Noticeis hereby given that unless the said J. BISSET be claimed within sixweeks from this date, by some relative able and willing to take charge of him, he will be indentured to some fit and proper person in terms of Act No 15, of1856. Charles D. GRIFFITH, Resident Magistrate, Resident Magistrate’s office, Queenstown, August 18, 1868

FATAL ACCIDENT. – A correspondent writes under date, Tarkastad, August 11: - A sad accident happened this afternoon at Tarkastad. Two brothers, Dirk and Wentzel GREYLING, was out target shooting, and on going to the appointed spot, the former was carrying his gun which was half cocked – in a careless manner in his hand when it suddenly went off, and his brother walked in front was shot dead . – Telegraph.

Friday, August 21, 1868

BIRTH, at Donnebrook, on the 6th August, the wifeof Mr. G. BARNES of a Son.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT. – At the election of Divisional Councillors held at Fort Beaufort on Tuesday last, a shocking and fatal accident happened. A young man named DOWNHAM, after having voted at the election of the Divisional Council, mounted a horse belonging to a man named McCULLUM, and was just riding away when the owner seized the horse and pulled DOWNHAM off. The latter, being very intoxicated, fell heavily to the ground, but rose again and walked up to McCULLUM’s residence, with the intention of demanding an explanation. The unfortunate man had, however, scarcely reached the house when he dropped down and instantly expired. A post mortem examination is now being held.

Friday, September 4, 1868

MELANCHOLY AND FATAL ACCIDENT. Seldom have we had to record more painful intelligence than we do to-day. From a short note which reached town on Wednesday evening it became known that the post cart, on its way to Fort Beaufort had been upset at the upper drift of the Ox-Kraal River, not many hundred yards below Mr. HEX’s hotel; and that two of the passengers, Mrs. C. ORSMOND, (wife of Mr Charles ORSMOND, auctioneer of Graham’s Town), and Mr. Alfred EDWARDS had thereby been drowned. The day on which this sad and mournful accident occurred, was indeed a fearful day of thunder, rain andlightning, and will long be remembered here. On the Tuesday evening previous there was ever appearance of a storm, and just about sunset a sharp shower of rain did fall, but it was not till midnight that the heavy masses of clouds began to pour down their torrents. About two o’clock however the rain abated, although from the manner in which the clouds were banking up all around, and the roll of the distant thunder, it was evident the storm had only lulled for a little. The post contractor who was up betimes, fearing this, and justly considering that the safety of the post cart lay in having it dispatched asearly as possible, had the horses inspanned about 3 a.m, and the passengers, Mrs. ORSMOND, and Messrs GAU and EDWARDS aroused. By 4 o’clock the cart was on the road, two hours before the regular time. The contractor himself saw it safely past Griffithville, having first given the driver strict orders that if there appeared any risk in crossing the Klaas Smits or Kei, he was to return, as there was plenty of time. An hour after the cart had started a second storm, as was expected , came on – far more violent than the first. The rain poured down in torrents, and continued to do so without interruption for more than five hours. Vivid lightning, both sheet and forked, and loud peals of thunder, coming every now and again with a crash, accompanied the fearful downpour. As the day passed over, and towards the afternoon the clouds began to break, and no news were heard of the post cart it was fondly hoped that all was right with it. It was at least certain that it had safely crossed the Klaas Smiths and Kei, the places where danger was most looked for. An accident occurring at any other part of the road was hardly thought of. Just however at this time, towards the close of the afternoon, the contractor had the above sad news brought to his house. Somehow or other the news reached Whittlesea, and Mr. COLDRDGE, the agent of post contractor there wrote a note, forwarding it to the banks of the Kei, where Mr. VAN DE BANK had it thrown to the others side. There Mr. DREYER got it, and sent it on to Mr. JARDINE, the contractor of the Klaas Smits River Bridge, who is living not far from the works. One of his men boldly swam through the river with it, and brought it on to the post contractor. The note was very brief but n a few words what a heartrending story it told. “The cart had been washed down – Mrs. ORSMOND and Mr. EDWARDS were drowned – also two horses; Messrs. LANGFIELD and ARMSTRONG had used every exertion to rescue the mail bags.” There was no mention in the note of Mr. GAU or the driver, but silence in regard to them evidently showed that they were safe. The circumstances attending the deaths of Mrs. ORSMOND and Mr. EDWARDS are peculiarly affecting. Mrs. ORSMOND was just returning to her home after an absence of three months. She had been on a visit to a daughter in Smithfield, and it was only on Sunday evening last, she came here from Aliwal North in the post cart. Mr. EDWRDS is a young man, almost unknown in this part, who in partnership with a Mr. ARMSTRONG, has recently opened business here. Anxious to get settled he was on his way to Grahamstown to bring up Mrs. EDWARDS and family. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and it so happened that the Lodge ”Star in the East” was just assembled when the painful news of his death reached town. With praiseworthy promptitude they at once despatched a messenger to Fort Beaufort to telegraph to a fried of poor EDWARDS in Grahamstown, that he might break the news to the bereaved wife. A note was also sent by the Lodge to the B.B. in Whittlesea asking themto bring the corpse into Queenstown for burial. On Thursday morning as the news became known, quite a gloom overspread the town. The awful intelligence seemed to have struck the sympathizing cords of every heart. During the whole day very little else was talked about save the accident; and as the particulars were so scanty, many were the surmises, as to how it had happened, and proved so fatal. The post contractor in the morning went down to the Klaas Smits, intending to proceed to the scene of the disaster, but found it was impossible. The river was brimming full, such as it is seldom seen, being up to within an inch of the high water mark, as laid down in the plans for the bridge.The Ox-Kraal river is in general not much more than a rill –with here and there a large deep pool. Its course is very zig-zag, and after rain a large body of water comes down it. The road passing over the Katberg crosses it four times, and over the two lower drifts small bridges have been thrown. It has however appeared to us before now that a bridge was quite as much needed at the uppermost ford. If we remember rightly at this place the dip is considerable, the channel narrow, and not far below is a large sea-cow hole. This is we believe the spot of the fatal accident. As far as we know no blame can be attached to the driver. He is a splendid whip, and has crossed the Katberg with the Post Cart upwards of 190 times, during the night as well as the day, and in all sorts of weather It was only on Sunday last the passenger who then came up in the post cart, spoke in such high terms of hiscarefulness.

On Wednesday morning another fatal accident occurred, in an entirely opposite direction. Mr. BEGLEY, a Kaffir trader, was on his way in from Kaffirland, to take his wife back with him. He was accompanied by a member of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police. On arriving at the Imvanie drift, which through running strong, was not considered dangerous or impassable, the two travellers entered. Mr. Begley dismounted in the stream to adjust the saddle, and his companion looking round saw him on his back going down the stream. The policeman was unable to swim, and called to the drowning man to try and keep up until he got assistance, making for the house close to the river. The inmates at once turned out, several farmers gathered, and every effort was made to find BEGLEY without avail. Yesterday search was again made. Mr. THOMAS emptied his dam below the drift, but up to the present the body has not been found.

Tuesday, September 22, 1868

THE LATE MR. ROBERT CALDECOTT. – The mournful intelligencehas been received by the mail of the death by drowning of Master Robert CALDECOTT, son of Mr. C.H. CALDECOTT, Mayor of Grahamstown. The youth had been studying in England for the medical profession, and gave hopes of distinguishing himself, was drownedon the 27th July, whilst bathing with some of his school fellows.

Tuesday, September 29, 1868.

DEATH. – A little girl 10 years of age, the daughter of Mr. J.L. WRIGHT, of Longmarket Street, met her death by a most distressing accident on Monday last. She was playing near or on a small crib, and fell on to one of the corners, which having no brass top or knob, entered the body to a considerable depth. A doctor was sent for at once, but his aid was of no avail and the child died the same day. – Mercantile Advertiser.