1903 - September

 September 30, 1903

On Monday night Mr W. C. White, of Lincoln, was returning from Nottingham, with a friend, Mr W. A. Astill, in a trailer behind, when he experienced a nasty accident at a spot near Stoke.

They had had trouble with the machine between Newark and Nottingham, and also with the lamp, which persistently went out, and it was when the light had failed that Mr White, in the darkness, dashed into the hedge by the roadside.

He was pinned against the hedge by the motorcycle, his left leg being tightly held, and after his friend had pulled the machine off him it was decided to seek assistance, Mr White being laid by the roadside in the pouring rain with rugs over him.

Several attempts to elicit help in Stoke proved ineffectual, and eventually Mr Astill ran and walked the distance to Newark, where Dr Job was called, and came out in a trap. An examination showed that fortunately no bones were broken. The machine was not greatly damaged.

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On Thursday afternoon, at the Bathing Place, the annual swimming races took place of the elementary schools, under the auspices of the Newark Swimming Association.

The first Mount School boy established a good lead, which was well maintained by the other three boys of their team, and the race resulted in an easy win for the Mount, with Christ Church second, and the Wesleyan third.

September 23, 1903

Yesterday there was some excitement in Millgate and Lombard Street by the appearance of two caravans and six bears with their keepers.

The men were Servians of immense stature, but greatly in need of soap and water.

They were accompanied by their women, who also appeared to have long been strangers to the bath.

It is said that they were the same company as had been ordered off Hull Common as a menace from a sanitary point of view to that city.

One of the bears, also, is said to have hugged a child on its travels with fatal effect.

These undesirable foreigners, with their indistinguishable gibberish and their uncleanly condition, soon spread a kind of consternation in the neighbourhood, and when it was seen that there was a feud amongst them the police were quickly apprised of their presence.

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On Monday afternoon last, as Mr Roe, of Girton, was returning home along the Besthorpe-road, his horse took fright at a motor car which was being driven towards Newark at, it is stated, a very high rate of speed.

The animal turned and jumped the fence into a field of swedes occupied by Mr Sheldon.

Mr Roe, in endeavouring to prevent the horse from running away, was thrown to the ground, and the wheels of the cart passed over one of his legs.

Fortunately, the cart was empty, or the consequences might have been of a serious nature. It is proper to say, however, that the driver of the motor car stopped the machine and generously offered Mr Roe a shilling as compensation.

September 13, 1903

There was disappointment in store for those of King Edward's loyal subjects (and there were several from a distance by motor and cycle) who mustered at Ollerton Station on Thursday forenoon in the hope of catching a glimpse of their Sovereign at the scheduled time for the departure of the special train to Doncaster, for his Majesty did not visit the races that day.

The morning was fine, but rather boisterous, and his Majesty spent some time in the forenoon in the beautiful grounds and gardens at Rufford Abbey.

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The wisdom of the Newark Board of Guardians in providing for the inspection of tramps so as to detect the appearance of smallpox has again, for the third time, borne satisfactorily results in the prompt detection and isolation of two cases of smallpox at the Newark Vagrant Wards.

It is hoped that the same commendable keenness will be continued on the part of the officials to detect and stamp out infection travelling about in this way.

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Hexgrave Farm, situated about 1½ miles from Farnsfield, and ten miles from Newark, occupied by Mr Cantrell, was the scene of a serious fire, which broke out at noon on Tuesday, and was not extinguished until the early hours of Wednesday.

The fire involved the destruction of two seed stacks, one consisting of 30 tons of this year's produce from 30 acres of land, and the other 12 tons of last year's produce. The damage is estimated at £250.
 

September 9, 1903

On Thursday evening the River Trent was laced with shimmering light, when the annual procession of illuminated boats sailed into view.

The boats, belonging to the Newark Rowing club, began their parade from the Averham Weir and travelled all the way to the mouth of the Devon.

On Thursday, the parade reached Newark where a large number of people gathered on the banks to witness the spectacle.

Owners festooned their boats with fairy lamps, and suspended Chinese lanterns from the rigging.

A prize of half-a-guinea was offered by Mr J. W. Curtis for the best and most tastefully illuminated rowing boat, and the award of the judges went to Mr T. Smith and party.

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Last Saturday morning there was a serious accident on Beast Market Hill, Newark, involving a chestnut horse belonging to Mr W. E. Knight.

The accident occurred as Mr Knight was riding into work along a road that was under repair, when the horse trod on some loose granite.

It is supposed that the horse slipped and when it got to its feet again it was found that its knees had been very badly cut on the granite's sharp edges.

Mr Knight escaped unharmed. After ten years of faithful and devoted service in the parish the Rev J. Ouvry is leaving Elston for Graseley, Berkshire, having exchanged livings with the Rev C. Whitfield.
 

September 2, 1903

During the past week the interior of Christ Church, Newark, has been in the hands of the painters and decorators.

The work of painting the church has been carried out by Mr Jas Allin, the repairs to the stained-glass window, damaged by a storm, and other glazing work was entrusted to Messrs Harvey Bros, and the re-tuning and repairs to the organ to Messrs Harston and Son.

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The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Newark Gas Company was held in the office, Market-place.

Mr R. Robinson (chairman) said the greatest adverse circumstance the company had had to contend with was the mild winter.

The consumption of gas had been rather less than the previous year, as shown by the significant fact that the discounts allowed to consumers only amounted to £95, as against £127 in the previous year, which showed that people were using gas more economically than they had done before.

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A considerable crowd of spectators was attracted to the Rovings course on the banks of the river for the swimming contests organised by the Newark Swimming Association.

A barge, lent by Mr W. Robb, was used as a starting point, whilst the winning posts placed at the respective distances were spanned by a cord across the river, to which for greater conspicuousness was attached lengths of tape.