Accidents - Sudden Deaths - Martello Towers
A Fatal Accident occurred to Charles Mepham, aged 29, an engine-driver on the South-Eastern line of railway, on the 27th of March. He fell from the engine unperceived between St. Leonards and Crowhurst and a part of the goods train went over his body. He left a widow and four children.
A Serious Accident, on the 11th of March, befell Mrs. Charlotte Gutsell (of whom the present writer usually purchased eggs and butter). While crossing Norman road she was knocked down and run over by a horse and cart driven by one of Mr. Chester’s men and very seriously hurt. Dr. Duke and surgeon Adams were soon in attendance, and surgeon Watts, of Battle, was sent for, who had the poor woman conveyed in a fly to her own house at Westfield.
A Collision. On the 3rd of June, as a lad, with a donkey-chair was turning the corner of the Saxon hotel, he collided with a horse and fly. The horse reared and the donkey-chair was nearly demolished, the lad at the same time being severely cut and bruised.
A Fractured Leg resulted to a boy named Parfitt on Oct. 3rd through running as fast as possible with a hand-cart down London Road and colliding with a gentleman’s carriage, which knocked him down and ran over his legs. He was carried into Hempsted’s (chemist’s) shop where there happened to be Dr. Duke, Dr. Adey, and surgeon Dr. Marks, who, of course saw that the injured boy was attended to. Hastings accidents next chapter.
Sudden Deaths.
William Bishop, a young labourer of 17 years, died suddenly in St. Leonards, on the 14th of March, from an affection of the brain.
Death of Mr. Capell. On the 6th of October an inquest was held on the body of Mr. Capell, 42 years of age, and chief boatman of 39 Martello tower, at Bopeep. From the evidence given, it appeared that at night, when going home he would have gone up the steep railway bank and over a bridge, and in so doing might have slipped or fallen or rolled into the stream, about 16 feet below. Lieut Gill said the deceased was a remarkably steady man; also sober and intelligent; very attentive to his duties, and that by his death he (the Lieut.) had lost a valuable servant. He left a widow and children, one of whom (a son) afterwards became the talented Monseignor Capell. (The Hastings particular deaths are recorded in the next chapter.)
The Towers. The death of Mr. Capell and his connection with the Towers is a reminder that the Martello towers were at the time being put in a more efficient condition , and that in some of them soldiers were taking the place of those coastguards who had been drafted to serve in the Baltic fleet.
