Page 383 - Reading Mercury

lamp he had used for a considerable time in the bar-parlour. He asked deceased how it
happened, and she said the lamp burst in her hand. They bought the lamp second hand
in the village about 18 months before. On finding his wife he sent for a doctor at once.
She died on Monday evening.
John Edward Allnatt, who keeps Sindlesham Stores, said he had seen the exploded
lamp, which was a very unsafe one. Witness discontinued selling them some years
ago on that account. There was a very little space between the reservoir and the wick
and the glass reservoir was objectionable. Witness had sold oil to the last witness for
five or six years and never had a complaint. It was “Tea Rose.”
David Lyddiatt, a carpenter, confirmed the landlord’s evidence.
Ethel Newport, wife of a farm labourer, said she was called to deceased on Sunday
night, about 10.30 and remained with her till 3 the next morning. Her body was very
much burnt. All was done for her that could be.
The jury returned a verdict of “Died from shock arising from burns owing to the
accidental explosion of an oil lamp.”

CRICKET MATCH
The butchers and bakers of the town played a cricket match on Wednesday on the
ground of Wokingham Cricket Club. The game terminated in a win for the butchers
by three runs.

WOKINGHAM CATTLE MARKET
Messrs Cottrell, Simmons and Goodchild held their usual sale of stock on Tuesday.
There was a large supply of calves, and a very good attendance of buyers. Fat calves
made from £3 18s.to £4 16s.; sucklers, 11s. to 33s.

CRICKET
A match was played on the Wokingham ground on Friday between the servants of
W. Simonds, of Woodbury, Farley Hill and Mr. A.J. Nicholson of Glebelands,
resulting in a win by 28 runs for the former. Play was commenced at 11.30 in showery
weather, but the day improved, and it was quite fine until just at the close of the game.
Mr. Nicholson’s side, winning the toss, went in first, but only made 24, Woodbury
following with 51. In the second innings, Mr. Nicholson’s team made 79 against 80 of
Mr. Simond’s. A. Shorter and S. Milum bowled extremely well for Mr. Nicholson and
D. Marchum and S. P. Simonds for Woodbury. J. Bushell for the winning side played
an excellent innings of 50, going in first and carrying his bat.

th
Sat 9 Oct
FIRE AT A FARM
The Wokingham Volunteer Fire Brigade were called at 4.30 a.m. on Tuesday to a
fire at Blagrave’s Farm, East Heath, owned by and in the occupation of their captain,
Mr. E. Ifould, ex-Mayor of Wokingham. The captain, Lieut. Brant, and all but two of
the members turned out so smartly that they had covered the mile and a half distance
between the fire station and the farm, and had the engine at work within the half hour.
It was impossible to prevent the destruction of a newly-built and thatched rick
containing 50 or 60 quarters of valuable oats, which had been fired; but the efforts of
the brigade saved a large and lately repaired barn standing within 12 feet of the rick,
and other thatched farm buildings in the immediate neighbourhood. The water was
obtained from a pond. The brigade returned at 9.45 a.m. There is practically no doubt
that the conflagration was the work of an incendiary; and in many respect it resembles

381