Sarah
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The Chard and Ilminster News and Somerset, Dorset and Devon Advertiser. Saturday 11 Jun 1904
Page 3 Column 3
TAUNTON.
DEATH OF COL. ALMS. - Lieut.-Col. ALMS, whose death is announced as having taken place at Bodmin, at the advanced age of 83, was the father of Mr. E. T. ALMS, solicitor and registrar of the District Probate Court at Taunton. Col. ALMS had seen much active service, and was very highly respected.
LATE MR. WILFRED MARSHALL. - The will of the late Major Wilfred George MARSHALL (aged 51), Norton Manor, Taunton, has been proved, the gross value being £238,352 5s. 6d. He bequeathed £500 to the Taunton and Somerset Hospital, £100 to St. Savour's Home for Orphan Boys, Taunton, £300 to his gardener, and legacies to his other servants.
BOROUGH EDUCATION COMMITTEE. - A monthly meeting of the Borough Education Committee was held at the municipal buildings on Monday(?) evening, under the presidency of Mr. Josiah LEWIS. The Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee decided to approve the scheme submitted, and to submit it to the Town Council for adoption. The Schools Management Sub-Committee reported that they had arranged for a drill instructor to be placed at the disposal of each school for one hour in each week for boys in the third and higher standards. The sub-committee further recommended the committee to sanction the appointment of a qualified person to instruct school assistants and pupil teachers in the course of physical training recommended by the Board of Education, so that they might afterwards be qualified to instruct the children under their care. This recommendation was also adopted.
VISIT OF BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST SHOW. - On Saturday Taunton was paid a visit by Buafflo <sic> Bill's Wild West Show, and two performances were given in the Poor Grounds, but, owing probably to the last visit of the big concern having been so recent as last August Bank Holiday, the attendance was disappointing to the proprietors. In the afternoon it was estimated that 8,000 people were present, and in the evening 5,000. The seating accommodation is for 15,000 persons. The cow-boy band played stirring music near the grand stand, but the first scene of the great performance brought to view in striking fashion the splendid specimens of the picked riders of various nationalities – a grand entry to fill the spectators with amazement. Types of the various representatives in their various costumes came at intervals thundering down the arena – Sioux Indians, in full war paint, mounted on fleet-footed ponies, followed by other divisions of the great tribe, the various chiefs galloping in at separate intervals being received with a volley of welcome; English Lancers, justly entitled to be classed among the Rough Riders of the world; Cossacks then bursting into the arena in their Asiatic clothing and speeding along at break-neck pace; coloured Cavalry from America; Roosevelt rough-riders in Khaki; Mexicans, smartness itself; gorgeously attired Bedouin Arabs; Japs in up-to-date European uniforms, applauded to the echo as they career along; while the grand cavalcade was brought to a finish by United States Cavalry, and Colonel W. F. CODY (“Buffalo Bill”) looking a picture on a prancing steed. He was saluted by the entire crowd of performers, and then followed an amazing spectacle – the grand review, the riders racing around the arena in different directions. The company was then treated to an exhibition of the various methods of riding, as illustrated by Cowboys, Cossacks, Mexicans, Arabs, and North American Indians. The United States Artillery gave a smart exhibition, followed by the American life-saving apparatus, demonstrating life-saving by the use of the mortar and the breeches-buoy. “Buffalo Bill” then showed what a wonderful shot he is by smashing plaster balls thrown into the air. Other performances included express pony riding, military performances by English cavalry, skilful lassoeing by Mexicans, a representation of “Custer's last fight,” the last great battle between the North American Indians and the whites, and this performance was succeded <sic> by Arabs and Japanese in their native sports, thrilling hosre-manship <sic> by the Cossacks, and the attack on the Deadwood coach. The bicycle leap through space aroused great interest. It was a daring performance. CARTER, described as the cowboy cyclist, came down an incline at an immense speed and leaped across the gap without difficulty, continuing his journey down the second incline amidst loud applause. The other items of the programme illustrated an attack on a settler's cabin, and the parting salute by the entire congress of Rough Riders, led by “Buffalo Bill.”
The show left for Dorchester the same night.
LOCAL PROPRIETORS OF “THE TIMES.” - The first complete list ever published of the registered proprietors of “The Times” is given by the “Financial New.” Among the names appear those of the Hon. Mrs. HANCOCK, wife of the Vicar of Lyncombe, Bath, and Jeannie M. PEARS, Hillside, Bathford; Emma M. RAWLINS, H. de Courcy RAWLINS, H. A. WALSH, and T. L. WALSH, of Bishop's Hull, Taunton; J. S. CHANNER, Taunton; L. PATTON, Sheafhayne, Chard, and Clara A. PATTON, Burnham. Altogether there are over 90 names in the list.