Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 19 November 1904
The Mexborough Tragedy.
Funeral of The Family.
Impressive Scene.
Yesterday morning’, the misty sunlight of a fine November day, the funeral of the Trubshaw family took place, ‘mid an extraordinary exhibition of public interest and sympathy.
The now notorious Villa, the scene of the tragedy, is situate within a short distance of the Mexborough cemetery, opened for this funeral only those immediately concerned, the general public being excluded by order of the local authority. From the house the cemetery, and on other roads the locality, thousands of people congregated.
Inspector Watson was command of a strong force of police to control a crowd unprecedented in the annals of Mexborough. He, with Sergeants Matthews (Mexborough), Horton (Conisborough), and Johnson (Goldthorpe), and 12 constables were equal to their task, and prevented any disorder, the throng, although denied admittance to the cemetery, behaving admirably.
Along the route taken by the funeral cortege, the houses all showed drawn blinds, and the subdued conversation of the onlookers evidenced the great impression the tragedy had made on the minds of the people in the district.
About half-past 11, the three coffins were brought from the house and placed on a dray, heavily enclosed in a framework of funeral draping, and surmounted by a. number of beautiful wreaths.
Heading the sad procession were a number of employes from the New Don Glass Works, where the deceased man was employed, and immediately behind the mortal remains the Trubshaw family came the chief mourners, including Mr. and Mrs. Trubshaw (father and mother). Mr. J. and Mr. H. Trubshaw (brothers), Mr. and Mrs. J. Dobson (brother and sister-in-law), and Mr. and _ Mrs. Crpwther Sugden (brother-in-law and sister), others present being Ethel Hill (the domestic servant). Mr. and Mrs. Ellis (the neighbours). Mr. Bullock, and Mr. P. Waddington. jun., representing Messrs. Waddington Bros., Dr. Gardner (the family’s medical attendant), and Sister Annie, the parish nurse.
The bearers were composed workmen from the New Don Glass Works, and were Messrs. J. Lawton, R. Bennion, H. Nettleton. A. Jow. J. D. Senior, W. Pashley, W. Dowson, W. Hughes, A. Darley, H. Long, W. Askin, and H. Barron.
Awaiting the cortege the cemetery gates were the Rev. W. H. F. Bateman, Vicar of Mexborough, the Rev. Abel Turner, and the Rev. A. C. Carne, the two latter assisting the “Vicar in the administration of the last rite 6. To the accompaniment of the solemn words, ” I the Resurrection and the Liffe,” bereaved and mourners entered the little chapel, where at the conclusion of the service the Vicar touched a sincere personal note. He said he was sure that the church people of Mexborough, and the inhabitants of the whole parish, offered to those who mourned their sincere sympathy. They felt for them very deeply, and could not trust himself to say any more words. In the passage of Scripture which had just been read, St. Paul spoke about, a great mystery, concerning the change that would await them the future life. ” Behold, I show you a great mystery.” He felt sure under the present circumstances they would feel there were other great mysteries in God’s providence. It might that in another life and under other conditions they would able to understand things which were hidden from them to-day. Now they ought to prav for God’s blessing to enable those who mourned by His help to bear the trials under which they were labouring.
All the family were buried in one grave, the coffin containing the husband and father being lowered first, then that containing the wife and mother, and lastly that with the two little children.
The inscriptions each were follows:
“Walter Henry Trubshaw, died November 15th. 1904. aged 30 years.
“ Annie Beatrice Trubshaw, died November 15th, 1904. aged 30 years.”
” Gordon Hamilton Trubshaw, died November 15th, 1904, aged 4 years. Also Walter Kenneth Trubshaw, died November 15th, 1904, aged 10 months:”
The committal sentences were reverentlv spoken, and each coffin was lowered, the girl, Ethel Hill, broke out in paroxysms of grief, and many others were visibly affected.
Thr floral expressions of included an everlasting wreath, “As a token of respect and esteem from the employee at the Don Glass Works; wreaths and crosses, from sorrowing relatives, and one from’ Mr P. T. Waddinjton, deceased man’s employer.
At the conclusion of the burial service the thousands of people quietly dispersed, and the last chapter of short but sad and tragic history was closed. .