On Tuesday
about 60 orphans, with their brass band, from the Port of Hull sailors
Orphan Home, visited Knottingley. After parading the town in the
afternoon, followed by a great crowd, they were entertained to an
excellent tea in the Town Hall. In the evening they gave a concert, when
the large hall was densely packed with an enthusiastic audience, who were
evidently delighted and astonished with the performance of the juvenile
band. A report and a list of local subscribers was read by Mr. Worfolk.
There are 220
boys and girls, including 62 orphans of fishermen and 4 from Knottingley,
at present enjoying the benefits of this noble institution. Mr. Poole gave
a graphic account of his mission work among the sailors of Goole, and the
Reverend J. Crawford ably spoke of the claims the sailors orphans has upon
the sympathy and support of all classes of society, incidentally stating
that 32% of watermen annually meet with a watery grave. The Reverend T.
Greenbury, previous to singing the ‘Death of Nelson’, proposed best
thanks to the meeting be given to the North East Railway Company for their
kindness in providing special accommodation for the orphans, and allowing
them to travel at a greatly reduced fare in their recent tour of the West
Riding.
The contributions, together with five guineas collected in boxes
by the boys in the streets, amounted to £16.18s, which sum was further
increased to £20 by the liberality of a gentleman present. After
proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, this interesting
meeting was brought to a close by the band playing with much precision and
heartiness the National Anthem. The boys were taken to the houses of
friends for the night and proceeded next morning in conveyance to Goole.
