A number of my recent topics have been of a more serious nature, so today I decided to enlighten you on the subject of (Sir?) Thomas Crapper and the flushable toilet. While I realize that this is a subject that is not often dealt with in polite society, it is one that is used on a number of occasions daily by effectively everyone in today's society. I find it rather surprising that Thomas has been able to reach the level of fame that he has, considering that he was not the inventor of the flushable toilet, nor would it appear that he was knighted. I refer you to the article below for an explanation about the toilet, and the Wikipedia article with regard to his possible knighthood. "In the 1880s, Prince Edward (later Edward VII) purchased his country seat of Sandringham House in Norfolk and asked Thomas Crapper & Co. to supply the plumbing, including thirty lavatories with cedarwood seats and enclosures, thus giving Crapper his first Royal Warrant. The firm received further warrants from Edward as King and from George V both as Prince of Wales and as King. Contrary to popular belief, however, Crapper never received a knighthood and was never styled Sir Thomas Crapper." It is interesting to note that the Thomas Crapper & Co. Ltd is not only still in existence, but still bears the founder's name. See http://www.thomas-crapper.com/ Other articles that may add some interesting information about this man and his work may be found at: http://www.thomas-crapper.com/history02.asp http://www.victoriancrapper.com/Tcrapper.html http://www.jldr.com/crapper.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crapper Capt'n John Thomas Crapper: Myth & Reality The debate over who Thomas Crapper was - or even if there was a Thomas Crapper at all - continues. His contributions to the plumbing industry are even more suspect. But with this article we intend to replace myth with fact, for we have found a cadre of Thomas Crapper scholars who have made it their life's work to prove that Crapper is more than just a slang term brought home by the World War I doughboys. For this article we interviewed Dr. Andy Gibbons, historian of the International Thomas Crapper Society, and Ken Grabowski, a researcher and author who is writing a book on Crapper's life. Myth: Thomas Crapper as a person never existed. Fact: Though we do not know his actual date of birth, we can now say the man Thomas Crapper probably was born in September 1836, since he was baptized the 28th of that month. Crapper did have a successful career in the plumbing industry in England from 1861 to 1904. The date of Crapper's death has also been a source of confusion for many years. For example, Chase's Annual Events, the authoritative book for listing special days and dates, has listed January 17 as Thomas Crapper Day and January 17, 1910 as the date of his death. After all his research, Gibbons was certain that Chase's was 10 days off. The actual date of Thomas Crapper's death was January 27, 1910. The error probably resulted from an honest typo in "Flushed With Pride," by Wallace Reyburn, says Gibbons, "but I waged a 10-year battle with Chase's to get them to change the date." He finally won his battle this year after supplying them with a photo of Thomas Crapper's tombstone, notes from a living descendent, and a copy of the man's official death certificate. Myth: Thomas Crapper invented the toilet. Fact: No one in the know about Thomas Crapper would ever make this statement. In his research, Grabowski has created a detailed history of Crapper's business life. The man holds nine patents, four for improvements to drains, three for water closets, one for manhole covers and the last for pipe joints. Every patent application for plumbing related products filed by Crapper made it through the process, and actual patents were granted. The most famous product attributed to Thomas Crapper wasn't invented by him at all. The "Silent Valveless Water Waste Preventer" (No. 814) was a symphonic discharge system that allowed a toilet to flush effectively when the cistern was only half full. British Patent 4990 for 1898 was issued to a Mr. Albert Giblin for this product. There are a couple of theories on how Thomas Crapper came to be associated with this device. First, is that Giblin worked for Crapper as an employee and authorized his use of the product. The second, and more likely scenario, says Grabowski, is that Crapper bought the patent rights from Giblin and marketed the device himself. Myth: Thomas Crapper never was a plumber. Fact. Oh yes he was. He operated two of the three Crapper plumbing shops in his lifetime, but left the business three years before the final and most famous facility on Kings Road in London. When Crapper retired from active business in 1904, he sold his shop to two partners who, with help from others, operated the company under the Crapper name until its closing in 1966. Several of London's current plumbing companies trace their trade roots to Thomas Crapper. One, Mr. Geoffrey Pidgeon of Original Bathrooms (Richmond upon Thames, Surrey, Great Britain), continues the trade of his great uncle and grandfather, both of whom apprenticed under Thomas Crapper. Thomas Crapper did serve as the royal sanitary engineer for many members England's royalty, but contrary to popular myth, he was never knighted, and thus isn't entitled to use the term "Sir" before his name. Myth: The word "crap" is derived from Thomas Crapper's name. Fact. The origin of crap is still being debated. Possible sources include the Dutch Krappe; Low German krape meaning a vile and inedible fish; Middle English crappy, and Thomas Crapper. Where crap is derived from Crapper, it is by a process know as, pardon the pun, a back formation. The World War I doughboys passing through England brought together Crapper's name and the toilet. They saw the words T. Crapper-Chelsea printed on the tanks and coined the slang "crapper" meaning toilet. The legend of Thomas Crapper takes its flavor from the real man's life. While Crapper may not be the inventor of the product he is most often associated with, his contribution to England's plumbing history is significant. And the man's legend, well, it lives on despite all proof to contrary from : Plumbing and Mechanical, June 1993

Tis terrible missing birthdays but have not been up to getting on the computer .... ....the settee outvoted even my New Computer Sorry Jean [USA] .... Hope you had a lovely day, not that the weather has been very brilliant in our areas. Sorry also to Barbara down in Ozzieland ... Hope your day was also lovely [and not too hot] Best Wishes for the rest of your New Birthday Year. Marlene in Oakville __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

Transcribed by Susan Bergeron. Geo. Carlisle Journal Friday, December 8th, 1899 Lifeboat Disaster on the Suffolk Coast. Six Lives Lost. A disastrous lifeboat accident occurred in a gale at Aldeburgh yesterday, involving the loss of six lives. The celebrated lifeboat Aldeburgh was launched in the morning in response to signals of distress, and while crossing the shoals in a heavy sea the life-saving craft capsized, turning completely over in the breakers. Twelve of the crew were thrown into the raging sea, and were dragged ashore in a terrible plight, but the other six men were imprisoned in the overturned boat. Every endeavour was made to render assistance, and a length one poor fellow named Millar Ward, jun., was extricated under the bows just alive. His condition precluded much hope of recovery, and although efforts were continued for over an hour to bring about artificial respiration they proved unavailing, and the unfortunate man succumbed. The rescuing party, with the use of levers and screw jacks, were engaged for many hours in the attempt to raise the lifeboat, and the scene presented was a remarkable one. Some 500 people were vieing with one another in the gallant task, and as darkness came on powerful lamplights were obtained in order to carry on the work. The gale increased in its violence, and furious seas continually broke over the boat, drenching the helpers with clouds of spray. Eventually the bodies of Tom MORRIS and Will WARD were got out, and shortly afterwards those of the remaining three Charles CRISP, Jack BUTCHER, and Dogger DOWNING were also extricated. A number of women distinguished themselves in the rescue of the 12 men saved. .....

Transcribed by Susan Bergeron. Geo. Carlisle Journal Friday, December 8th, 1899 Crew Rescued by Lifeboats. A West Hartlepool correspondent states that the steamer Maltby, owned by Messrs. ROPNER and Son, West Hartlepool, outward bound from the Tyne with coal for South Africa under Government charter, went ashore at the entrance to Shields' Harbour last night during the prevalence of a south-east gale. Lifeboats were launched and the crew of 24 hands were brought ashore amid a scene of excitement. One of the crew was badly injured in leaping into the lifeboat. Several of the crew had narrow escapes, being washed along the deck before being rescued. The vessel lies in a dangerous position, and it is feared will become a total wreck. .....

Transcribed by Susan Bergeron. Geo. Carlisle Journal Friday, December 8th, 1899 Death by Misadventure at Southwaite Dr. MITCHELL'S Housekeeper Poisoned, An inquest was held at Southwaite on Saturday, before Mr. Arthur LEE, deputy Coroner, on the body of Ann ELLIOTT, aged 67, housekeeper for over thirty years for Dr. MITCHELL, Southwaite. Dr. MITCHELL deposed that latterly the deceased had not been in good health, and especially during the last week she had been ill and affected in her mind. On Wednesday she was so very strange, imagining that people were calling and trying to get into the house, that witness went for her husband to come to her, but he did not do so. On Wednesday night witness was twice disturbed, hearing her shouting and wandering about in her bedroom, and he gave her a sleeping draught. On Thursday witness was away all day and did not arrive home from a journey til after one o'clock on Friday morning. Jane ARMSTRONG, charwoman to DR. MITCHELL, deposed that deceased was very strange at night, and about eleven o'clock witness persuaded her to go to bed. The deceased replied that she would go if she had a sleeping draught, and witness could sleep with her. Deceased went to the surgery to get a sleeping draught, and as she was accustomed to all the bottles and everything in the surgery, witness did not try to prevent her doing so. Deceased looked at some bottles on a shelf, but saying "It's not there," she went to a cupboard, which she opened, and took from it a small blue bottle, which, however, was empty. She then took out another bottle similar, and poured out of it some liquid into a measure glass, which she nearly filled. She then added some water. Witness told her to be careful, but deceased replied that she knew what she was doing, and only wanted a sleeping draught. Deceased swallowed the contents, replaced the bottle, and then went upstairs. Witness followed, and deceased lay down on her bed and went to sleep fully dressed. Witness became alarmed and summoned James WILSON, groom to Dr. MITCHELL, and a neighbour, but hey could not rouse deceased, who died about an hour and a half afterwards. The bottles, which were produced, had contained prussic acid, of which deceased had taken more than three drachms. The jury returned a verdict that "deceased died from taking a dose of prussic acid in mistake for a sleeping draught." .....

I have not read this particular story before, but I have no reason to doubt its veracity. I happen to know the teacher who sent it to me and I know him well enough to know that he would not knowingly send me a story like this if he did not believe it to be true. I do know that there is a Robinson High School in Little Rock. Capt'n John The right to sit at a desk Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. Looking around, confused, they asked, 'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period and still there were no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in the classroom.Now I am going to tell you.' At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned. Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.' This is a true story.... If you can read this - thank a teacher!

Transcribed by Petra Mitchinson. Geo. The Times, Tuesday, Sep 24, 1839 The steamer Solway, of Carlisle, left Belfast for Carlisle on the morning of Tuesday, the 17th inst., with 250 head of cattle, a valuable cargo, and several passengers on board. When off the Mull of Galloway she sprung a leak. The sea running very high at the time, 55 of the cattle were thrown overboard to lighten the vessel and clear the decks, the leak having increased so fast as to extinguish the fires. Through extraordinary exertion, however, at the pumps she succeeded in getting into Port Logan, in a sinking state; 12 of the cattle were drowned in the hold, and these, with the remainder of the live stock, were landed at Port Logan. Some of the cargo has been landed, although in a very damaged state. We have not heard the cause of the leak; the Solway still remains at Port Logan. The cattle thrown overboard have for the most part come on shore on the coast from Port Patrick to Corsewall, and were yesterday selling to the farmers and others in the respecting localities. - Stranraer Advertiser. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Petra

Lots of lovely birthday wishes to you Barbara and many more to come. Johno, Mary and Cathy

Happy Birthday Geo`s Barbara Val xx > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you all for your birthday wishes--they were greatly appreciated. Thanks to Johno,Miss Mary, Cathy,Val,Jean Kemp,Liz,Dave,Pam,Nikki,Gwen,Edna,Pat & Shaun,Maggie,Glennis and Sue. Hope I didn't forget anyone. Unfortunately most of the day was spent at a funeral and the gathering afterwards. But it was a good day. Jean USA

wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Have a great day Barbara. Hugs, Gwen > > Happy Birthday Geo`s Barbara > Val xx > > > > > >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > "IS THE SUBJECT LINE STILL RELEVANT? > If not, PLEASE change it." > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Happy Birthday, Barbara. Hope Geo. comes up with a spectacular idea for a present. Jean USA > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message "IS THE SUBJECT LINE STILL RELEVANT? If not, PLEASE change it." ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

And a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY from me too! Glennis Happy Birthday Geo`s Barbara Val xx

Transcribed by 'Steve'. Geo. THE WESTMORLAND GAZETTE SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 1862 SHOCKING SUICIDE ON THE LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY Early on Wednesday morning, the 3rd inst, the trunk of a man was found in the " grip," and the head on the other side of the rail of the down line of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, on Eamont viaduct, Yanwath, near Penrith. The arms of the deceased were folded, and the body lay in such a position as to favour the conclusion that death by decapitation was premeditated, and was not an accident. The body was conveyed to the Castle Inn, Penrith, and it was disclosed that the deceased was Joseph Richardson, late a railway servant on the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, a steady man, aged 40, but who unfortunately made so serious a mistake in signalling a ballast train that it was found necessary to dismiss him. It is believed that this occurrence preyed upon his mind, and that he sought suicide in the manner detailed ; this opinion appears to be supported by the fact that the deceased answered the description of a man who a few weeks back was found lying across the down line, on the same railway at Penrith, when he was snatched off the rails a few moments before the mail train passed over the spot where his neck was lying. The man found on the occasion referred to was apparently in a state of stupor, but when the person who found him came back to which he had dragged him, while he looked after the mailbags for Penrith, he had walked off across the fields without thanking his deliverer or giving any account of himself. Steve

Transcribed by Susan Begeron. Geo. <Info: The tens of thousands of tons of Jarrah and much of the Karri used as paving for the roads of many British cities and for railway sleepers came from this area of s-w Australia> Carlisle Journal Friday, December 8th, 1899 Warwick Road and The Tramway. To the Editor of the Carlisle Journal. Sir, Your last week's correspondent "Disinterested" writes to the point. there is absolutely no difficulty in the use of noiseless pavement in conjunction with macadamizing on a well crowned street like the Warwick Road, and what can be done with jarrah or karri (the life of which is 15 years) in other towns can surely be done in Carlisle if only the will exists. The cry of mud and cost can only be looked upon as a bugbear: for the former is to be found on all sorts of pavement, if not kept clean and does not usually run up hill; and the latter will not fall upon the town if the Corporation does its duty to the citizens by retaining the power it ought to possess or by recovering it if already given away. At considerable cost in tree planting and otherwise, the road has been converted into a ornamental boulevard, and its maintenance as such is a matter of interest to a large proportion of the citizens, as well as to the immediate residents. These therefore, would do well to make their voices heard with no uncertain sound, whilst there is yet time to prevent the substitution of a pavement of rough stone sets for the present smooth one and their comfort and convenience sacrificed to the interest of an alien tramway company. I am, &c. Interested. .....

Transcribed by Susan Begeron. Geo Carlisle Journal Friday, December 8th, 1899 Alarming Occurrence at Preston. Narrow Escape of A Highland Regiment. The 2.6 express from Carlisle to London narrowly escaped disaster yesterday morning at Preston. The driver, whilst crossing the London and North-Western Company's bridge in Pitt Street, felt an unaccustomed oscillation. He reported the occurrence, and a party went to examine the place. When they were about twenty yards from the bridge the eastern retaining wall collapsed with a noise like thunder. A train load of Cameron Highlanders from Inverness to Aldershot coming behind was luckily pulled up when about 150 yards from the disturbed spot, and turned on to the up slow line. If it had not been for the foresight of the driver of the first express the train of soldiers might have been plunged into the street below. .....

Transcribed by 'Steve'. Geo. <OUCH!> THE WESTMORLAND GAZETTE SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 1862 KESWICK ACCIDENT On Monday last, Mr. Charles Gray, water-banking engineer, met with an accident which might have been attended with serious results. As two of his workmen were driving a spile by the water edge, Mr. Gray being engaged in steadying it for them, his foot slipped, and being afraid of falling into the river, he inadvertently placed his hand on the top of the spile as the hammer was descending and it was crushed in a most shocking manner. He was immediately conveyed home, and placed under the care of Mr. Brown, surgeon, under whose treatment he is progressing favourably, it being hoped that amputation will not have to be resorted to. Steve

Transcribed by Susan Bergeron. Geo. Carlisle Journal Friday, December 8th, 1899 Old Men Chargeable on the Rates. MR. C.A. DAWSON, Poor Law inspector for the district which includes Durham, part of Cumberland, &c., has these remarks in his annual report: "The number of old men chargeable on the rates continues to increase, in consequence of the difficulty they experience in getting employment. Responsibility for this has hitherto been cast on the trades unions, who demand that nothing less than the union rate of wages should be paid, which men over 60 cannot earn; but during the past year, at any rate, this difficulty of obtaining employment has been increased since the Workmen's Compensation Act came into force. It is too early as yet to give any definite opinion on the effect of this Act, but it is an undoubted fact that employers now give the preference to younger men who are perfectly sound in wind and limb, and less liable to accident or breakdown. When employers, however, have had more experience of the working of the Act, and their responsibilities under it, which are at present an unknown quantity, this tendency to reject the services of men past their prime may diminish." .....

>From the Westmorland Rootsweb List, with kind permission of the poster............... The following comes from page 4 of issue #172 July 6, 1883 of the Ambleside Lakes Herald A Westmorland Claimant A somewhat rare circumstance is about being brought to light in the neighbouring county of Cumberland, or rather in respect of a considerable property in that county representing some thousands of pounds sterling, but so small that the affair is never likely to bear any analogy to the Tichborne case. It seems that many years ago there dwelt in the neighbourhood of Whitehaven a well known landed proprietor and butcher who amassed considerable wealth, but eventually went the way of all flesh leaving behind him the whole of his real property to find a new owner as best it could. The heir at law Mr. William WILSON, a Westmorland man, being nowheres to be found, after a lapse of time and no tidings being heard of his whereabouts, and not being married when last heard of, it was decided that he was dead and had left no issue, and the property was accordingly passed to the next heir, an man named FISHER who it appears was a lunatic, but died and in 1873 a portion of the property, consisting of houses, etc.. in the town of Cockermouth, was sold by auction at the Globe Inn, in that town and realized between £3,000 and £4,000. In the meantime, the missing William WILSON, who was an engineer of no mean abilities had been pursuing his avocation in different parts of France - he drove the first locomotive engine ever run in that country - in happy ignorance of the good fortune which was only awaiting him, but as age advanced he retired from his profession and settled down in a quiet villa residence at Garston, without any trouble to disturb his quiet, until he by chance glanced at a Liverpool paper in which was a reprint from the Carlisle Journal of March 27th last, when he at once found that he himself was the real "Simon Pure" and accordingly set about to regain his rights, which in less than another year would have been lost to him for ever. The first thing to be done was to enter an injunction in Chancery, and then to procure the required proofs. Mr. WILSON, who is 80 years of age has been over a great portion of West Cumberland, and has succeeded in obtaining everything that is required, with the exception of the church register of the marriage of his grandfather who is supposed to have been married either in Westmorland or in the confines of Cumberland some time between 1750 and 1764 or shortly after that date. Mr. WILSON was at Ambleside last week, and also Grasmere, to examine the registers but could glean nothing. It would not be out of place for those who have access to the registers of churches to look over them carefully, as anyone making the discovery required is sure of a substantial reward; the marriage was between John WILSON and Hannah BRAGG. If any information on the subject be forthcoming it may be communicated to Mr. J. WILSON, Windermere, who will at once attend to it. David Leverton

Off to Western Australia for tomorrows young Birthday girl Happy Happy Birthday to Barbara (Georges better half) Lots of Love and Hugs Dave, Pam and Nikki .