ROSA EMMA CARLILE
SAD CYCLE ACCIDENT
A PUPIL TEACHER KILLED.
A terribly sad accident happened on Wednesday afternoon, which had a fatal result on Saturday night. A party of three, Miss Rose Emma Carlile, and Miss Mary Vickers, teachers at the Newbury Girls' National School, Miss Gertrude Alice Harvey, a young lady employed in the establishment of Messrs. Jackson and Co., Market-place, set out on their bicycles with the intention of visiting the strawberry gardens at Ashford Hill. It was a lovely afternoon, and the girls were anticipating a very pleasant time, but it was cut short by the accident which happened whilst riding down the hill towards Hyde End.
What happened will never be clearly known, for the only person with a fair knowledge of the circumstances is dead. Vickers was leading the way down the hill, Miss Harvey and Miss Carlile following at intervals of six or seven yards. Harvey was about to dismount when her cycle was struck violently by that of Miss Carlile, and the former fell violently with the cycle on top of her. Fortunately she was not injured, and getting clear of the machines. assisted Miss Vickers in coming to the assistance of Miss Carlile. She was lying on the ground about two yards away, quit unconscious and blood flowing from her ear and nose. Her companions realised the serious nature of the case, and shouted for assistance. This was forthcoming, and the injured girl was carried into a neighbouring cottage, and Dr. Martin. of Thatcham, quickly reepondod to a message. Under him guidance Miss Carlile was removed to her home in the Buckingham-road. Dr. Hickman here attended her, but from the first the case was hopeless, the base of the skull being fractured. She never recovered consciousness, and died on Saturday night at eleven o'clock.
The deceased was nearly twenty years of age, and was a pupil teacher at the Girls' National School, having nearly completed her apprenticeship. She was of a bright and vivacious disposition. and so promising a life at the entrance to womanhood being cut short in so sad a manner has aroused widespread feelings of sorrow.
Especially amongst the children in the class taught by the deceased, and indeed the whole of the school, as was shown by their attendance at the funeral on Tuesday afternoon. Reference was made to the sad event at the children’s service on Sunday afternoon,. and the juvenile congregation stood silently whilst the “Dead March" was played on the organ.
THE INQUEST.
An inquest was necessitated and this was held on Monday evening at the National Schools, by Mr J. C. Pinniger, Deputy Coroner, acting on behalf of Dr. Watson, who was prevented from attending owing to the serious illness of his wife. Mr. W. A. Renshaw was foreman of the jury.
The first witness was Miss Gertrude Alice Harvey, a cousin of the deceased, who gave evidence of identification, and stated that on Wednesday afternoon, she, together with deceased, and Miss Mary Vickers, went out for a bicycle ride with the intention of visiting the strawberry gardens. On the journey out, they reached Hyde End, and started to descend the hill, not a very steep one. Miss Vickers was leading, witness came next, and deceased last. They were six or seven yards apart. When they got half way down the hill, witness attempted to get off, when she use struck by the bicycle of the deceased, throwing her to the ground, with both bicycles on the top of her. Deceased was lying about two yards away . Witness said,"What have you done?” Deceased did not reply, and witness could then see that she was unconscious. She called for help, and a gentleman came from a shop by the side of the road and carried deceased to Mr. Ryan's cottage. Blood was coming from her ear.
The Coroner— Have you cycled with her before?'— Once before.
Was she accustomed to ride?—She learned about two months ago.
The Foreman—Did she make no exclamation at all ?—No.
Were the brakes of her bicycle in good order ? Yes. it was a new one, and she had ridden it before. You have never heard that she suffered from heart affection?—No.
Miss Mary Vickers was present, and corroborated the last witness's evidence.
Dr. Richard Hickman said was sent for on Wednesday evening to see deceased, who had just arrived in a carriage, in the company of Dr. Martin, of Thatcham. Dr. Martin helped witness to remove her to bed. She was totally unconscious, and remained so, she never rallied the slightest, and died about 11 o'clock on Saturday night. He was perfectly satisfied that the cause of death was fracture of the base of her of the skull. There was no hope from the first.
In answer to the Coroner witness said that the skin was not broken.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death caused by a fall from a bicycle.
The Foremen said the jury wished him to express their heartfelt sympathy with the mother in her sad bereavement.
The Coroner said he was sure they would all agree in that expression of sympathy.
THE FUNERAL.
The Parish Church was filled on Tuesday afternoon with a sympathetic congregation to take part in the Burial Service. Included were a hundred girls of the National School, and the teachers in mourning. Each child carried a bunch of lilies and white flowers, which, later on they dropped into the grave. The body was met at the west door by the Rector (Rev. Lionel Majendie), who read the opening sentences of the Burial Service. "Shepherd, good and gracious," from the Children's Hymn Book, was sung, and also "Lead, kindly light." Then the body was borne out of church, and conveyed to the cemetery, the children following four abreast. They gathered around the grave, and at the close of the sorrowful ceremony, dropped their flowers on the coffin which contained the remains of their teacher, who had met her death in so lamentabie a manner.
The mourners were Mrs. Carlile. Miss G. Harvey, Miss Mary Vickers, Mr. Bert and Harry Payne, &c. The coffin was covered with beautiful floral offerings of affection and sympathy. including those from the following:- Teachers and scholars of the National School, Rector and Mrs. Majendie, mother and sister, Mary Vickers and Gertrude Harvey, Aunt Jane, Grannie and Aunt Pollie, Bert and Harry Payne, Cousin Harry and Lottie, Mrs. Vockins, Gertrude and Bertha, Mrs. Morton and Bert, Mr. and Mrs. North, Annie Thorne. Miss L. Barnes, Edith Fabry, Lily Foster, Rose Bolton, Cousin Dick, teachers of St. John's School, Misses Smith. Miss Oxford, Auntie Emeline. Miss R. Harrison, Miss Staples, Charlie, Minnie, and Rosie, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Payne.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. W. J. Dike, Newbury.
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