BLACKBALL NOTES.

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10520, 27 January 1903, Page 4

BLACKBALL NOTES.

(o)— - By the courtesy of the gentleman whose name appears at the conclusion of the poem below, I am able to present my readers with a graphic and Bret Hartean picture of the "Sorrows of Satan"— the Council and Blackball, of course, with every apology to Miss Marie Corelli. The obstacles of Blackball will soon be on the move, And then our little city will develop and improve. We've had a heavy struggle to keep along the ridge, But all should go on smoothly- they've started on the bridge. I'll tell you of some points though, that really are not bosh, That came beneath my notice when crossing the bye-wash. The first that I can think of, was crossing to a ball, And of the funny actions I will tell you all. We toddled to the stream that blocks the beach-way tracks, Then had to take our ladies across upon I our backs. You know how very pleasant is walking in bare feet, And when you're double weighted, I tell you its a treat. The next was only lately — the night m\is dark and cold, When three or four young lassies made a start so bold, And having reached the ferry, they found the man in bed, So had to go right back again, tired — weary - dead, We cannot blame the boatman not rising at their call ; He's only lately married and quite forgot us all ; We never have had cause before,' to say aVordto him, • So let us all forgiTe him though he left us there to swim. My next one is a Scotty, who sought •'\ Australia's shore, He'd such a nasty time of it, he swears •'i he'll come no more For the river it was flooded, and the steamer was to go, But Scotty said he'd catch it or bust the : bloomin' show. "So he took his wife and daughters and a very old, old friend, Who wished to see them safely reach the other end. When Seotty boldly walked into the current strong and deep, His good old pal %vent with him to keep him on his feet. The wife and girls came after— there is no cause for mirth, Because that blessed current got tangled in their skirts. I was close enough to serious, but though that Scotsman's pluck The ladies safely landed, tho' they were like dead duck. One more point vrill finish all that I've to T'is about a noble captain and two girls the other day. irThey were coming on a visit to some " •;, friends here in the town; But in our poor old ferry it ldoked as tho' they'd drown. This ought to shake our Council up for look what it would cost, To have a naval funeral for the hero who was lost. So Richard urge them onward with bridge and railway quick And then we will be able to sec our gallant Dick. j For we know it's no use asking him to come up here again. Until it all is finished and he can talce the train. S GrREEx, Blackball. I regret to say that Mr Ben Wayland is suffering from a severe attack of inflammation of the lungs. Dr Millington is attending him and and doing everything possible for the sufferers relief; the latest bulletin is, happily, recovering. On Friday lust during the morning shift, an old and respected servant of the Blackball Coal Company was killed at his post in the mine. It was the horse "Donald," Poor Donald, it appears, stopped to argue with a runaway set of trucks at the bottom of !No 9 heading. He had been reading, perhaps, the Smith and Trestrail encounter and so thought he'd try a little for himself. The argument was, however, of short duration, Runaway trucks, down a one in thirty grade' are as dangerous to tackle as a woman with new feathers in her hat, shelterless in a thunderstorm, at least poor old faithful Donald found it so for, without lingering in pain, he handed in the number of his mess. The whistle will blow and Donald will not hear it. Mr Michael Blewman returned to Blackball last week. His friends are very glad to see him after his long and dangerous illness.