DEATH OF "JOE GARGERY".

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13382, 3 April 1912, Page 3

DEATH OF "JOE GARGERY".

At tho very time when the l)ick;ns j centenary -was being celebrated oji February 7, states tho London "D-m'.v Telegraph," tho death occurred in tho village, of Chalk, near Gad's Hill, o* 'vu% j Oscar Mullender, whose personality and occupation were, writes correspondent, undoubtedly in the mind of Dick mi:--when he described tho character of .f'K> Gtirgery, in his forgo, in "Great jO\m:fi~ tations." Mr. Mullcndar, who was in his seventy-third year, was regarded as i the highest Dickensiau authority • . the neighbourhood, for ha had the :ul..n;tage of close personal association o. ■•}) the novelist, who spent many hours w> n him in the forge, while he,was at wn,k, j and in his grounds at Gad's Hill. ';. tho organisation of local sports Mr .V inlander at one period took the chiof pa it together with Dickens, who on one occasion gave him a present to keep in memory of him. Mr Miillender was i!;o source of a great deal*of information contained in many publications a:/ait Dickensiand. H© was a very intelligent man, and made some feat'.i:v.s <rf Dicken'3 works a special study. Tho forgo in which he worked for tho gr ' ler part of his lifetime has beeii iii t tv» possession of his family for ai'OMt 1-.0 years. Mr. Mullender took a:i act.:ic part in public affairs in the distn :z, a very few residents can recall-ai! nui'.'-.-.t at which Mr. Mullendor did nnr. ar-t : s foreman of tho jury. He was the last parish constable before the K-?ut Conn; y Constabulary, was instituted.