Is the Number Thirteen Lucky or Unlucky?

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue X, 8 September 1900, Page 447

Is the Number Thirteen Lucky or Unlucky?

The dread of the number thirteen wii’. receive some confirmation from a small fact in connection with the death of poor Andrew Marshall Porter, the son of the distinguishes! lawyer who is Master of the Rolls in Ireland, who was recently killed at the front (says "M.A.P.”). When the early reverses of the war were announced he got very* restless, ami constantly was heard to exclaim that he would like to go out and help in the lighting. There were many difficulties in the way. ami one of the greatest was the devoted affection of his father. But the young fellow' was resolute, was finally enrolled in the Yeomanry, and was killed. The little fact to which I allude about the poor young fellow is that when he was called to the bar there were thirteen on the list, and he was the thirteenth. It is somewhat surprising, indeed, to find the number of people who are beset by this dread of 13. The late Mr Parnell once absolutely refused to introduce a Bill in Parliament because it consisted of thirteen clauses, and insisted that anothei clause should be added. Mr Pope, the great Parliamentary counsel, who is one of the most clear - headed and broadminded of men. was once offered a very convenient house in Brighton. He at once refuseci it. tempting though the offer was. Its number was 13. And yet then* are just as many instances in which thirteen could be proved to be lucky as there are to the contrary. Thirteen was the number of the cabin of the one man. either of the passengers or the crew, who was saved when the Drummond (’astle was wrecked off Ushant, in June, 1596. The story of John Hadfield is also testimony to the occasional blessings of the much-abused number. John died in tin* year 1770. when he had entered upon his 102nd year, but he had had a narrow escape from severe punishment as far back as the* reign of William ami Mary, lie was military sentry at Windsor, ami was accused of having fallen asleep at his post. Hadfield strenuously denied the charge, ami maintain'd his innocence by the statement that he had distinctly heard the clock of St. Paul’s at midnight strike thirteen. Witnesses were produced to prove that the clock on the night in question had struck thirteen, and Hadfield was acquitted. The incident was. by his express directions, recorded on his tomb.