People Talked About

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XXII, 30 May 1903, Page 1482

People Talked About

A Melancholy Accident. The recent terrible accident at Waihi mine, where two men met their death by falling down No. 5 shaft, will be fresh in the memory of all our readers. We this week give portraits of the two vic finis. -The late Mr. Cornthwaite was the son of Mr. Cornthwaite. of Bombay. Hr was shift boss of No. 5 shaft, and a most

reliable man: and. like Mr. Parry, highly respected by all who knew him. He was the son-in-jaw of Mr. Flett, of the Rob Roy Hotel. Waihi. Mr. Parry, who was a universal fa vourite in Waihi. was a splendid specimen of colonial manhood. He stood 6ft 4in in his socks, and was built in pro portion. Both men are deeply regretted in the district. O o o o o The Mayor of an Important Suburb of Welllng-ton. We give in another portion of this is sue three pages of pictures of the important Wellington suburb of Pet one. Mr. Mothes is Mayor, and it is owing much to his ability that the borough has progressed so rapidly of late. o o o o o A Strange Story. There has been a good deal of talk about the conferring the rank of FieldMarshal upon General von Hahnke, whose chief claim to the honour seems to be his having lost his son. the hero of the unfortunate affair on board the Hohenzollern some years ago (says “Modern Society”). The truth about this sad occurrence is known to very few. Lieutenant von Hahnke was lost at sea off Odde. his bicycle pointing to a fall from the rocks. There were whispers of a qua.‘•••el on board the Im perial yacht, and tor weeks the Kaiser went about with a black eye. the result, it was said, of a fading rope. Later on the body was found, ami by His Majesty’s comma ml a handsome stone was erected to the memory of the unfortunate lieutenant, who. many people said, had committed suicide in consequence of having forgotten himself. Hero is the truth about the sensational story: The young officer was an ard -nt cyclist. a* x d practised this sport on the dock of tne Hohenzollern. although the Kaiser had forbidden it. Ono div. as the yacht was lying off Oddo. His Majesty caught young Hahnke at his favourite pastime, and high words ensued. Both lost their temper, the lieutenant telling his Monarch that his own nobility was older than the Hohenzollern Royaltv. Then came the catastrophe; the young man returned a blow, and he knew his career was ended. He got ashore in the gen'

eral confusion, taking his bicycle—the cause of all the mischief —with him. But he did not commit suicide; he lay low till the Hohenzollern had left Norway—after the bicycle had been found smashed to pieces and the body been searched for for days—and then made off to America, where he is alive and flourishing at the present time. When, some weeks after the catastrophe, a corpse was found near Odde which was said to be Hahnke’s, and buried accordingly. His Majesty asked General von Hahnke if he would not go to his son’s funeral. The officer replied, “Hew do I know it is my son’s body? No, 1 shall not go.” And the new .Field-Marshal of to-day thinks, sagely enough, “A -”.ve dog is better than a dead lion.”

Perhaps the President Was Pleased

Prince Edward of York, our future monarch, has a very high opinion of his own importance. A few weeks ago the Prince of Wales, with his eldest son by his side, was turning over the leaves of a magazine, when he came across a page of portraits of well-known people of the day. In the centre of the page were two splendid pictures of President Roosevelt and Prince Edward of York, side by side. ‘ “ “Oh, daddy, look at me!’’ cried Prince Edward, naturally delighted at seeing his own little self among so many celebrities. “But, daddy, who is that gentleman next to me? What a kind-looking man he is. Is he a king, daddy?” “No. he is not a king, my boy,"’ answered the Prince of Wales, laughing. “He is. however, much greater and more powerful than many kings. His name is honoured all over the world. That man is Preesident Roosevelt, of the United States of America.” “Oh!” quietly uttered Prince Edward, wearing a somewhat thoughtful look; and then, animatedly: “Daddy, won’t the American people be proud when they see their President’s photograph next to mine?”

A Rising- Actor

Mr. 11. Hill is a New- Zealand boy, who is making rapid strides in his profession. His performance in “Sweet Nell” stamps him as an actor of uncommon merit, and he will doubtless be seen to equal advantage in future roles.