Schwabe death stuns village

[Stanley]

Schwabe death stuns village
Harold Cunliffe
May 03, 2007
THIS week's interesting images have been reproduced from an album of Rhodes related photographs owned by Bob Chapman.
Passionate about the village where he was born and bred, Mr Chapman has compiled a photographic record of the area from days gone by. Always on the look out for other images he would be delighted to hear from readers who have pictures of village life which could be added to his collection.
If you can help Bob in search for old photos, contact Bygone days at the Fountain Street office.
More than a 100 years ago townsfolk were saddened at the news of the sudden death of Edmund Salis Schwabe while on holiday in Canada.
Flags were hoisted at half mast at the Rhodes Works, Middleton Liberal and Conservative Clubs, Rhodes New Bleach Works (Messrs O. Ashworth & Co.), Rhodes bowling green and the cricket ground.
Their mood changed to disbelief when the full details were later published in this newspaper. Salis Schwabe the senior partner of the extensive Rhodes Works which employed more than a 1,000 workers, lived at Rycroft House, Cheetham Hill. Eighteen months prior to his untimely death he suffered an attack of gout and depression, a condition that would result in his demise.
Mr Schwabe, a well known and respected employer by the workforce for his ability to supervise the day to day affairs of the factory, he was frequently seen with his two brothers, constantly on hand to enlarge the business making it a success. To lift his spirits he decided on taking in a world tour. Visiting India, China and Japan in the company of a companion and a medical advisor.
Salis, aged 50, a widower for 20 years, was on the homeward journey staying at the Windsor Hotel, Montreal. Early in the morning of 4 August 1891 a gentleman occupying the adjoining apartment heard the sound of a single gunshot. On entering Mr Schwabe's room he found him in a state of unconsciousness with a bullet wound to his head.
Despite immediate medical treatment he expired soon afterwards, he left a daughter to mourn his loss. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of suicide while in a temporary state of insanity.
Edmund Salis Schwabe will be remembered for his generosity; Little Heaton School, the now demolished reading room and library are testimonies.
A quiet and unassuming man he was keen to promote education, he gave a generous subscription towards establishing a library at Owen's College, Manchester.
Mr Yussef El Gammal Pasha, who weighed in at 35 stones, was a very important customer for the firm. He would place orders that would keep the print works busy for months. On his visits the company had a problem of finding a chair that would take his weight.
Each company he visited had a custom made chair. One day upon leaving the C.P.A. office in Oxford Street, Manchester, he hailed a horse drawn cab. Climbing into the cab the floor gave way with his weight, the noise of breaking wood startled the horse and it bolted down Oxford Street with Gammal Pasha's feet in contact with the street. To avoid injury the poor man had to run as fast as he could, a nearby policeman came to the rescue.