Cricket 1910

O c t . 2 7 , 1 9 1 0 . CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 445 OBITUARY. M b . R . N . A steblky . Mr. Richard N. Asterley, whose death occurred on September 28th, at Bensonhurst, New York, was bora at Llanimyneck, Mont­ gomeryshire, on Octob'r ‘29th, 1867, and was educated at Oswestry Grammar School. On settling in the United States he played with the old New Jersey Athletic Club aud the Knickerbocker A.C., and was one ot the original members of the Bensonhurst A.C. He was a useful all-round cricketer, and one of the most popular players in the New York district. At the time of his death he was a member of the Manhatten C.C. F. F. K. T he V en . A bchdeacon B athcbst . The Ven. Archdeacon Frederick Bathurst, who was born on March 7th, 1827, died on September 22nd at 7, Court!and Terrace, Kensington, and was buried at Holwell, Hitchin, of which place he was Rector from 1884 to 1902. He played for Winchester in 1845, and opened the innings against both Eton and Harrow: the former match resulted in the famous tie, and the latter was won by Winchester by 12 runs. In his four innings the deceased made 9 and 28 v. Harrow and 9 and 14 v. Eton, thus averaging 15 an innings. Three years later he was a member of the Oxford team which beat Cambridge - on the Magdalen ground, Oxford—by 23 runs, his own scores being 13 and 7. He was cox of his co'.lege boat in 1848, and, like his brothers “ R. A.” and “ S. E .,” was a first-rate chess-player. He had been Arch­ deacon of Bedford since 1873 and resigned early this year, when he was presented with a purse of £222 and an address by the Lord Lieutenaut of the County, Lord St. John of Bletsoe. He was cousin of Sir Frederick Bath'irst, the famous bowler. J. D. B. Mb. F. H. B ikley . Mr. Francis Hornby Birley, J.P., of the Winchester Eleven of 1867 and 1868, died at his residence, Claridge’s, Lingfield, Surrey, on August 1st, aged 60. He was born on March 14th, 1850. In 1868, when he headed the batting averages with over 28 runs an innings and was second in the bowling with sixty-six wickets at a cost of 9-07 runs each, it was said of him, “ Possesses excellent judgment as captain; a clever slow bowler, and an excellent field anywhere; hits freely, and, though unfortunate at first, score! largely at the end of the season.” In August of the same year he played at Shrewsbury for Gentlemen of Cheshire against Gentlemen of Shropshire and scored 106 not ou t: Messrs. A. N. and E. K. Hornby made 201 and 177 respectively in the same innings, which amounted to 548. In his two matches with Eton he scored only 14 runs in four innings, but took thirteen wickets : Eton won by an innings and 10 runs in 1867, and in 1868, in the last match played in Meads, by eight wickets. Proceeding to University College, Oxford, he appeared in the Fresh­ men’s match of 1869 but did not obtain his Blue. He played for Lancashire three times in 1870 and once in 1872, and in 1879 ap­ peared for Surrey against Middlesex at the Oval. By profession he was a barrister. J. D . B. M b . A. E. F ubniss . Mr. Arthur Edward Furniss, of 2, Wilkin­ son Street, Sheffield, died on July 13th last. In his younger days he was a well-known cricketer, playing with success against the Ali England Eleven and in other important matches in his district, but he was never chosen to represent his county. He will be remembered chiefly for his score of 50 not out fur XVIII. of Sheffield v. An England Eleven in 1859, made against the bowling of Bickley, Reynolds, Hayward, Griffith and Wells. It was the highest score of the match and one that was largely instrumental in the victory of his side by seventeen wickets. In 1860 he made his only appearance at Lord’s, for Eleven Colts v. M.C.C., when he scored 12 and 0. He is described in Scores and Biographies as having been “ a good steady bat, and in tbe field generally point.” Height 5 ft. 8J ins. and weight about 10 st. 5 lbs.” He was born at Sheffield May 9th, 1833, and resided all his life at his native place, where he was in business as an electro plate manufacturer. A. C.'D. Mb. G . G ibson . Mr. George Gibson, one of the oldest Australian cricketers, died at Carlton on September 5th in his eighty-fourth year. His first appearance in a match of note was for Victoria v. New South Wales on the Melbourne ground in December, 1865, when he scored 17 and Victoria won by an innings and 20 runs. In the match between the same colonies (as they then were) on the same ground in March, 1872, he made 41— the highest score in tbe game for either side —and in recognition of his skill was presented with a bat made from a willow-tree grown in his own garden. At Sydney in 1872-3 he made 32 and 15 not out, for performing which feat he received a silver cup. His batting figures for first-class matches (including XT. of Victoria v. XIII. of Australia in 1872-3) were 14 innings, once not out, highest score 41, total 214, average 16 46. Writing in the Australasian, “ Felix” (Mr. T. Horan) said of him :— “ He was noted for carrying a silver snuff-box, and at the fall of a wicket or when a long stand was bc-ing made by opponents he invariably handed round the snuff-box for ‘ luck.’ Prior to tbe departure of the 1878 Australian team for England he presented his snuff-box to D. W. Gregory, the captain of that team. It is believed that the snuff-box was lost somewhere in England during the tour of the 1878 team. Gibson was also noted for using a pick-hindle instead of a bat at practice, and when he was in the service of Briscoe and Co., the well-known ironmongers, he often practised with his pick-handle in Briscoe’s Lane during the luncheon hour. He had great patience and a fine defence, and in his prime was justly regarded as a very rel:able batsman. After making a stroke he had a habit of ‘ nursing ’ his bat in his arms. When the renowned bowler, Alfred Shaw, male his first appearance on the Melbourne ground, in 1876-7, he sent down a few balls to Gibson at practice, and tbe veteran stated that he had never previously played against a bowler who was so deceptive in flight as Alfred Shaw. For the Melbourne Cricket Club Gibson played many fine innings, and, in addition to his ability as a batsman, he was a capable wicket-keeper. He kept wicket for Victoria against W. G. Grace’s team in 1873-4, when Victoria won easily, and B. B. Cooper covered himself with glory by making 84. All through his long life he was a genuine cricket enthusiast. He captained the Melbourne C.C. first eleven for several seasons. He played for Victoria in the first match against South Australia in 1874, on the Adelaide Oval, when the wickets there were bare of grass and anything but favour­ able to the development of batsmen. In the v»ry early sixties Gibson played for the old Royal Park Club, and he also played for Carlton and Richmond. In his declining years he took to bowls, and considered it— as indeed it is—an excellent game. For many years he had been an ardent grower of roses, and when old cricket comrades called to see him at his chemist’s shop in Lygon Street, Carlton, he took quite a pride in describing the beauties of his favourite flower. At the time of his death he had attained the ripe age of 83 years.” “ The funeral took place on Tuesday, September 6th. Many old identities were present at the graveside, and the pall­ bearers were Messis. W. W. Gaggin, J. V. Dunkinson, E. Simmonds, D. Scott, George levers, H. Elliott, and Superintendent Brown. Mr. Dunkinson came specially from Narre Warren, and Mr. Atyeo from Tooradin, to see tbe last of the old warrior, who had been a faithful friend to cricket ever since his young days in old Jamaica, where he was born.” Mb. R. H alford . Mr. Robert Halford, J.P., President of the Nottinghamshire County C.C , died sudden’y at Nottingham on September 23rd in his seventieth year. M r . A. J arman . Mr. Alfred Jarman died of cancer, at bis residence in Hampden Street, Little Horton, Bradfi rd, on March 30th last, at the age of CO. Mr. Jarman, who was born at Hunslet, near Leeds, was in his younger days a well- kno.vn local cricketer. He never represented his county, but in 1874 be played for York- shi e United against Derbyshire, at Leeds, sco ing 26 and 9, In 1878 he played for 18 of Hunslet against the first Australian team, but was dismissed in each innings without scoring. Since 1876 Mr. Jarman had resided iu Bradford, and for many seasons played with the Bradford Club, and was captain of the team which won the Yorkshire League Cup in 1893. A C. D. M e . C. H. L eap . Mr. Cecil Huntington Leaf, F.R.C.S , who died of cancer at Eastbourne early in October, was in the Marlborough Eleven of 1882, and met with considerable success as a slow left-hand bowler, taking fifty wickets at an average of less than eleven runs each. He aleo totalled 131 runs in twelve innings, with 54 as his highest score. In 1883, having-gone up to Trinity, he played in the Cambridge Freshmen’s match but failed to score in his one innings, and took only two wickets. For the Seniors in 1884 he failed to get either a run or a wicket, and he was never tried in the Light Blue team. He was born at Streatham on February 19th, 1865, and was related to Messrs. H., F. W. and H. M. Leaf. J . N .P .