slowly
recovered from their concussions and contusions. At the inquest, the
verdict was "Accidental Death."

On the 23rd December, 1903, shortly after five o'clock p.m., the civic
supply of electricity in Bristol failed, and shops, business premises,
and houses depending upon it for light, were plunged into darkness in
all parts of the city. This was soon known to be due to a fire having
broken out at Temple Back Generating Station, and the glare in the sky
suggested that the outbreak had reached serious proportions. The Bristol
Post Office has a full installation of electric light; and the failure
could not have occurred at a more inconvenient time, as the pressure
incidental to Christmas was being experienced. Fortunately, not only for
the Post Office, but also for the general public, the large staff
engaged in the interior of the building was able to cope with the
extensive work before them practically without interruption, as
throughout the whole of the department, gas is still laid on, and,
beyond the shifting of one or two desks to within reasonable distance of
gas jets, no inconvenience was caused after the burners and
fittings--somewhat out of order through non-usage--were put to rights.
The public hall, however, suffered most, as, when thus robbed of the
electric light at one of the busiest periods of the evening, only
scattered gas jets were available, and they had to be supplemented by
lighted candles set at intervals around the semi-circular counter. Some
of the candles were in primitive holders, stuck in blocks of wood, and
plugged firmly with nails; others were even without these supports. The
Counter Officers had, therefore, to work under difficulties; but they
got through their manifold duties expeditiously. The greatest
inconvenience was occasioned at St. James's Parish Hall, which was being
temporarily used as a Post Office. Here, there was no gas service
available, and when the electric lights "gave out," the staff had to
scurry hither and thither to get illuminants, which took the form of
postmen's lamps, table lamps, candles in improvised holders, and such
few hurricane lamps as were procurable at the shops, in the general run
on them. The electric light was fully restored in the evening of the
next day. This fire recalls an occasion when at St. Martin's-le-Grand,
the gas supply failed, and the largest Post Office business of the world
was placed at a standstill. The officials, however, were equal t