Leeds news on today's date (Sept 5) in

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 05 Sep, 2012 8:56 am

The following are from John Mayhall’s 'Annals of Yorkshire'.September 5 1864. “The first annual competition of the Leeds Regatta Club took place on the river Aire, opposite Kirkstall Abbey. The weather was very unfavourable, there being about half a gale of wind blowing, and clouds of dust being hurled about…to the great discomfort and grievous annoyance of the spectators…however, the regatta, as a first attempt was well attended…The last and most laughable competition was for a fine pork pig, which was suspended in a box at the end of a greased horizontal pole, extending for some length over the stream, at a point where there is some seven feet of water. Two youths entered the list for this prize, and appeared to be almost starved to death, denuded, as they were, of everything but a singlet…The second competitor--Master Hunter, of Mirfield…succeeded…in releasing the trigger of the box, but so overbalanced himself that he dropped into the river before the pig. Porky was at first evidently astonished to find himself in the insalubrious and incongruous element, but he soon recovered himself, turned his nose shoreward, and by swimming as nimbly as a duck, succeeded in reaching terra firma, about as soon as his pursuer. Master Hunter…soon followed up, and bagged his prize”.That is only a small part of the full report with even its part about the pig being much longer, but I thought it may be amusing to note what I have. I thought the pig bit is hilarious, but doubt that would be allowed today under at least Health & Safety rules!September 5 1873. “Public sales took place this day for the first time in a Hide and Skin Market which had been opened in the spacious arches recently built underneath the extended cab stand at the New Station, Leeds”.Edit added moments after posting. Oops, the thread title should read 'Leeds news on today's date (Sept 5) in 1864 and 1873'. Perhaps a mod can please amend the title.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Wed 05 Sep, 2012 5:19 pm

Very interesting that Leodian Leodian wrote: the insalubrious and incongruous element, I've heard some different descriptions of the Aire but thats a new one lol, and "a fine pork pig" - is there any other type of pig lol

HelenG · Post by **HelenG** » Wed 05 Sep, 2012 6:56 pm

Never mind Health & Safety I think Animal Rights would have stepped in. Poor piggie!

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 05 Sep, 2012 9:29 pm

Cheers BIG N and HelenG. Yes, for the poor pig this little piggie went to market comes to mind!

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Thu 06 Sep, 2012 12:15 am

It sounds more like something from The Simpsons than something I'd expect to see in Leeds.It must have been extremely cold in the river even if it were a heat wave.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 06 Sep, 2012 1:20 am

BarFly wrote: It sounds more like something from The Simpsons than something I'd expect to see in Leeds.It must have been extremely cold in the river even if it were a heat wave. The Simpsons 'Spiderpig'!

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 06 Sep, 2012 7:29 pm

"...there being about half a gale of wind blowing..." Strange turn of phrase.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 06 Sep, 2012 7:58 pm

drapesy wrote: "...there being about half a gale of wind blowing..." Strange turn of phrase. Yes it is an interesting phrase drapesy. The change in the style of usage of language fascinates me, which can be quicker than thought if an old word gets a new usage.

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Thu 06 Sep, 2012 8:02 pm

A gale is defined (though differently by different people) as a wind speed range (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale ) . On the Beaufort scale a whole gale is 55-63 mph, so today a half gale could presumably be 26-32 mph. Though the ranges then might have been defined differently