The Rushden Echo and Argus, 17th August 1951, transcribed by Gill Hollis

He remembers factory fire at Rushden

When Mr. G. S. Hartwell, of Swineshead, Lincs., read our recent story of Cave’s factory fire (July 19th 1901) he recalled seeing the black smoke as he walked over from Grove Street, Higham Ferrers, where he resided at the time.

One of Cave’s employees, Mr. Hartwell was also a member of Rushden Temperance Band.

In a letter he says that, realising the danger to Alfred Street School, where the band practised, he and Sid Gibbs, another bandsman, removed all the band property, including the music scores, and dumped it near Duck Street, afterwards moving it to Mr. Gibb’s house in Cave’s Row (now North Street), the fire having spread to the school.

In 1905 Mr. Hartwell left for Swineshead, where at the age of 78 he still sings in the parish church choir.