The Report of My Death was an Exaggeration Local History
By Roderick Martin
On Tuesday 5th June 1906 the national newspapers announced the death, whilst on a journey to South Africa, of the celebrity clergyman, the Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, novelist, and writer of the well-known hymns ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ and ‘Now the Day is Over’. Meanwhile back in Lew Trenchard, Devon, the eccentric squire and rector of St. Peter’s Church, was still going about his earthly parish duties. It later transpired that the confusion arose when newspapers in London received by telegram a report from South Africa about the death of Edward Sabine Baring-Gould of Guildford who was the rector’s cousin. Thus, Sabine Baring-Gould joined a long list of celebrities whose obituaries have appeared prematurely in the press, the most famous being Mark Twain, whose well-known quote was ‘the report of my death was an exaggeration’.
Tavistock Gazette their weekly edition did not appear until the following Friday by which time they had already scooped the real story from under the noses of the nationals. According to their account, initial
Fortunately for the
suspicions that the story was not correct were confirmed early on the Tuesday morning when a local journalist met the rector’s son-in-law, Mr. Rowe, who told him the report was news to him, and that he had no knowledge of the rector going to South Africa. Then a Mr. Perry called into their office and said that he had dined with the rector on the previous day at the ‘Blue Lion’ at the annual meeting of Lewdown Friendly Society. Immediately telegrams were sent off to the national press informing them, and the world, that the rector was still alive.
On the Tuesday the local post office at Lewdown was to see one of its busiest days ever. At first there were was a deluge of telegrams of condolence and
sympathy addressed to the rector’s widow, and
32
later another deluge of telegrams to the rector with messages
congratulating him for still being alive. It was also a busy day for Sabine Baring-Gould, as
“
..being killed off”
he felt obliged to reply to the many telegrams, as well as to talk to reporters who wanted to know how he felt after ‘being killed off by the national newspapers’. It was recorded that the rector took it all in humour although later
he was to write that it had been a most unpleasant experience. When life had settled back to normal the rector was able to recall some of the more amusing aspects. He had been offered £10 by a London newspaper for writing a critique of his own obituary notices. This offer, of course, he declined. A well-known benevolent society pleaded that he should send a contribution to its funds as a thanks- offering for not being dead as reported. Various firms offered to sell his wife elegant widow’s caps and mourning dresses.
(congratulations) on not being dead”
Several curates wrote expressing an interest in the ‘recently vacant post at Lew Trenchard’. The oddest communication was one from a tradesman,
congratulating the rector on not being dead, and enclosing a new type of patent razor, which was being promoted, for him to try. ‘Did this tradesman really want me to try the razor and risk cutting my throat
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