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THE SENSATION OF the week in New Britain has been the resignation of the matron of the New Britain hospital, Miss C. Adelaide Sewell. This is, strange to say, not the culmination of the recent allopath vs. homeopath troubles, nor in any way connected with them. The resignation was the result of an attempt to aid a friend, which attempt ended badly and the facts became public.
Miss Sewell has been with the New Britain hospital somewhere about a year and a half. She came from Toronto, Can., at the time the hospital was opened in the autumn of ’98, and has since been in charge. She has given good satisfaction, though the allopaths claimed that she, being educated on homeopathic lines, sided with the homeopaths in the troubles between the two schools.
Last February there came to the hospital from Springfield, Mass., a new nurse, a “Miss Bliss.” She was a bright young woman of prepossessing ways, and immediately gained favor with the attending physicians for her skill and cleverness in handling patients.
Miss Sewell introduced her as a friend and there was no comment other than that favorable to “Miss Bliss.” But locked in the hearts of thfese two women was a secret which has now come out and made the situation of both very uncomfortable.
It seems, as Miss Sewell explains, that “Miss Bliss” was really Mrs. Peter Markey of Springfield, and. that her husband is now in the Massachusetts city. He and his wife did not care to go to housekeeping immediately after their marriage and Miss Sewell helped them out by obtaining her a position in New Britain. When circumstances made it best it was "Miss Bliss’ ” idea — and Miss Sewell’s — that she quietly leave and go to her husband in Springfield.
Consequently, and owing to the fact that the New Britain hospital, like all such institutions, has a rule barring married nurses, the fact that “Miss Bliss” was really Mrs. Markey was concealed from the hospital directors.
Everything went on smoothly, and but for the vagaries of nature, all would have been well. The time was approaching when “Miss Bliss” would leave the hospital of necessity. But the first part of week before last, she was in attendance upon an operation which was very unpleasant, and on Friday of that week the unexpected happened.
Drs. E. P. Swasey and Herman Strosser were hurriedly but quietly called in, and in the attic of the hospital occurred the birth into this world of an infant whose eyes were closed in death before they had opened in this world. The doctors were pledged to secrecy and later in the night an undertaker was called and the body of the infant was quietly taken to Fairview cemetery.
Thus far all was well. And for a short time it seemed likely that the untimely arrival of the infant could be kept a secret. The attending physicians attended to the death and burial certificates. Whether they notified Medical Examiner Lyons of the matter is not known, but it is likely that they did. He knew of it, anyway, but has refused to talk to newspaper men about it
On Saturday night the executive committee of the hospital held a meeting. The rumors which were afloat had reached their ears and they proposed to discuss the matter. Miss Sewell learned of this meeting and knew that for her deception her resignation would likely be asked.
Therefore, she forestalled the hospital managers, and, almost before they knew what was happening, she had her resignation before them. They accepted it. She will remain until they choose her successor.
When Coroner Taintor learned of what had occurred, he promptly called upon Medical Examiner Lyons with a view to an investigation, but after a few words with the medical examiner he dropped the matter. Neither will talk.
During the last week, there have been many ugly rumors about to the effect that the father of this child was a New Britain doctor and that Miss Sewell was protecting her friend in wrongdoing, if not in crime. But there seems little, if any, foundation for such. Mrs. Markey will return to Springfield when able. Bridgeport Herald, 13 May 1900.³

University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1864; McGill University, 1869; M.R.C.P., Edinburgh; colonel and surgeon to the Royal Canadian Artillery, retired, with active service during the Riel rebellion in 1885; principal medical officer of the Quebec District; a governor of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Quebec; died at his home in Quebec, December 1, from pneumonia, aged 68. He was given a military funeral and the pallbearers were selected from the officers of the permanent and volunteer corps.⁸

DARLENE CAROL ANN HOUGHTON (SEWELL). Suddenly, at the St. Boniface Hospital, Darlene passed through to the next part of her journey, on May 8, 2009 with her family by her side. Darlene was born in Kenora, Ontario 60 something years ago. She is survived by her partner Bryce Chesser; brother Don Sewell of Kenora; daughter Lisa Siddall (Jon), grandson Eldon Siddall of Winnipeg; son Bob Houghton (Sandy) of St. Louis, Missouri; niece Marilyn Sewell (Derek) of North Bay, Ontario; brother-in-law Lorne Houghton (Isabelle), niece Tiffany Scheibler (Richard), nephew Kevin Houghton (Lisa) of Kenora. She leaves behind a large number of friends and colleagues, all of whom will miss her dearly. Darlene grew up in Kenora and that is where she lovingly raised her two children while embarking on her working career at the Royal Bank. She later moved to Winnipeg to stay closer to her children when they left Kenora to attend University. She was able to resume her career at the Royal Bank in Winnipeg, where she worked until her retirement in June 2007. She was a very gentle soul with a kind caring personality. She opened her heart and her home to all. There were many occasions in the summer when Bryce would arrive home from work to find numerous friends and children in and around the swimming pool. Darlene loved to travel - especially to St. Louis to visit her beloved son Bob. There were always travel magazines strewn around the house as Dar was planning her next journey. She and Bryce were able to travel to many exotic locations in the course of the last dozen years. She was a wonderful, loving mother, whose focus was always on her children, of whom she was immensely proud. During the last three and a half years she was able to shower her love on her grandson Eldon. He could always put a smile on her face. Getting Darlene to smile and laugh was never very difficult. She greatly enjoyed laughter and fun, and she was always able to see the funny side of any situation. When you become Dar's friend, you were a friend forever. Thank you to the kind and caring staff at the St. Boniface Hospital and at CancerCare Manitoba. Darlene is in a wonderful place now, and we all are grateful for the many great years we were able to spend with her.⁴

W.M. Solomon and Delaware Sewell the Victims—Particulars of the Accident—A Reasonable Explanation — The Funeral Last Thursday.
About 10 o’clock last Wednesday morning, William M. Solomon was instantly killed and Delaware Sewell so seriously injured that he died within a few hours. At the hour named smoke was seen issuing from the main tunnel of the Occidental mine, where the two men were working. This was followed by the reports of two explosions. Mr. Solomon, the father of the deceased and of J.Z. Solomon, Superintendent of the Occidental mine and mill, ran to the tunnel and looked in. He could see nothing but heard moans. Going into the tunnel he found Sewell lying speechless on the ground, his clothes torn off. He walked up the tunnel to where the two men had been working, looking for his son, but did not find him. On returning be found him lying between the rails, under a two-inch plank, dead. The plank was a section of the flooring of the track; one end of it was still nailed to the sill, the other was loose It was evident that the explosion had raised the plank and it had fallen back just as Solomon reached the spot, in endeavouring to escape. The bodies of the two men were removed to a neighbouring house, at once, while J.Z. Solomon jumped on horseback and came to this city after a physician. W.M. Solomon being dead nothing could be done for him. Some hopes were entertained of saving Sewell's life, but they were not retained long. As soon as the physician had examined him, he pronounced his case hopeless and he died about five hours after the accident.
The physician who attended the men states that Solomon was found entirely uninjured, apparently, as he had not a wound on his body, and that he died by asphyxiation. Sewell, however, died from inhaling poisonous fumes, and from extreme cold consequent on the loss of the epidermic or outer skin, which fell in large scales whenever the man was moved. He had also suffered a compound fracture of the third rib of the left side, the rib having been forced out of place over three inches and a piece having been broken off which penetrated into the lung. Through the opening thus made and through the pores of the cuticle or true skin exposed by the removal of the outer skin, air was admitted. This would doubtless have caused the unfortunate man to literally freeze to death.
The cause of the explosion is not known, and must therefore be guessed at. As usual in such cases, many theories are advanced, but that which is most generally accepted by the miners of this city is that the unfortunate men went to the magazine without a light; that they there struck a match to look about; that a piece of the match fell into the keg of black powder, which stood close to the door; that, the powder being been wet and hardened into a cake, it began to sizzle, and (the fire having penetrated the “cake” to the soft powder beneath) an explosion followed. The concussion resulting from this explosion then caused the giant powder to explode. This part of the theory, at least, is reasonable enough, as two reports were undoubtedly heard. Now as to the men: Upon hearing the sizzling of the black powder they became aware of what they had done, and started on a run for the entrance of the tunnel. Sewell being ahead; but the explosion occurred before they could get out, and they were found as stated, but about seventy-five feet apart. Had the explosions occurred while they were in the drift, they would undoubtedly hare been reduced to atoms. The fact that they took no light to the magazine is shown by their lantern (they could not use a candle because of the air-currents in the tunnel) having been found close to the car, about thirty feet away from the junction of the drift with the tunnel and in the opposite direction to that in which the bodies were found. The additional fact that Solomon was apparently uninjured adds great weight to this theory of the miners.
Delaware Sewell was a native of Canada and about 42 years old. He came to this city in 1860, and has remained on or about the Comstock ever since. He has at times been worth quite a sum of money, and owned a mill opposite the old brewery, in the lower end of this city. He was also, at one time, Superintendent of the Pioneer mill, and has had charge of various mines. He is not known to have owned any property at the time of his death, besides a dwelling house in this city and a third interest in the Edison mine, in Delaware District, which was named after him. He was a member of three associations, to-wit: The Miners’ Union, the Masonic, and the Odd Fellows; and was not married.
Solomon was not so generally known as Sewell, but is very highly spoken of by all who knew him. He was not a member of any local society, but was about to be admitted to the Silver City Miners’ Union. He was a native of New Jersey, and 25 years old.
As they had been intimate friends, a double funeral was agreed upon. in pursuance of this agreement Sewell's remains were brought to the hall of Amity Lodge, while those of Solomon were taken to the hall of the Miners’ Union.
About half past 8 o’clock Thursday afternoon Amity Lodge met and, after the preliminary services, escorted Sewell’s remains to the Miners’ Union Hall, where they were received by the Miners’ Union, and religious services were held. At their conclusion the procession was again formed, the Masons taking the lead with Sewell’s body, the Miners’ Union coming next, with Solomon's remains, and citizens closing up the line of march. In this order the graveyard was reached, when the procession broke ranks.
The funeral was attended by many citizens of Virginia, Gold Hill and Dayton, and was beyond a doubt the largest funeral which has ever taken place in this city. Yerington Times, 4 January 1879.²