The Manchester Standard - A Response to a Disposable Hero

-From the editorial segments contained within the first paper of the first City of Industry.

           Dear Sir,

           I trust this response finds you sound in both mind and body.  We do take the safety of both body and soul in care with regards to publishing the news.  To this point, I fear, I must take most of what you have said at the value of your words.  As you are a mysterious fellow, I must confess to you that I have sought out the services of our local Police... Even more mysterious, some seem rather tight lipped about you fine gentlemen.  I am, of course, intrigued.

           If you truly wish to aid our fine city, I propose that we meet face to face, without assistants.  If your motives are pure, certainly there will be no need to hide behind subterfuge.  

           Yours Very Truly,

            Alice Mulholland, Manchester Standard

The Manchester Standard

The Manchester Standard

October 24th, 1887

Moore Family Demands Responsibility Upon Constantine

Edwin Moore, brother of the late Mr. Addison Moore, has approached The Standard with the following statement, "Have the police so fallen to incompetence that they no longer investigate crime?  My brother lies dead, and the last woman with whom he has associated walks about with no one asking a single question?  It is both shocking and unbelievable!  Must Manchester take justice into its own hands?"  The Manchester Standard was denied comment from Miss Constantine upon the matter, as well as from Inspector Charles Pond .

Henderson Smithy closed, "Iron Bill" Henderson to move to London

"A shame," stated the famed blacksmith to The Standard, "but my noble city of Manchester seems to have outgrown me.  I shall always remember with great joy the building of this great city, and also with bitterness at my departing."  After refunding much of the damages to horses and other iron goods - much out of his own pockets - Mr. Henderson confided to this reporter that it was no longer an option to operate a business.  He hopes that London will provide some opportunity, as his reputation in Manchester has been well and truly sullied.  "Justice well served," stated Inspector Billingsly, chief inspector assigned to the case, "It goes to show that shoddy work bears never a sterling reward!"

The Wigan Sickness drawn to a strange conclusion

In a manner most strange, the Wigan sickness has seemed to depart in a single night.  When prompted for comment, most of the inhabitants of the sleepy village professed for remember little - either of their recovery or the whereabouts of Doctor Bertrand Hollis, or his assistant nurse.  Even the constables in the area seemed to be perplexed, leaving The Standard without much reliable information.  The local church - a relic from the early founding of the small village - stands empty as well, the attendant priest having departed as mysteriously as the illness.

-Excerpt from the Manchester Standard, Alice Mulholland reporting.

The Manchester Standard - First Newspaper of the First City of Industry!

The Manchester Standard

October 19th, 1887

Greetings, dearest readers!  As always, the Manchester Standard strives to bring you, the citizen of Manchester, all the relevant news of the day.  Only here, in the city of Industry!

Murder in Tameside

Though constables have not been forthcoming with information, they assure the Manchester Standard that the murder of an unnamed victim, and subsequent discovery of another pair of murders in the sleepy burg were not connected - to each other, or the baleful baying that haunted those rolling hills.  Things, for the moment, have seem to have calmed in Tameside... though the Standard will continue to investigate this matter, for the interest of our City of Industry.

Bolton Thefts Stopped by Mysterious Men

The Bolton Constabulary has reported to the Manchester Standard that the thefts of the cemetery have ceased.  Officer O'Shea has stated on record, "Thank Heaven for it, Bolton is nice and quiet once again thanks to some outside aid which I decided to call in."  When pressed for the identities of these mystery men, Officer O'Shea declined to provide them.  He did, however, state they were "Proper Gentlemen."  The Manchester Standard thanks our mystery saviors, that the poor dead may finally find their final rest.

Darling of Operahouse, Miriam Constantine, Speaks on Addison Moore

Miriam Constantine has stepped forward to express her grief in the death of local businessman, Addison Moore.  In a brief statement to the Standard, she admitted the two had begun a courtship.  The bizzare consequences of his death were unknown to Miss Constantine, who made a plea for the killer to reveal himself, and face justice for his heinous crime - if only for the sake of his immortal soul.  Inspector Charles Pond, who was assigned the case, had no answers for the Manchester Standard at present.  Relatives of Mr. Addison Moore have remained silent on the issue, not consenting to an interview request by the Standard.

Henderson Smithy Shuttered in Wake of Investigation

Bill Henderson's beloved smithy has been shuttered while the Manchester Police, led by Inspector Billingsly, investigate the claims of inferior and degenerate iron used in production.  "My livelihood is that shop..."  Mr. Henderson said, "I don't understand why the police have to take my family's support from underneath them."  When reached for comment, Inspector Billingsly stated, "This is an issue of public safety.  I'll keep his shop closed for a year, if that's what it takes."  We at the Manchester Standard hope the investigation is swiftly resolved.

Weird Lights and Happenings in the village of Wigan

Wigan continues to be sickened, while locals have expressed dismay at the strange lights and other odd phenominon on display in the woods surrounding the stricken burg.  Mr. Theodore Baker, a farmer, stated, "I saw green fire, quite a baleful shade too, rising from the woods.  Clear over the tops of trees, it was!  I informed the constabulary, but they wouldn't go near that doomed village."  Volunteer constables reached for statements expressed their reluctance in sending any more men to Wigan, for fear of the illness endemic to the town.

-Excerpt of the Manchester Standard, Alice Mulholland reporting

The Manchester Standard - The First Newspaper of the first City of Industry!

The Manchester Standard

October 2nd, 1887

Greetings, dearest readers!  The Manchester Standard strives to bring you the most relevant and pertinent information each and every day, only here in the world's first city of industry.  Without further ado, let us peruse the headlines of the day.

Bone Chilling Baying Terrifies Tameside

Nightly reports of a horrifying howl have haunted the residents of the normally sleepy rural Tameside.  Dozens of families have testified to hear the baying of what sounds to be a massive hound.  "It's horrible!"  said local man, Tom Bleakin, "The horses can't stand the noise, going near mad with fright.  My family is kept up at ungodly hours... I'm truly at my wits end."  The brave constables of Tameside admit that they can find no animal to match the beasty racket, but have conscripted local hunters, and a reward of 2 pounds fifty for any information that may lead to the truth of the matter.

Local Gentleman's Body Found in Matter of Foul Play

Mister Addison Moore, magnate of Moore Textiles Company, has been found dead in a matter of suspicious circumstance.  The Gentleman was found lying supine in his Manchester factory by morning workers, both hands clutched around a bouquet of withered roses.  Inspector Pond of the Manchester police has been investigating the strange case, and has declined to answer any inquiries that the Standard has come forward with.  For the current time, operations of the Moore Textiles factory have been suspended.

Bolton Cemetery Targeted By Desperate Hoodlums

The Cemetery adjacent to the Cathedral of St. Mary has been vandalized yet again in another case of grave robbery.  On the previous evening, three grave were found exhumed and empty.  This marks a change in the Bolton Cemetery robberies, as local constables have stated that before, only pieces were taken, and not entire bodies.  "It's a ghastly business," stated Officer O'Shea of the Bolton Constabulary, "But this goes to show how effective the constabulary has been at stopping theft and harm visited upon the living.  Desperate theives must  have resorted to stealing from the dead!"  Officer O'Shea further assured Bolton residents that they shall apprehend the villains who have perpetrated these atrocious crimes.

Henderson Smithy Held Under Investigation

Salford blacksmith, Bill Henderson, has had his smithy business halted by a run of defective horseshoes that were provided to a number of carriages around the Salford area.  Henderson, who is rather renowned for his work, settled the blame on a shipment of particularly brittle iron.  "I saw no such defects with the material whilst I had been working it," Henderson claimed, "I confess that I do not know what could have gone wrong."  The problems were discovered after injury to a number of horses, five of which had to be put down.  Manchester police have begun an inquiry, to which the Manchester Standard has been denied any information.

Mysterious Illness wracks village of Wigan

A pox of boils and fever burned through the village of Wigan over the past few days, sickening nearly the entire populace of the sleepy burg.  Horses and Oxen were not immune, and despite the best efforts of several prominent doctors from Manchester and the surrounding towns, none seem willing to come forward with a cause.  The Wigan Sickness has remained, and doctors urge travelers to seek a way around the stricken village.

-Excerpt of the Manchester Standard, Alice Mulholland reporting.