Wade - The Accident on the Bempton Cliffs. 103 
Staple Neuk, where he could be raised to the top with the help of 
ropes, but the tide was now too high, and after getting drenched 
with spray, the party waited until the rocket apparatus from 
Flambro’ arrived, and raised them all to the top about 6 p.m. 
Dr. Wetwan then motored Major to the hospital at Bridlington, 
where he remained unconscious until his death, two days later. 
It is doubtful whether any more could have been done, but 
the idea occurs to one that he might have been raised to the top 
at the first, on the back of a strong man sitting in the climbing 
breeches, and so have reached the hospital sooner. 
Such an event has never happened before in the annals of 
climbing, and coming on the top of W. Wilkinson’s accident in 
1909, ‘and a severe “blow from a falling stone which disabled 
Chandler during the same month, made the climbers very nervous, 
and disheartened them for the rest of the season. 
Joseph Major, the youngest of a climbing family, was the 
most intrepid and agile climber the present generation has seen, 
and, with a little more experience of the ins and outs of the cliff, 
would undoubtedly have eclipsed all previous records for skill 
and daring. The accident was probably caused by his hand rope, 
which was a very light one, being blown out of the perpendicular 
by the furious gale, and when he pulled at it to get it plumb, a 
piece of rock seems to have been dislodged, and fallen upon the 
top of his skull. This must have happened close to the top of 
the cliff, for four eggs about fifteen yards down had not been 
gathered. His intrepidity was probably the cause of his death, 
as he never would wear a padded hat, in spite of the advice of the 
other climbers. 
A word of praise is due to young Moore for his promptitude 
and presence of mind in coming to the rescue under most trying 
conditions, as he has only mastered the art of climbing this 
season. 
With the death of Harry Marr and Jos. Major, and the retire- 
ment of W. Wilkinson, a great and sudden change has taken place 
in the personel of the climbing gangs, for the Majors never climbed 
again, Chandler and Robson joined George and W. Hodgson, and 
only three gangs were working from Flambro’ Head to Speeton, 
and a corresponding stretch of cliff has lain fallow. 
Os 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
Xylophasia zollikoferi at Methley — On the 12th 
August, 1910, I took at Methley a male specimen of this insect, 
in fine condition ; it was shaken out of a bunch of withered 
leaves. Mr. G T. Porritt identified the insect, and said it 
is, he thinks, the best in condition of the four (out of the five 
known) British specimens he has .seen.—JoHN T. WIGIN, 
Methley, Leeds, roth December, 1910. 
‘1911 Feb. 1. 
