One January night in 1893 Richard Graham disappeared, last seen in the vicinity of the harbour; Morpeth Herald 28.1.1893 refers:
DISAPPEARANCE OF AN AMBLE TRADESMAN.
On Thursday week the otherwise quiet town of Amble was thrown into a stated great excitement by the fact that a prominent tradesmen, in the person of Mr. Richard Graham, was missing since the night previous. It appears that the missing man was last seen in the vicinity of the harbour at a late hour on Wednesday night. It is the general opinion in the town that the unfortunate man meet have fallen into the harbour and been carried out to sea as there was a large flood in the river at the time. On Thursday a diligent search was made round about the harbour, which was dragged, and on the beach on each side towards Alnmouth and Hauxley. This has since been kept been up but not the slightest trace has been found.
There were few men between Newcastle and Berwick better known than Mr. Graham, who had a large business as a butcher, and as a judge of a good horse he had few competitors. In this district especially his name was familiar to all, every one knew and respected' “Dick Graham." There is a widespread feeling of regret at his untimely disappearance. He leaves a wife (who is completely prostrated) and fire children to mourn his loss.
And the Newcastle Journal :
AN AMBLE TRADESMAN MISSING.
Mr Richard Graham, butcher, of Amble, has been missing since Wednesday night. He had been at the harbour in company with some friends, and appears to have left them about half-past ten o'clock. He seems to have taken the wrong road, and instead of going west to his home, he had evidently gone towards the east, for he was spoken to by a person resident in that direction nearly an hour later. Nothing more has since been seen of him, and it is feared that he has stumbled into the river and been drowned. He leaves a wife and fire children.
No gentleman wet more widely known or held in greater esteem in the district of Amble, or perhaps between Amble and Newcastle, than Mr Graham. He was a regular attender at the Newcastle Cattle Market, where in the course of transacting an extensive business he came in contact with the majority of the prominent dealers and butchers, amongst whom he was favourably known for his straightforward character, his genial and kindly disposition, and his many charitable acts. No one in need over sought his assistance in vain.
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