— The —
Daily Prophet
Daily Prophet
Price One Knut
August 27th, 1890
Letter to the Editor
On the Quidditch World Cup and its Dangers
Less than a week ago, what should have been an occasion for national pride was tainted by the injuries and death of Quidditch World Cup spectators. In the days that have since passed, a number of our readers have reached out to this paper to have their voices heard.
To the Editor,
Greetings and salutations; I hope that this letter reaches you well, in spite of these tragic days we have endured.
I write as a woman who, long ago, served as a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies. It was not a bludger that took my career but a collision that saw me skewered upon a broomstick, and took from me my ability to bear children. This is not a fate that any of our daughters should be consigned to.
As you know, I have spent four decades vocally opposing women in quidditch, but this latest turn, I think, demands I redouble my efforts. I would call, immediately, from the banning of females from the quidditch pitch—both as players and as spectators. Their safety, and the continuation of our society, depend upon it.
Sincerely,
Agnes Sinclair
To all those touched by this horrible tragedy,
We see you, and welcome you to join us this Sunday, 30th August at the Church of St. Fergus in Irvingly. The Lord feels your anguish and waits to provide solace to all those that seek him out in this time of great sorrow.
— The Faithful
To the Editor,
I write, on behalf of the Chudley Cannons team and the wider British quidditch industry, to offer our most profound sympathies to the victims and their families of the tragic incident at the final match. It is unthinkable and unacceptable that an accident like this was allowed to occur.
I also write to extend my full public support to Mr. Lachlan MacFusty, who has been a talented beater for the Cannons since 1878. It is an utter shame that this should have happened at the zenith of his career, and I hope that this event should bear no impact on his reputation or professional accomplishments, for it is not and has never been the part of the players to be responsible for the safety of spectators, nor accountable for anything that occurs beyond the bounds of the pitch during gameplay. Quidditch players - beaters particularly - have enough liability when it comes to defending their own teammates.
Now and in future, we cannot expect anyone to willingly participate in the sport if they cannot fundamentally trust the rest of the stadium to be fully protected and removed from the bludgers. We hope these standards will be true of quidditch in Britain at every level, from school matches to the World Cup.
Theodore Gallivan,
Sponsor of the Chudley Cannons
To the denizens of Magical Britain,
My name is Gilbert Quiddel, 18, of London. It was my dear sister who was tragically slain in Saturday's quidditch match. My views are my own, and should not be taken to represent those of my family, though I hope that in the weeks to come, they will join my rallying cry.
Lachlan MacFusty murdered my sister, and should be punished to the full extent of the law. Immediately, I will end my tenure as a second string player for the Hogsmeade Howlers and devote myself singularly to the pursuit of justice. To those who say "T'is but a game," I ask: was your entertainment worth my sister's life?
— G. Quiddel
To The Daily Prophet Editors & Readers,
As a mother of sixteen, divided equally amongst boys and girls who were all in attendance at last week's match, I cannot help but feel concerned about this seeming newfound danger to my offspring. Quidditch is enjoyed by individuals of all ages and backgrounds, but this has proven that not even the most demure young lady observing from afar can consider herself safe. I implore you all to reach out to the headmaster and governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and demand that quidditch be removed from the school's grounds, as well as to Mr. Fitzroy Prewett to ensure greater safety for those children whose parents foolishly allow them to attend further matches.
Sincerely,
Your Mother
Dear Sirs,
After this incident, a very real question needs to be asked about the safety of spectators and players in the game of quidditch! This is the second incident I have heard of involving rogue bludgers in recent months! I heard Miss Cecily Gallivan was recently accosted by a bludger at a match and now this woman has lost her life, and another has been injured!
The department of magical games and sports needs to seriously consider the role of bludgers in the game and if there is a safer alternative to them or at least the current method of enchanting them! I would have thought enchanting the field was safer than enchanting the vicious balls, that way at least when they leave the play area they are rendered safe rather than an aggressive, rampaging danger to the public who are not as equipped as the players to fend off the attacks.
I believe we need immediate action taken to formalise the rules and specifications of quidditch equipment to ensure that no more lives are endangered by defective equipment and those providing quidditch equipment should face greater scrutiny. Those who enchanted these particular bludgers or provided them should be looked into to ensure that there is nothing more nefarious going on because 2 incidents resulting in bludger attacks on 3 women seems like more than a coincidence to me.
Yours kindly
Miss Natsuko Mountbatton
To whom it may concern,
Quidditch has long been a part of my life, with myriad uncles participating both professionally and at the international level, and myself having played for Hufflepuff since my first year at Hogwarts. I implore all those who might read this to remember that this sport is beloved by many, and while it is a unbelievable tragedy that Mrs. Turnbull lost her life, such injuries are few and far between in the centuries that quidditch has been enjoyed.
Yours most sincerely,
Mr. A. Crabbe
To the Editor,
Quidditch has long been a fool's pastime, both for the playing and the watching of it. With this latest tragedy (have we not seen players impaled upon their own broomsticks? Did not countless men lose kneecaps at the hands of the Moroccan Menace?), it has proved fatal as well.
We as a society are now at a crossroads: do we continue down this path of distruction, or do we steer our sons—and, Merlin help us, our daughters—in a more productive direction? I know I shall be doing the latter, and I encourage all those who would join me to call for the disbandment of the British Quidditch League.
Sincerely,
Phoneas Flamp
To the Editor,
Greetings and salutations; I hope that this letter reaches you well, in spite of these tragic days we have endured.
I write as a woman who, long ago, served as a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies. It was not a bludger that took my career but a collision that saw me skewered upon a broomstick, and took from me my ability to bear children. This is not a fate that any of our daughters should be consigned to.
As you know, I have spent four decades vocally opposing women in quidditch, but this latest turn, I think, demands I redouble my efforts. I would call, immediately, from the banning of females from the quidditch pitch—both as players and as spectators. Their safety, and the continuation of our society, depend upon it.
Sincerely,
Agnes Sinclair
To all those touched by this horrible tragedy,
We see you, and welcome you to join us this Sunday, 30th August at the Church of St. Fergus in Irvingly. The Lord feels your anguish and waits to provide solace to all those that seek him out in this time of great sorrow.
— The Faithful
To the Editor,
I write, on behalf of the Chudley Cannons team and the wider British quidditch industry, to offer our most profound sympathies to the victims and their families of the tragic incident at the final match. It is unthinkable and unacceptable that an accident like this was allowed to occur.
I also write to extend my full public support to Mr. Lachlan MacFusty, who has been a talented beater for the Cannons since 1878. It is an utter shame that this should have happened at the zenith of his career, and I hope that this event should bear no impact on his reputation or professional accomplishments, for it is not and has never been the part of the players to be responsible for the safety of spectators, nor accountable for anything that occurs beyond the bounds of the pitch during gameplay. Quidditch players - beaters particularly - have enough liability when it comes to defending their own teammates.
Now and in future, we cannot expect anyone to willingly participate in the sport if they cannot fundamentally trust the rest of the stadium to be fully protected and removed from the bludgers. We hope these standards will be true of quidditch in Britain at every level, from school matches to the World Cup.
Theodore Gallivan,
Sponsor of the Chudley Cannons
To the denizens of Magical Britain,
My name is Gilbert Quiddel, 18, of London. It was my dear sister who was tragically slain in Saturday's quidditch match. My views are my own, and should not be taken to represent those of my family, though I hope that in the weeks to come, they will join my rallying cry.
Lachlan MacFusty murdered my sister, and should be punished to the full extent of the law. Immediately, I will end my tenure as a second string player for the Hogsmeade Howlers and devote myself singularly to the pursuit of justice. To those who say "T'is but a game," I ask: was your entertainment worth my sister's life?
— G. Quiddel
To The Daily Prophet Editors & Readers,
As a mother of sixteen, divided equally amongst boys and girls who were all in attendance at last week's match, I cannot help but feel concerned about this seeming newfound danger to my offspring. Quidditch is enjoyed by individuals of all ages and backgrounds, but this has proven that not even the most demure young lady observing from afar can consider herself safe. I implore you all to reach out to the headmaster and governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and demand that quidditch be removed from the school's grounds, as well as to Mr. Fitzroy Prewett to ensure greater safety for those children whose parents foolishly allow them to attend further matches.
Sincerely,
Your Mother
Dear Sirs,
After this incident, a very real question needs to be asked about the safety of spectators and players in the game of quidditch! This is the second incident I have heard of involving rogue bludgers in recent months! I heard Miss Cecily Gallivan was recently accosted by a bludger at a match and now this woman has lost her life, and another has been injured!
The department of magical games and sports needs to seriously consider the role of bludgers in the game and if there is a safer alternative to them or at least the current method of enchanting them! I would have thought enchanting the field was safer than enchanting the vicious balls, that way at least when they leave the play area they are rendered safe rather than an aggressive, rampaging danger to the public who are not as equipped as the players to fend off the attacks.
I believe we need immediate action taken to formalise the rules and specifications of quidditch equipment to ensure that no more lives are endangered by defective equipment and those providing quidditch equipment should face greater scrutiny. Those who enchanted these particular bludgers or provided them should be looked into to ensure that there is nothing more nefarious going on because 2 incidents resulting in bludger attacks on 3 women seems like more than a coincidence to me.
Yours kindly
Miss Natsuko Mountbatton
To whom it may concern,
Quidditch has long been a part of my life, with myriad uncles participating both professionally and at the international level, and myself having played for Hufflepuff since my first year at Hogwarts. I implore all those who might read this to remember that this sport is beloved by many, and while it is a unbelievable tragedy that Mrs. Turnbull lost her life, such injuries are few and far between in the centuries that quidditch has been enjoyed.
Yours most sincerely,
Mr. A. Crabbe
To the Editor,
Quidditch has long been a fool's pastime, both for the playing and the watching of it. With this latest tragedy (have we not seen players impaled upon their own broomsticks? Did not countless men lose kneecaps at the hands of the Moroccan Menace?), it has proved fatal as well.
We as a society are now at a crossroads: do we continue down this path of distruction, or do we steer our sons—and, Merlin help us, our daughters—in a more productive direction? I know I shall be doing the latter, and I encourage all those who would join me to call for the disbandment of the British Quidditch League.
Sincerely,
Phoneas Flamp
Olla Mirage