Snippets from Old Newspapers

WEEKLY DISPATCH, 23rd February 1851

Assize Intelligence - Lancaster

MANSLAUGHTER AT DALTON, NEAR ULVERSTON.- Samuel Todd was charged with killing and slaying John Kay, at Dalton. It appeared that the deceased was a sailor belonging to the schooner President, lying at Roan-head. A quantity of "flooks" lying on the beach attracted his attention, and he left the vessel in company with another seaman to procure some of them. The prisoner, who is a fisherman, said they were his, and he told the deceased's companion that if he did not leave them alone he would shoot him. His daughter then handed him the gun, saying, "You had better use this." The other sailor then ran away, when he heard a report of a gun. On turning round he discovered that the deceased had fallen wounded. Other evidence deposed to seeing the prisoner deliberately fire the gun. He was convicted, and sentenced to seven years transportation.

Mr. William MACKERETH, one of the remaining few of the heroes of Trafalgar, who has been residing for some time in Troutbeck, was on Tuesday last entertained by his friends on leaving the vale.

The "Old Commodore" and "Mackereth's Gone to the Wars" composed for the occasion, and several appropriate songs, were sung on his health being drunk. The old sailor responded in a characteristic speech, and only regretted he was not engaged with the Baltic fleet where "England expects every man to do his duty."

DISASTROUS GALE AT MORECAMBE

About five o'clock on Monday morning, the wind from N. and N.E. rose to a perfect hurricane. Six vessels were driven from their anchors, and stranded, all more or less damaged.

They are the 'John Stonard' of Ulverston, 'Tower of Barrow'; 'Sportsman', of Barrow, 'Esther Ann' of Ulverston, 'Three Brothers' of Liverpool, and 'Mona's Isle' of Barrow.

The crew of the John Stonard had a very narrow escape. The vessel heeling over when she grounded, they were for a short time, completely submerged, but she soon righted, and the crew were rescued from their perilous situation by the coastguard assisted by two Poulton fishermen, who gallantly volunteered their services, when they found the coastguard could not get their boat through the surf.

Twenty-two fishing boats were also blown ashore. Some are complete wrecks, and the others are all more or less damaged.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held on Monday.
MR. T. GREEN occupied the chair, and there were also present, MESSRS. T. WILSON,
W. WILSON, DR. HALL, MESSRS. BROCKBANK, TURNER, MASSICKS, ROWLINSON, CARRUTHERS, G.B. ASHBURNER, ASKEW, WALTON, FISHER,
HAMER & TOWERS.

I have to report that during the past month the health of the district has been good, there having been little disease of any kind. There has been one death from enteric fever, at 88 Queen-street, which disease appears to me to have originated from defective drainage of the premises, but which has now been remedied, and the premises disinfected. The death-rate has been 14 per 1,000 for the month, and the birth-rate 37 per 1,000. The water supply of the district is at present not satisfactory, being turbid and containing many floculi, showing defective filtering; and I advise every householder to either filter or boil (which is better) all the water used for drinking purposes. With the present possibility of a near visit of Asiatic cholera to this country, in addition to the advice I gave last month on the weekly flushing of the sewers in the district, so that every person shall have the frequent removal of the contents of all ashpits, I recommend the Board to print the circular issued by DR. BUCHANAN, medical officer to the Local Government Board, and headed 'Precautions against the infection of cholera,' and cause the same to be distributed to every householder in the district, so that every person shall have the most advanced ideas of the highest authority on Health in this country on the duty to themselves and their neighbours under the circumstances.
Signed: SYDNEY JOHNSON, M.B.C.M., Dalton, August 22, 1883.

Resolved on the above report to recommend as follows: 'District Water Supply' - That the Barrow Corporation be again written to in reference to the unsatisfactory state of the water supply, and that circulars be issued recommending the inhabitants to filter or boil all water before use for drinking purposes. 'Precautions against Cholera' - That the circular by DR. BUCHANAN, issued by the Local Government Board, be printed and circulated in the district.

Barrow Herald June 29, 1907

Barrow Shipyard Fatality - Man's Sad End

After lying in the North Lonsdale Hospital since Saturday last, suffering from injuries which he received where he was employed a man named James McCann, of No. 1 New-Street expired on Wednesday morning. The deceased met with a serious accident whilst he was following his employment at the Barrow Shipyard and when taken to the above institution he had to have his right arm amputated. Sweeping the sawdust in the sawmill at the building side of the shipyard was the work the deceased was engaged in on the day mentioned, and he was getting the dust up from under a machine which was in motion when his coat got entangled in the part of the machinery, and before the machine could be stopped he was drawn around the shafting. A short time after man had been conveyed to the Hospital an operation was performed after which the deceased appeared to progress favourable, but became worse on the following Monday. He gradually grew worse and expired as stated. The Barrow Police and the District Coroner have been informed of the affair, and an inquest will be held.

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MAN DIES IN HOSPITAL. INQUEST
Coroner Poole conducted an inquest on Friday morning at the North Lonsdale Hospital on the body of James McCann. Mr. R. B. D. Bradshaw, solicitor, attended for Messer. Vickers Sons, and Maxim and Mr. Barrow solicitor was there on behalf of the family of the deceased. Mr. Sidney Eraut, factory inspector was also present. The first witness called was Chas. McCann, 13, Slater-street, son of the deceased. His father, he said was 65 years of age, and lived at 1 New-street. He had been a sweeper up at the sawmill for Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim for 25 or 26 years. Witness saw his father at the Hospital the morning after the accident, when he said he had been cleaning under the shaft and by some means or other he coat caught on the shaft, which carried him round three times. By Mr. Barrow: His father had complained about doing work he ought not to have been done. Inspector Rafferty. 45 Soot-street said he was at his work on Saturday morning in the saw mill, and heard a strange noise against the floor. He went below to see what was the cause of it, and discovered deceased lying seven or eight yards away from the shaft, alongside the draft pipe. He was conscious, and said "Oh, Dear! Oh, dear!" Witness had him removed. Deceased was working there keeping the cellar cleaned up. The shaft would be about 2ft 6in from the floor. Deceased would probably crawl under to get to the other side of it: it was rather high to step over. When witness found him is arm was hanging by his side in a helpless condition. the shaft would be between three and four feet from the ceiling, which deceased struck. By. Mr. Barrow: It would be necessary for the man to get to the other side of the shaft to do his work. It did not reach from one side of the cellar to the other. There was a space at one end of the shaft. There was no protection over the shafting and no notice up to the effect that employees should not go under. The accident happened about 7 o'clock in the morning. By Mr. Bradshaw: It was deceased's duty to keep the cellar clear. By a Juror: There was an electric light in the place that was twisted. He thought deceased had caught it and torn it down. By the Inspector: He knew that part of the cellar well. Deceased would have to go under the shafting or the belting. Witness had crawled under himself. Daniel Toalk, oiler in the employ of the firm gave evidence and said he had known deceased for 20 years. He had seen him crawl under the shaft very often. The shaft was not all smooth, as there was a coupling on it. Witness saw no clothing attached to the coupling after the accident. Deceased told him the shafting caught him. Wm. Galloway, foreman in the saw mill, said he saw deceased being attended to by the ambulance men, when he said he went round the shaft three times, and his arm was hurt. Witness had told him repeatedly to be careful. He also knew that he went under the shaft. By Mr. Barrow: He did not see any reason why there was no protection over the shaft. By a Juror: Deceased could not go round the end of the shaft, he must either go underneath or over it. There was no protection over the coupling. By Mr. Bradshaw: He would not go under where the coupling was. The first witness, recalled, said his father's jacket was torn in half up the back. In summing up the Coroner said it was clear from the statement deceased made, that he was caught by the shaft, and carried round three times receiving injuries from which he died. The protection of the shaft was a matter coming within the duties of the Inspector, and if he thought it necessary to have it protected he would give proper directions to the company, who, he was sure, would be reasonable enough to carry them out.

The jury found a verdict of "accidental death" and added that if possible there should be some protection over the shaft. The inspector said he would see to it.

A well-known Ulverston couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Bewsher, of 10 Holyoake-terrace, are celebrating their Golden wedding. They were married at Ulverston St. Mary's Parish Church on
August 11th, 1883, by the Rev. J. McLally, and have lived in Ulverston all their lives.

Mr. Bewsher is 73 years of age and his wife is 74. For 50 years Mr. Bewsher was employed at the North Lonsdale Ironworks and retired over 4 years ago owing to ill health. The couple
have a family of five daughters and their only son was killed in the war.