I did the basic research for this blog series a couple of years ago. Then, as usual, flitted along to the next thing that caught my interest. Now I'm trying to flesh the cases out and present to you my justification for not being a fan of walking along the canal on dark and lonely nights...
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The Pontypool Free Press of November 1st 1907 reported on the death of Frank Rowlands:
"DANGEROUS CANAL CROSSING. PONTNEWYDD TINPLATER DROWNED. Frank Rowlands, brother of Mrs Jones, Cross Keys Inn, Pontnewydd, was missed from his home on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, and eventually his body was recovered from the canal near by, through the efforts of the lock-keeper, Thomas Davies. Deceased was 33 years of age, and worked in the mills at Ty-newydd tin-plate works, Pontnewydd. He lived with his sister and brother-in-law, at the Cross Keys Inn, was a single man, and was the main support of his widowed mother, who lives at Caerleon and is over 70 years of age. He attended to his work last week, and is said to have left the Royal Oak Inn, Pontnewydd, at about 9.20 on Tuesday night with the object of proceeding to his lodgings, which were half-a-mile away, and to get his things to go to work. He was due to commence work at 10 o'clock.
In hurrying home it is also believed that he took a false step when about to get off the canal bank on to the wooden cross-piece which is attached to the lock, and which is a private crossing over the canal. Instead of stepping on to the cross-piece, he must have stepped into space and fallen into five or six feet of water. As the weather was not rough on Tuesday night, it is hardly reasonable to assume that he was swept off his feet by the wind. The cross-piece is a short cut to the Cross Keys Inn, and has been used as such, though it is not a public means of access. It is placed about 9 or 12 inches below the level of the canal path, and apparently so placed to be more permanent, as it is fixed in very secure masonry on both sides of the lock. The proper way to get to the Cross Keys Inn is along the road.
He was expected home on Tuesday night, but as he did not arrive then or on Wednesday morning, his relatives became anxious about him. They made some inquiries at different places, and as they found he had not been at any of them, they feared that he must be in the canal. They informed the police, and between 1 and 2 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon they inquired of the lock-keeper at Five Locks whether he would let the water out of the lock. He declined to do this but got a grappling iron and dragged the canal at that particular spot, and found the body against the gates at the end or inlet of the lock.
Deceased had been living at Pontnewydd for about 18 months, prior to which he was for some time in America. His mother returned from America, where she has several other sons, five months ago. The family are originally from Pontrhydyrun, and of those members who have died, all, with one exception (Mr Rowlands, senior), have been buried at Pontrhydyrun. About 25 years ago a similar fatal misadventure is said to have taken place at the same spot, the victim then being a woman, and a little higher up, near another crosspiece and lock, a man was drowned about 12 or 14 years ago. These cross-pieces are not rare, and it is a wonder that more fatalities have not occurred owing to the frequency with which they are used, and the awkward position in which they are placed. An inquest will be held, but the date is not yet known."
Other newspapers carried the story - Cardiff Times (09/11/1907), Evening Express (04/11/1907), Weekly Mail (09/11/1907) - but the Pontypool Free Press had the fullest coverage. On November 8th they reported on the inquest:
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Frank was born in 1874 to Anna and William Rowlands. The 1901 census listed them at 6 Church Street, Caerleon, but before that they were living in Panteg. (eg. at 4 River Row on the 1881 census and 1891 census) Frank was buried on November 3rd 1907.
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