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...
--
The Monmouthshire Beacon of November 24th 1849 reported on the death of James Alpass at Panteg:
"A MAN DROWNED. On Saturday afternoon last, as an unfortunate individual, named James Allpass, was lowering a boat in the Pen-y-graig lock, in the neighbourhood of this town [Pontypool], he attempted to leap on to the cabin-roof of the boat, when his foot slipped and he fell backwards into the lock - in his fall striking his head with such violence as must have rendered him almost insensible. As he rose to the surface of the water, a pole was thrown to him, but he appeared to have lost the power of grasping, and he sunk to rise no more. His body was got out shortly afterwards, but as no signs of life remained, it was conveyed to the Clarence Hotel to await a coroner's inquest. On Monday morning an inquest was held, and a verdict of accidental death returned."
The story was carried in a number of papers including the Monmouthshire Merlin (24/11/1849), The Principality (23/11/1849), and the Hereford Times of November 24th:
--
I couldn't find out an awful lot about James. He was born c. 1812 and in 1849 was working as a boatman for Mr Edward Edwards. The accident happened on the afternoon of Saturday 17th November 1849. The inquest was held the following day, and he was then buried in Trevethin on Monday 19th November.
0 comments:
Post a Comment