Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

17 articles on this Page

SEAMEN'S WAGES QUESTION.

!TEMPERANCE WORK AT ! CADOXTON.

ANOTHER SAD DROWNING FATALITY.

News
Cite
Share

ANOTHER SAD DROWNING FATALITY. A BARRY PLEASURE BOAT LOST. On Saturday last another sad drowning fatality took place off the coast between Cardiff and Barry. Thomas Royce, living at 33, Richmond-road, Barry Dock, with his wife, daughter, and son-in- law, who is the owner of a pleasure boat named Lucy Jane, went in it on Saturday afternoon to Cardiff for the purpose of bringing back a friend of himself and wife, named Emma Davies, to spend a few days holiday at Barry. He arrived at Cardiff all right at about three in the afternoon-an hour and a half after he had left Barry, and at half-past seven he, in company with Miss Davies, was seen to leave the pontoon and go in the direction ef Barry, and an hour afterwards they were hailed off Laver- nock Point by two Cardiff boatmen. They bad another boat in tow. The wind at this time was very strong, and there was a heavy, choppy seat beyond the point. Royce had apparently some fears whether it would be safe to attempt the passage to Barry, as he hailed the Cardiff men and inquired what kind of weather it Wi8 outside. The reply given was that it was pretty rough, but Royce, who had at that time got all his sails set, kept the boat's head towards Barry, as though he had resolved to proceed. A little later in the evening, however, he was seen heading back, apparently having found the weather too bad, and had decided to run into Cardiff. The boat was at this time just beyond Lavernock Point, dangerously near to the land, and in the middle of a heavy sea. This was the last seen of the occupants of the boat, and everything leads to the supposition that Royce was unable to get the boat round the point into smooth water, and that she crashed into the rocks, smashing in three or four feet of her port side, then immediately capsized, the occupants of course being thrown into the water. The two boats were picked up in the Upper Pool on Sunday morning by two Cardiff boatmen named Higgins and Gerrish. and brought to the pier-head at Cardiff, where they are now living. One of the boats, which is a small sailing yawl, is considerably damaged, one side being completely stove in, and several planks missing. The man and woman (Miss Davies, Grangetown) left the landing place between the two pontoons, and while sailing out seemed to be both capable of handling the vessel. They were seen to start by Superintendent O'Gorman, of the Bute Dock police force, and he states that the female stepped firmly into the boat as if she were well used to sailing, and the man pulled with no little skill. He appeared to be about 45 year,, old, and his companion some 20 years his junior. A rumour was circulated on Monday morning that both -bodies had been washed ashore at Cardiff, but on enjury the re- port proved to be incorrect. Thomas Royce was 45 years of age, and is described as a steady man, not given to drink. Miss Davies's age was sixteen or seventeen. The poor fellow and his family came to Barry Dock to live twelve months last March. Previous to that he lived in Cardiff for ten years. He was em- ployed at the Barry Graving Dock as a rigger, but had been out of work for the last two or three weeks. Before coming to Barry he worked for years at Morel's Dry Dock, at Cardiff. His wife did her best to induce him not to go to Cardiff on Saturday afternoon in the boat, but he waM de- termined to go. She wanted him to go on the bicycle. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved families, who are well-known in Cardiff and Barry Dock. Thomas Royce's daughter was married only a short time since. Writing to the South Wales Daily Newif of Wed- nesday, Mr. C. B. Fowler, of Llandaff, says :-See- ing an account of a sailing yawl and punt being picked up off Lavernock, and a few remarks as to the starting of same from near the Pierhead on Saturday evening last, I think it but right to give the following information, as it may help to make the matter clear to the authorities. I was waiting for the Weston boat on Saturday evening at 6.35 p.m., on the Pier, when a man brought a yawl alongside, to which was attached a punt with a rope. The boat was of a whitish colour, with a mast and sail. There was about one. I hundredweight of small limestones placed at the foot of the mast, evenly packed for bal- last. The man who was in her was not in any particular like a man used to the sea. He had a very pale face and black hair (whiskers, I think), more like a miller or baker than anything else. When he brought the boat alongside, a respectable- looking girl, quietly dressed—about 23, I should say-jumped into the boat. She was rather of heavy build, and carried a few small parcels in her arms. I inquired where they were going, and was told Barry. Knowing the state of the channel, having crossed over in the morning myself, it struck me as being a very dangerous trip. The man handled his oars very well, and as soon as he got out. sailed off. I noticed the girl sat on the side on which the boat was tacking, and thought to myself of the danger of this on rounding Lavernock Point. I spoke to a seafaring man near me on the pier, and he said, I would not like to be in that boat rounding Lavernock, I can tell you." Something told me that boat would not arrive safely, and I consequently took more than usual notice of the craft and its occupants. There was a foresail, but it was not in use. The boat sailed off with only a mainsail.

THE BARRY DOCK PUBLIC-HALL…

OUR SEAMEN'S GRIEVANCES

SAD PENARTH!

WEDDING AT CADOXTON,

RAILWAY EXTENSION AT BARRY…

[No title]

COLLIERY ACCIDENTS IN THE…

SHOCKING ACCIDENT IN THE RHONDDA.

INTERESTING WEDDING AT PONTYPRIDD.

CORRESPONDENCE.

BRIDGEND LOCAL BOARD.!

RODGH ON BRASS BANDS.

CRICKET. ^—.—

Advertising