Dock Accidents and Incidents

Various accounts, mainly drawn from local newspapers, of accidents and incidents in and around the docks:

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Thursday, November 13^th, 1879:
SHIP'S OFFICER DROWNED AT HARTLEPOOL. A melancholy occurrence was disclosed at Hartlepool at ten o'clock this morning, when the lifeless body of Daniel Clark was recovered from the Victoria Dock. The deceased was mate of the Yarmouth ship William, and was seen alive for the last time about three o'clock yesterday afternoon, when he was engaged with a chisel on a temporary scaffolding which had been thrown over the ship's side. There is, as yet, no evidence as to how he got into the water; but from what is known of the deceased, and of the circumstances under which he was last seen, there is too much reason to fear that he was the victim of an accident. He was, of course, shortly afterwards missed; and as tidings of him could be gleaned, the dock was dragged, with the result that the body was found as stated. He was 40 years of age, belonged to Yarmouth, and had a wife and family there.
The name of the captain is William Mobbs. Several vessels in the harbour have hung their colours half-mast in token of the melancholy event. His friends have been communicated with, and an inquiry will be held by the Coroner to-morrow.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Tuesday, December 16th, 1879:
DROWNED IN WEST HARTLEPOOL DOCKS. A man was drowned in the Swainson dock on Saturday evening. His name was Michael Welsh, and on that evening he had borrowed a cart from the Commercial Hotel for the purpose of taking some luggage to the steamer Hecla, which was lying at the No. 4 warehouse quay. Someone on board heard the fall into the water, and a rope was lowered, but deceased was either stunned by the fall, or paralysed by the cold, for he made no apparent effort save himself. The North-Eastern police dragged for several hours, but without success; and again on Sunday morning, when search for the body was again abandoned, it being the opinion that the corpse had drifted under the steamer, or changed its position by the action of the pump to supply Messrs Gray's graving dock. Endeavours were still proceeding to-day to recover the body, but up to four p.m. without success.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Monday, January 9^th, 1888:
BOY SUFFOCATED AT WEST HARTLEPOOL. A sad occurrence took place on board the barque Khedive, lying in the dock at West Hartlepool, near the police station, about half past four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, by which an apprentice named Robert Bedlington (17), who resided with his widowed mother at 9, Johnson Street, lost his life. 
The vessel has been laid-up at West Hartlepool for about three months and was about to go to sea, and the boatswain, Denson, sent deceased to stove the bread tank – a place about 4ft. square—with charcoal, the reason being that the tank was wet. The boy was instructed to put the charcoal down by means of a pail to dry it. A short time after he was missed; search was made for him, and he was found in the tank quite dead, supposed to have been suffocated by the fumes from the charcoal. 
Another apprentice named Frederick Arrowsmith, of Shildon, who went to assist deceased, had a very narrow escape. He went into the tank to try and lift him, but before he got him properly out he also was affected by the fumes, and had to pulled out by a fork. He was discovered by Richard Pounder, another apprentice. The lad who has lost his life was the only surviving child of his mother. She has had a family of nine, and two of her children, together with their father, died during last year, the father being lost at sea.

Northern Daiy Mail on Monday, October 27th, 1919:
A Rescue at the Docks.
"Elderly Ship Captain's Gallant Act. An exceedingly plucky act on the part of an elderly ship captain was witnessed on the docks shortly before 5 o'clock last evening.
Three or four boys were playing by the side of the Coal Dock, near what is known as the Tay Bridge, when one of them - aged about ten years - fell into the water. Captain Soren Corneliussen, of the Norwegian barque Nicolay H. Knudsen, who was walking along the quayside about 25 yards away, at once ran to the spot, and, divesting himself of his overcoat, scrambled down some steps that were near at hand and swam to the boy, who was some distance off.
The lad seized him immediately he approached him, and it was only with great difficulty that Capt. Corneliussen broke his hold and then swam back with him to the steps. Here he was assisted by Dr. Pearson and William Fletcher, horsekeeper for the N.E.R., who had in the meantime come on the scene, and the boy was taken to Fletcher's house, which is on the docks. Dr. Pearson then accompanied the captain back to his ship.
It may be mentioned that Captain Corneliussen is turned 67 years of age. The name and address of the boy whom he so gallantly rescued was not obtained, and the West Hartlepool Police would be glad of this information."

Related items :