Published at 15:39, Wednesday, 21 July 2010

FIRE AT EGREMONT PAPER MILL. On Friday night last, a fire broke out at the paper mill at Egremont, occupied by George Harrison, Esq., of Whitehaven. The centre portion of the mill has hitherto been used as a rag warehouse, and it was in this part of the structure, all of which is very old, that the fire broke out.

Shortly after eleven o’clock, Sergeant Fisher discovered fire and secured the services of thirty or forty men by whom buckets, cans &c., were brought into requisition to throw water on the flames.This fire affords another instance of the necessity which exists for a new fire-engine in Whitehaven.

July 19, 1860

SERIOUS GAS EXPLOSION AT WHITEHAVEN. On Friday last, about ten o’clock in the morning, a gas explosion of a very serious character occurred at the Whitehaven Savings Bank, in Lowther-street. Mr. T. P. Bragg, the manager, who resides on the premises, discovered a strong smell of gas in the parlour, which is situated on the ground floor, at the back of the building, and faces into New-street.

Mr. Bragg being unable to do anything to stop the leakage, immediately sent for Mr. Walker, plumber, Tangier-street. Mr. Walker despatched a man named Joseph Cannell to the bank. Cannell, supposing that the water in the chandelier had evaporated and thus allowed the gas to escape, procured a ladder in order to examine the top of the chandelier. He lighted a match, and immediately a violent explosion occurred, precipitating Cannell from the ladder, and shattering the two large windows in the sitting-room farthest away from Lowther-street. Cannell was found to have been severely burned about the face, neck, and hands. The servant girl at the bank was also somewhat burned about the arms.

July 16 1885

SAVAGE ASSAULT ON A POLICEMAN AT WORKINGTON. At the Workington Police Court, on Monday, William Burns (28), labourer, Workington, was charged with assaulting P.C. Todd, in the execution of his duty, at Hagg Hill, Workington, at 9.30pm on the 19th inst. He was also charged with being drunk and dis-orderly.

P.C. Todd deposed he heard defendant cursing and swearing on Hagg Hill. He went up to him and told him to desist and go home. Defendant refused, and when witness went to get hold of defendant, he closed. Both fell, and whilst struggling on the ground Burns kicked him in the back and legs and struck him in the face with his fist. Witness eventually got him to the police station in Gladstone Street, with the help of several civilians.

Defendant said he knew nothing about it. He had been teetotal for three months, but unfortunately he had got drunk with a friend. He was very sorry.

The Chairman: You have been here twenty times before, and that should have been a warning to you to keep off drink. You will be fined 12s or 14 days for the drunk and disorderly charge and 25s or one month’s imprisonment for the assault.

July 21, 1910

SAVED LIFE OF A BOY An act of gallantry in saving from drowning in the Whitehaven harbour a young boy in April was recognised by the Whitehaven Magistrates on Thursday, when Mr. R. Jefferson (chairman) presented to Mr. George Brannan and Mrs. Francis Mulholland Royal Humane Society testimonials on parchment. Had it not been for their action the child’s life would have been lost.

JOHN Barnes, a 35-years-old coal miner, of Birks Road, Cleator Moor, was fined 10s at Whitehaven for being drunk and disorderly at Bigrigg on Saturday.

Constable Morton said he was passing through the village in a patrol car when he saw two men fighting outside an inn. Barnes was naked to the waist, shouting and very disorderly. Asked by the chairman if it was true what the officer had said, Barnes replied, “So he says.”

Mr. Jefferson: Don’t you know?

Defendant: I was so drunk, I don’t know where I was or what I did. (Laughter).

July 25, 1935

FISH landings at Whitehaven for the year ended March 31 were double the total for the previous year due to the large number of Scottish boats which came to the port in October, and stayed until February.

July 21, 1960

BRITISH Nuclear Fuels Ltd have been fined a total of £10,000 as a result of the Sellafield pipeline discharge of radioactive crud, which contaminated 20 miles of the shore between St Bees and Eskmeals.

DOORS at Rowntree Mackintosh’s Egremont factory will close for the last time tomorrow. The factory opened in 1953, and is the smallest of three specialist milk crumb production plants. Fifty jobs are lost at Egremont, another six have found alternative employment within the company and one has taken early retirement.

July 25, 1985

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk