WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

I thought that we should reprint the first ever account of a story concerning the canal.

The first Advertiser appeared in 1854 but the first mention of the canal was on the 17th Dec 1855 with the heading NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

Yesterday (Sunday )week a sad catastrophe which almost proved fatal, happened to Thomas Day, cowman to H L Dunsford, Esq, of the Wharf.

It appears that Day had been to Stratton to spend the evening with a few friends.
On his return home between ten and eleven he was alone, and his residence being at Cetus' Buildings, he had to proceed thither up the towing path of the canal, when descending from the main road to the water side , he awoke some men who were sleeping in a boat near the bridge by singing out in a stentorian voice "Ay,ding dong for dumplings" which he repeated several times.

The men arose , and the unfortunate man had not proceeded any distance before he was , by some means or other , precipitated into the canal.

His cries for assistance were soon heard ; the boatmen hastened to the spot, and succeeded, after great exertion (not escaping, however, without a "cold bath" themselves), in extricating the aged man from the water and a watery grave, after having recourse to the usual restoratives, We hear he has since been enabled to resume his wonted avocations.

Swindon Advertiser December 17 1855