1855: Narrow Escape from Drowning

From the Swindon Advertiser, 17th December 1855

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.

NOTE: Thomas Day certainly survived until at least 1871; he was described as 'Widower' in the 1861 Census and living at Stratton, born in 1807. He had a house-keeper, Rachel Dawson and her 9-year-old daughter Ellen living with him; all three were described as agricultural labourers. By 1871, Rachel was described as his wife. There were several households with the surname 'Day' by the canal in the mid-1800s.