Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1890's

board the steamship Oswin, lying under No. 11 Tip, in removing the vessel, which had finished loading, from the tip, preparatory to starting on her voyage. Deceased was engaged at a winch on the starboard quarter, lightening the starboard quarter rope, in order to swing the ship around. Somehow or other Calliford got in between the drums of the winch, the drums being about eight inches apart, and was squeezed to death.

It is conjectured that either the rope must have become away on the barrel, and deceased was attempting to put it right and preventing it riding, and that his clothes were caught in the rope whilst doing so, dragging him in, or that he was caught by the winch when bending over to turn off the steam. The steward's wife, noticing the man becoming entangled, screamed out, and Mr John Thomas and Mr Melbourne, who were on the bridge, rushed aft. The deceased was extricated from the winch without loss of time, but was quite dead, and his remains, after being seen by Dr Nell, was conveyed to his home.

The Inquest - On Saturday an inquest on the remains was held at the Penarth Police Station by Mr. E. B. Reece, the coroner. Inspector Measey was elected foreman of the jury. The following evidence was adduced:-

Mary Elizabeth Screen, deceased's daughter, of 40, Glebe-street, Penarth, wife of George Henry Screen, brickmaker, identified the remains as those of her father. He was 48 years of age last birthday, and was a rigger by trade, and resided with her at 40, Glebe-street. He was brought home dead on Friday evening.

Mr John Thomas, dock pilot, 17, Dock-road, disposed that on Friday afternoon he was on board the steamship Oswin about three o'clock. They had just finished loading, and he was just in the act of tightening the starboard quarter rope on the drum with No. 3 winch, in order to swing the ship around. The rope was worked by this winch, which was a steam one, and had two drums. One on which the rope went, and the other remained loose. To the best of his belief deceased was the only man at the winch. He went to the other end of the ship, and hearing the steward's wife scream twice he ran aft to the winch. She was on the poop about 40 feet from the winch. When he got the winch he saw the deceased. His legs were right over the drum, and his body was between the two parts of the winch. The winch was stopped when he got there.

He should say deceased had been clearing the head of rope around the barrel of the winch, and his clothes must have caught, and dragged him in. He rushed and turned the steam off to prevent the winch hurting his hand, and in doing so then caught hold of the deceased. He sung out for help, and the crew came to his assistance. they took the barrel and winch off, and released his body.