FATAL ACCIDENT AT DODNOR TO A MASTER MARINER.

On Friday 10th April 1891, the body of a man was found underneath the railway viaduct at Dodnor.

The deceased was William Pengilly, a Devonshire man and captain of the Queen of the South, which was unloading a cargo of coal at the Cement Mills. He was walking back to his vessel from Newport when he took to the railway line as the shortest way to reach the Mills. On arriving at the bridge he fell through the space between the girders onto the ground some 15ft below. When found he ppeared to have been dead for several hours. Indications suggest that he fell head first, and that death was not instantaneous as in his pocket was a handkerchief covered with blood and mud. The deceased left a wife and a large family, who live in Clovelly.

On Saturday morning Edward F. Blake Esq. held an inquest at the West Medina Cement Mills, Dodnor, on the body of William Pengilly, of Clovelly. Mr Herbert Simmonds manager of the Central Railway company, who are owners of the bridge through which the deceased fell, was present. After the viewing of the body the following evidence was determined. George Long, labourer at the Cement Works was going to his work at the Mills, and when getting over the gate close to the bridge he saw the body of the deceased lying underneath the bridge. He stated that “I sent for someone as soon as I found the body”. The body was removed to the Cement Mills. John Stanbury, mate on board the schooner Queen of the South gave evidence that the deceased was 43 years old. He last saw him on the previous Thursday. Deceased told the witness he was going to Cowes. Witness did not know he was also going to Newport. Ernest Dove, goods clerk for the railway, had spoken to the deceased while collecting tickets at Newport station on the arrival of the 7.37pm arrival from Cowes. Deceased had only taken a ticket to the Cement Mills, and he paid the excess fare. He never saw deceased after that. He had been the dead body and identified it as that of the man whom he saw on Thursday evening.

Dr George Barr, practising in Newport, examined the body which was lying in a shed at the Cement Mills. Although his attention was drawn to the deceased pocket handkerchief, his opinion was that deceased was stunned by the fall and never recovered consciousness. His opinion was that the injury to the brain caused by the fall led to gradual bleeding to death. The Coroner in summing up the evidence, said it was a most unfortunate accident; at the same time there was nothing in the evidence to show that any blame could be imputed to anyone. The Foreman of the jury raised the problem of Broken Bridge, a point in the footpath at which, when the tide was rendered impassable and people were positively forced on to the railway. He also suggested that the bridge be boarded to prevent further accidents. The Coroner said as to Broken Bridge he would see the case was represented to the proper authorities who were liable to repair the road in question. As the bridge was private property the Coroner stated that he had no power to order it be boarded, but he hoped Mr Simmonds would bring the recommendation before the directors of the company.

The funeral.
The deceased leaves a widow and seven children. The widow came to the Island to attend the funeral, which took place on Monday (13th) at Northwood cemetery. Four workmen from the Cement Mills acted as bearers. The bereaved wife and the crew of the Queen of the South wish to express through our columns their heartfelt gratitude to all the kind friends at the Cement Mills for the kindly assistance most opportunely rendered in a sore hour of need.

The gravestone of William Pengilly. This is directly behind the memorial to “Little Don”.