Isle of Wight Observer November 7 1868

We regret to inform our readers that on Tuesday last Mr William Newman, painter, in the employ of Mr Newman, of Anglesea-street, sustained a very severe loss owing to the roughness of the weather. He had been to Hythe, opposite Southampton, to fetch his furniture, which he was removing in a boat belonging to Richard Barkham, a fisherman, of Binstead. On the return of the boat, in attempting to run for the slipway, a squall seized it, which filled with water and sank immediately. The crew, two in number, were picked up by the pilotboat Fawn, then lying at the pier head, and a part of the furniture was saved by the Revenue cutter Desmond, and one of Mr Southcott’s wherries; the greater portion of it is, however, gone. It is not an easy thing for a man to replace his furniture. We are informed that Newman is a very steady, industrious man, consequently a petition has been got up to aid him in obtaining furniture to replace that which has been lost. We trust this may be successful, and at the same time announce that we shall be happy to receive any contributions at the office of this paper.

WANTON MISCHIEF – For a long time past some mischievous persons have been prowling about at night, destroying and defacing their neighbours’ property in various parts of the town. On Monday night last considerable damage was done at St John’s Park. We are happy to see that a reward of £20 has been offered for the conviction of the offender or offenders, to whom, at any rate, we trust it will be a warning. Mr W E Ratcliffe, as steward to the Player estate, has also offered £5 reward for damage done to fencing at Binstead on Sunday night. It is really disgraceful that such acts should be committed and the perpetrators go unscathed.

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