All pictures Copyright
 E & BJ Capper Nagold 2017

 

John Capper - Rescue of a drunken man from drowning

The following appeared in a local newspaper, the South Wales Echo
on October 9th 1888.


Text:
Smart Recue at Newport.

As Michael Coles, a seaman belonging to the Ellen Sutton, lying in the Old Dock, was proceeding on board another ship, the Nancy McSweeney, lying in the same dock, he fell into the water. A Custom-house officer, named Capper, noticed the unsteady gate of Coles, who had been drinking freely, and, running to the spot, succeeded in holding his head out of water until the assistance of two policemen and some sailors could be obtained. Coles was afterwards put on board his own ship.

The hero must have been our John Capper:- He was in Newport by this time, was employed by the Customs and the name Capper is not very common. He was aged 60 when he ran along the dockside to do his smart act of rescue.

The Newport Old Dock, previously known as the Town Dock, was opened in 1842 and extended in 1858. By 1888 it was used for smaller vessels, particularly for timber import. Larger cargoes were handled at the newer Alexandra Dock. The Old Dock was filled in in 1930 and is now site of a shopping centre and a bus terminal. (See Wikipedia.)