1912

Titanic tragedy
Judgement was given on Tuesday by Lord Mersey, Chairman of the British Commission, into the loss of the Titanic.

The court found that the loss of the vessel was due to a collision with an iceberg, brought about by the excessive speed at which the ship was navigated at the time. It was probable that the life of the ship would have been lengthened somewhat if the watertight doors had been left open, for water would have flown through them.

Lord Mersey stated that if the California, when she saw the rockets, pushed through the ice to the open water, as she could have done without serious risk, she could have given assistance to the Titanic, and might have saved many, if not all the lives that were lost.

With regard to Captain Smith, the President said, in maintaining speed and trusting to a sharp look out he made a very grievous mistake, but one which, in face of practice and past experience, negligence cannot be said to have had any part and in the absence of negligence, it was impossible, in his opinion, to fix Captain Smith with blame.

Canal rescue
On Wednesday, a woman of the tramp class, hailing from Waterford, attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into the canal at Raven Terrace off Dominick Street. She was shortly after rescued by a visitor named Glennon who is at present staying at Mr. Cloherty’s private hotel. Mr. Glennon divested himself of his clothing and pluckily jumped in after the woman, whom he rescued with much difficulty.

When brought to the bank, the woman appeared to have suffered little as a result of her immersion. She was subsequently placed under arrest by the Dominick Street Police, brought before Mr. J.S Young, J.P., and remanded on the charge of attempted suicide for seven days.

Bazaar
The final arrangements preparatory to the opening of the Bazaar in aid of the Abbey Church have been completed and the Square, where the Bazaar will be held, should be a magnetic centre of attraction to the citizens and visitors who will throng through the city for the races.

1937

Sunshine
While ‘bus, boat and motor took hundreds of people away from Galway for the August bank holiday week-end, train, ‘bus, and motor brought a huge influx of visitors from all parts of Ireland for a holiday in the West. A broiling sun shone down on Sunday morning on streams of privately owned cars purring along all main roads leading into the city, while trains from a number of towns and cities flew over the rails to the western capital.

Race Week arrests
There was a general round up of vagrants in Galway City on the eve of the races. In parts of the city where they had already begun their Race Week “celebrations” several arrests were made.

Scenes of rowdyism broke out in a few places on Tuesday night, but the guards stepped in and put an end to affairs. While a number of men were detained pending a special district court on Friday morning, the feminine element was removed beyond the outskirts of the city.

Salthill diving accident
A large crowd witnessed a thrilling rescue at Blackrock, Galway, on Saturday evening, when James Cranny, an employee of the Jesuit Fathers, Sea Road, Galway, who was injured when he dived off the spring board and struck the bottom, was brought safely ashore by Tom Lynskey and Eddie Lee.

Mr Cranny was unconscious when taken from the water, and was immediately rushed by car to Seamount Hospital, Salthill. He was later removed to the Central Hospital, Galway where his neck was found to be badly fractured.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.