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Timothy Trow
SAD DROWNING CASE AT STOKE. A TRAM CONDUCTOR
LOST IN TRYING TO SAVE A CHILD.
At about half past four yesterday afternoon a sad
case of drowning occurred at the West End, Stoke. Whilst passing the
canal the conductor of the London-road car noticed a child in the
water. He at once jumped off the platform, and without losing a
moment dived into the water to rescue the child. By some means,
however, his strength failed him, and the man, whose name is Timothy
Trow, was himself drowned. The child was rescued by another man, and
at the present time the police are dragging for the body.
Staffordshire Sentinel, 14 April 1894
The funeral of the deceased took place this afternoon at the
Hanley Borough Cemetery. The cortege was timed to start at the
deceased's home, 9, William-street, at a quarter to three, and as
soon as two o'clock little groups assembled in the street, which is
a small thoroughfare running off Broad street. After half an hour, a
large crowd had assembled, and the route to the cemetery was lined
by many who were heard to express their sympathy with the deceased's
relatives and their high appreciation of the noble sacrifice made by
the brave tram conductor.
Gravestone of Timothy Trow
In grateful memory /
of
Timothy Trow / Aged 21 years / Tram Conductor
who lost his life by drowning
in an heroic attempt to save / that of a child
at Boothen Stoke-on-Trent
April 13th 1894
Timothy Trow, in April
1894 a tram conductor who despite being unable to swim, saved the
life of a drowning child, losing his own life. At that time the
Newcastle-under-Lyme canal ran along London Road in Stoke.
Trow
memorial obelisk
at London Road, Stoke
"Imagine the scene in 1894. In those days London Road was a cobbled
highway, resounding to the screech of steam-trams as they slowed to
a halt near this spot. Between pavement and water's edge were iron
railings and a row of tall trees. As a tram drew close at 4 o'clock,
one April afternoon, its young conductor heard screams coming from
the canal. He looked up and, seeing a little girl, terrified and
flailing desperately to stay afloat, wasted no time in vaulting the
railings and plunging into the chill water to her rescue. By fate's
intervention, he was tragically seized by a violent cramp and sank
like a stone to the bottom. The child was later pulled out alive."
Six of the Best - Richard H. Weir
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