66 Wind Street, Swansea
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| 66 Wind Street, Swansea The Perch |
The history of this building is a remarkably interesting and colourful one.
One of the first residents here was the chemist and druggist, Charles T. Wilson.
Charles T. Wilson, died 1890, at his then residents Brynnewydd, Sketty Green and he was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery. Wilson, JP, was Swansea born and bred. He trained in the profession of Pharmaceutical Chemist. Have served his apprentice at the chemist shop of Mr. Samuel Dawe
Mr Samuel Dawe’s chemist and druggist was situated on the corner of Temple street, establishing during 1846. While a boy at Dawe’s shop, Wilson, often came into contact with Sir W. R. Grove and Mr Benjamin Hall.
W. R. Grove, William Robert Grove, was physical scientist, published “On The Correlation of Physical Forces”, 1846, in anticipated general theory of the conservation of energy. Grove was the pioneer of fuel cell technology. Grove was also a judge; he first became a QC during 1853. The bar provided him with the opportunity to combine his legal and scientific knowledge. Grove was unsuccessful in his defence, for William Palmer, the Rugeley Poisoner, case heard at the Old Bailey, 1856. Grove was also appeared for William Fox Talbot, in his unsuccessful attempt to assert his calotype patent in the Talbot v Laroche, 1854.
Wilson claimed that he was able to supply the two young scientist, the glass bottles, jars etc., which were used in this first imperfect electrical apparatus.
After his apprenticeship, Wilson, establish his own pharmaceutical business at 66 Wind Street, on the corner of St. Mary Street. Wilson was also a Town Councillor, and 1868 had the honour of filling the Civic Chair Chief Magistrate. Wilson also erected several drinking fountains situated around the Swansea docks.
Wilson was also Guardian of the Poor, acted as Chairman of the Board, member of the Swansea School Board. He was on the Committee of the General Hospital an honorary secretary of the South Wales Institute for the Blind.
At the time of his death, 1890, Wilson, was a substantial benefactor of local charities.
Two years later, 1892, William Caldwell was the resident at 66 Wind Street. On the face of it you would not know who Caldwell was. Read on!
Caldwell, along with William Prater, William Stephens, Evans Davies, Graham Hilton, James Darnody, James H. Sims, William Morgan, Thomas Evans, Alfred Price, T. Burns, John Jenkins, and Thomas McFarren were crew members of the Swansea steamship Etna. The ship, left Swansea on the 12th May 1891, under the command of Captain Straker. The voyage was from Swansea to Tangier. The voyage was only to transport cargo to Tangier and journey back. However!
The Etna was engaged in the transport of Arab pilgrims to and from Tripoli, Mulrazze, Yambo, Jeddah. At Tangier, 80 Arab pilgrims were loaded at Mulrazze a further 50 at Suez a further 1,400 Arabs were loaded. At Jeddach they were unloaded safely. From Jeddach a further 1,700 Arabs were loads for Cameron. During this time, it was mid-summer and with stifling heat.
During the voyage to Cameron, pandemonium had broken out on board the Etna, which along with the stifling heat, the ship became a pest-house
Twelve hours out of Cameron, the first signs of sickness were noticed on board the Etna. What would have taken the Etna two and half days to arrive at Cameron, it took five days. During this period, the Arabs were dying at a rate of 40 a day, by journeys end 200 had died.
From Cameron, the Etna returned back Jeddah, which the ship was white-limed. After which, a further 1,200 Arabs were loaded to be transported to Yambo. The Etna stricken by the sickness, with high numbers of deaths among the Arabs. Before docking at Yambo, 73-year-old Swansea seaman Webb was taken ill. He succumbed and died a few days later, after being found floating in the water at the vessels side. During this time before docking, a Russian doctor was fetched to Etan where he attended to the aforementioned resident of 66 Wind Street was taken sick and at the doctors requested Caldwell was given 20 drops of laudanum in some brandy. Caldwell also succumbed.
The Etna which stricken by a plague of cholera before it could travel on to Tor via Suze Canal it had to lie in quarantine. Three hundred Arabs landed at Beyroutt and further 270 at Tripoli.
The Etna was now known as a death ship was ordered out of port, whilst journeying to Megadore, E. Davies who came from Sketty had died in Camaran. The last remaining Arabs were landed at Megadore. The Etna was refused to port at Gibraltar, Benisaf. Finally, three miles from Oran, allowed to take quarantine for three days before docking after the ship was fumigated and disinfected.
Most of the information regarding the voyage, of the Etna was provided by 23-year-old seaman Mr Jenkins, who survived the journey.
We can only imagine what life was like on board a ship, and the suffering of those that taken ill, who are a long away from home.
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