The story of this gold fob watch is intriguing. The letter is dated March 6, 1905, 27 years after the Loch Ard was wrecked. It appears to be a quick personal note from a relative or friend who briefly writes the history of the enclosed ‘souvenir’ watch, found in Loch Ard Gorge at Port Campbell. Although the finder is not named, it is likely the letter’s author. The writer mentions that the letter and watch would be sent once photographs of the area where the watch was found had been added. The fancy, lined envelope’s date stamp is October 12th, 1917 (12.10.17), almost 12 years after the letter was written. It has a postmark from Florence (Firenze), Italy. The handwriting on the envelope differs from that of the letter, and there is no further mention of photographs being included. The condition of the watch certainly shows the effects of time in the sea. Some inner workings can be seen through broken encrustations and missing sections of its case. The winding knob on the top is recognisable even though it is covered by sand and other adhesions from the sea. Its dainty size and gold case suggest that it was made for a well-to-do female. The watch, envelope and letter were donated along with a 1971 newspaper cutting, all neatly folded and tucked with the watch into a small, strong cardboard box with metal reinforcing on the corners and a fitted lid. The newspaper article gives context to the watch, telling the story of the Loch Ard shipwreck tragedy and the two survivors, but does not refer to the watch. Perhaps one of the 17 passengers sailing on the Loch Ard, including members of the Carmichael family, owned the watch, or maybe it was amongst the cargo, as the ship’s manifest includes ‘clocks and watches £25’. . Considering the dates of the letter and the envelope, did the finder of the ‘souvenir’ watch take it to Europe? Was it used for good luck during service in the military? . Comparing the different writing on the letter and the envelope, does it suggest that the watch’s finder was overseas and asked someone to send the envelope to the intended recipient, with postage from Italy? ABOUT the address, “Glencove”: The details on the envelope are faint and obscured by stiff creases in the paper. The address appears to be “Mrs J. Mortton, Glencove, Portsea, Victoria, Australia”; though the family at that address had the surname “Morton”. Mrs J. Morton, formerly Elizabeth Ford, married her second husband, James Morton, in 1904, the year before the date of the letter. The couple lived at the Nepean Hotel before they were at “Glencove”. Although they never owned that property, it was their home when James died in 1937. Elizabeth’s nephew, Alfred Sandle Ford (1894-1981), and a nephew-in-law were overseas during World War I. Alfred Ford had moved to Melbourne as a young boy with his father. He entered service as Second Lieutenant in 1915, naming his father, Alfred Sandle Ford, as his next of kin. He served in Egypt, France and Belgium with the Australian Imperial Forces as a member of the Field Artillery Brigades. He returned to Melbourne in 1919 and worked in Richmond and Box Hill. He later married Frances Whyburn. Previously, in 1872, Elizabeth Ford’s sister, Julia Ford, acquired the 1-acre property with a 3-room house that became known as “Glencove”, Portsea. The building was originally the first school in the area, established before Crown Land sales. In the Parish of Nepean, it was first assessed for rates in 1871. Julia Ford (1843-1912) and Elizabeth Ford (1859-1957) were daughters of James Sandle Ford (1811-1890), a well-known pioneer of Portsea, formerly a convict limeburner. James Ford acquired several Crown allotments in Portsea. In 1872, he converted his old hotel into the large residential establishment known as the Nepean Hotel, which his family largely ran until it was demolished in 1971. During those years, different family members lived at the Nepean Hotel or Glencove. In 1877, Julia Ford married a significant landowner, John Cain, a limeburner from Rye. They had five daughters, four of whom were never married; Kathleen (1880-1949), Mabel (1881-1973), who was the last family member to own the house until her death, Hilda (1884-1974) and Julia Ethel (1888-1949). Some of the newspaper records refer to “Glencove”, Portsea, inform that: 1927 - Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Shilliday are staying with Mrs. R. B. Sanderson at Glencove. (Australasian) 1937 - James Morton died at his property, Glencove, Portsea, aged 83 years (Argus) 1949 - Julia Ethel Cain died at Glencove, Portsea. (Argus) 1949 - Probate application by sisters of Julia Ethel Cain, deceased, formerly of Nepean Hotel, Portsea, but late of Glencove, Nepean Highway, Portsea. The connection of the watch with the sands of Loch Ard Gorge and to the ship Loch Ard contributes to our knowledge of personal items brought to Australia in 1878, whether as the belongings of a passenger or as cargo; a gold watch would be intended for a wealthy buyer. The little artefact helps us understand the survival of artefacts in the powerful sea, over a quarter of a century after the wreck of the ship. Although many people would have visited the shipwreck site, the length of time before it was found helps us understand the effects of the sea on shipwreck artefacts. The survival of the carefully packaged watch and related documents shows the respectful understanding of preservation of historic artefacts, even from almost 150 years ago at the time of writing (2025). Ladies' fob watch, thought to be gold. It is now covered in encrustation. A bump on the edge would be the winding mechanism for the watch. A small section of the back of the case has broken away, and an engraved surface can be seen. Face and hands are missing, revealing the spring workings inside. Donated with the watch were two documents and a newspaper cutting about the story of the shipwreck of the Loch Ard. They are all in a strong cardboard box with reinforced corners on the base and lid. Found at Loch Ard Gorge and said to have been from the Loch Ard. The three donated documents are: - 1. A rectangular envelope made of cream waxy paper lined with black and white diagonally striped paper. The top right corner, usually meant for a postage stamp, has been torn off, partly exposing text on a rectangular printed logo. A round black postmark stamp near the top centre shows the post office location and date. The address on the front is handwritten in black ink. The creases on the envelope suggest it has been folded three times. 2. A letter on cream rectangular paper features clear, handwritten script in black ink. The unevenly cut bottom edge has two short black vertical lines, possibly the tops of tall written letters. There are creases where the page has been folded three times. 3. A newspaper clipping featuring text, an illustration, and handwritten details of the newspaper’s source.1. Envelope: - Address: ”Australia (per Postage) / [looks like “Mrs J. Mortton”] / Glencove, (Portsea) / Victoria” Postmark: “FIRENZE” 12 10 17” “ - - - -PORTEN – (illegible)” Logo inside envelope: “BUSTA BRE--- / Earliera Lialia” [Italian; Busta = envelope, Earliera == earlier] 2. Letter: - “I am sending you a ‘souvenir’ from the wreck of the Loch Ard 28 years ago at Port Campbell. It is the remains of a lady’s gold watch found in the gorge where Miss Carmichael & Tom Pearce (the only two saved) were washed up. This souvenir was lying there ever since. I went down into the awful gorge & saw the cave where these two unfortunates (or fortunate perhaps, as they were saved) lived until rescued. I also saw the graves of those who were washed up from the wreck. One grave contains Dr and Mrs Carmichael & six of their children. Later on, when I can get some good views of that wild coast I will send them to you. 6/3/05.” 3. Newspaper cutting: - History of the Lochard. Refer to the Sydney Morning Herald, Nov. 28th, 1971: “Loch Ard: the wreck that became a legend” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch ard, eva carmichael, tom pearce, loch ard gorge, loch ard souvenir, port campbell, miss carmichael, mrs carmichael, dr carmichael, 1878, loch ard: the wreck that became a legend, ladies fob watch, gold watch, fob watch, pocket watch, horology, accessory, time keeping, scientific instrument, ladies' watch, ladies' pocket watch, lady's watch, souvenir watch, survivor, clocks and watches, diagonally striped envelope lining, firenze, busta, earliera, florence, italy, glencove, portsea, victoria, 1905, 1917, nepean hotel, moreton, morton, elizabeth morton, mrs j. morton, james morton, elizabeth ford, julia ford, alfred sandle ford, frances whyburn, james sandle ford, john cain, kathleen cain, mabel cain, hilda cain, julia ethel cain, australian imperial forces, field artillery brigades, limeburner

Significant pictorial record of College life at the end of the WW1. Property appearance, uniform/clothing details, furnishings, and named photographs of students. Junior school Forms I, II, III: Top row: T Dowling, Whitfield, W Paterson, R Paterson, R Morris, B Pain, W Coyle, R Thomas, Campbell; Middle row: Creer, pringle, Greenfield, K Baird, Mrs Gilbert, R Thomas, G Jeffrey, G Shaw, E Morton; Front row: H Strong, C Morton, R Carthew, R Pearce, A Greenfield; Middle School Forms IV, VB: Top row: Leslie, Michael, M Gunn, H Jones, W Hicks, L McLennan, K Bradby, Forster, K Joy, C C McMillan; 2nd row from top: Mr Deans, R Paterson, A Carthew, A Mckenzie, N Shaw, G Ross, H Lester, Leishman, Tanner, G E Clark, W Revelman, Mr Morton; Thurd row from top: A Levy, McLeod, J O'Grady, E Davies, W Walker, J Smith, N Boustead, E Abraham, Alkemade, Ronaldson, Crawford, McDougall, Hill; Front row: Klug, J Tonner, H Deeble, Soloman, Beacham, J Bradby, A Coldham, G Clarke, L Murphy, A King. Senior school Forms VIA, VIB & VA Top row: E Pearce, W Williams, A Ramage, D Langsford A Clarke, J Mitchell. Middle row: R Langsford, A Rogers, G Lester, V Cooper, A Thiessen, R Shannon, G Swan, D Robinson, J Coltman, R Jack; Front row: B Jones, L Shannon, R Morrow, Mr A S M Polson BA, R Steveson, R Sloan, M Morris. Social significanceLoose-leaf photograph album featuring photographs of Ballarat College property and classes taken 4th July 1918. Light card cover. 8 inidividual sheets of paper. Front cover: BALLARAT COLLEGE / PHOTOGRAPHS 4th July 1918 C A Ramage / DIFFERENT VIEWS 7 GROUPS / Taken 1918ballarat-college, 1918, uniform, c-a-ramage, boatshed, college-oval, assembly-hall, honour-boards, chemistry-laboratory, a-s-m-polson, mr-deans, mr-morton, miss-gilbert, junior-school, middle-school, senior-school

Typescript article containing information from Nunawading Historical Society newsletters on antimony mining at Blackburn Lake, with a photocopy of an extract from 'Mineral Statistics of Victoria', 1878 and of the typescript.Typescript article containing information from Nunawading Historical Society newsletters on antimony mining at Blackburn Lake,antimony mines, blackburn lake sanctuary, nunawading historical society, t. r. b. morton & son, mcclare, thomas, freehold investment and banking company of australia ltd, mcandrew, j. (dr), zerbe (mrs)

The Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria, now known as Vicdeaf, (the Victorian Deaf Society), was founded in 1884 as the Victorian Society for Promoting the Spiritual and Temporal Welfare of the Adult Deaf and Dumb. The provisional committee being Mr W Bates, Mr J M Bruce, Mr J D Gowan, Mr Edwin Newbiggin, Mr C M Officer, M. L, A., and the Rev. W. Moss. The Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission's objects were: 1. To provide the means for religious worship and instruction for the adult deaf and dumb of Victoria 2. To visit the deaf and dumb in their homes, especially when sick or in distress 3. To assist the deaf and dumb of good character in obtaining suitable employment 4. To provide technical and other education for the adult and dumb 5. To give pecuniary assistance to adult deaf and dumb who are in needThe Annual Reports of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society are historically significant providing insight into the history of the evolving Deaf Community in Victoria. They are a annual 'snapshot' of the year with references not only to the progress of the Society but also to the significant people and events within the Deaf Community.Green Cover, Size 21.5Hx13.5W, 24 pagese. r. peacock, eugene gorman, norman armstrong, l. a. cleveland, j. oehr, dr w. j. craig, dr. may, a. e. atherton, g. fethers, f. e. frewin, m. j. hoath, e. l. morton, e. johnson, g. newnham, edgar h. peacock,s. watkin, edgar h. peacock, s. watkin, j. mclean, j. m. johnston, m. g. b. mortimer, adam c. muir, e. noble, a. w. taylor, n. webb,a. stephens, rev j. j. booth, mrs a. piper, blackburn, cricket, lacrosse, jolimont square, john e. muir, alice graham, solomon moss, mrs moss, victorian deaf and dumb institution, ven. archdeacon hancock, rev dr. borland, rev h. crawford, w. smith, tennis, a. hull, r. h. lambert, interstate sports carnival, victorian deaf, quantock, bladier, anderson, campbell, walsh, tyzzer, marks, wilson, fairman, taylor, vicary, muir, halliday, nolan, lindsay,

The Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria, now known as Vicdeaf, (the Victorian Deaf Society), was founded in 1884 as the Victorian Society for Promoting the Spiritual and Temporal Welfare of the Adult Deaf and Dumb. The provisional committee being Mr W Bates, Mr J M Bruce, Mr J D Gowan, Mr Edwin Newbiggin, Mr C M Officer, M. L, A., and the Rev. W. Moss. The Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission's objects were: 1. To provide the means for religious worship and instruction for the adult deaf and dumb of Victoria 2. To visit the deaf and dumb in their homes, especially when sick or in distress 3. To assist the deaf and dumb of good character in obtaining suitable employment 4. To provide technical and other education for the adult and dumb 5. To give pecuniary assistance to adult deaf and dumb who are in needThe Annual Reports of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society are historically significant providing insight into the history of the evolving Deaf Community in Victoria. They are a annual 'snapshot' of the year with references not only to the progress of the Society but also to the significant people and events within the Deaf Community.Cream/Pink Cover, Size 21.5Hx13.5W, 24 pagese. r. peacock, eugene gorman, norman armstrong, l. a. cleveland, j. oehr, dr w. j. craig, dr. a. j. fargie,w. h. crush, g. fethers, f. e. frewin, m. j. hoath, e. l. morton, g. newnham, edgar h. peacock, f. w. spry, g. w. sweetland, s. watkin,ernest j. d. abraham, j. mclean, e. empson, j. m. johnston, e johnson, m. g. b. mortimer, e. noble, n. webb o. quinton, rev j. j. booth, mrs a. piper, maurice mark, blackburn, cricket, lacrosse, jolimont square,

List of Full Course Students' 1946, Editorial, Editor's Notes, News and Notes, Obituary, The Head of School, Staff 1946, The Literary Society, Science Section, Art Section, Sports, Commercial Notes, Preparatory Girls', Junior Technical School Section, Junior Technical School Ballarat Students' 19461945 - Maroon cover with green, yellow and blue lettering, soft covered magazine of 74 pages. 1946 -White and yellow cover with, blue and green lettering, soft covered magazine of 94 pages including advertisements. .6 - Green soft cover , with purple writing, 56 pages including advertisements Artwork Mr Bunning - Probably By Joan Walter Hoch Mon - By Kenneth Palmer Shorty - Probably By Joan Walter Chub - Probably By Joan Walter Dorise - Probably By Joan Walter Hank - By Kenneth Palmer Roma - By Kenneth Palmer Shirt - Probably By Joan Walter Fat - By Kenneth Palmer Pug - By Kenneth Palmer Bill - By Kenneth Palmer Gig - Probably By Joan Walter Mid - By Kenneth Palmer SMB's Roving Reporter - By Kenneth Palmer Staffie - By Kenneth Palmer Oh Frankie - By Kenneth Palmer Sketch - By William Rowe Hector - Probably By Joan Walter Elwyn - By Kenneth Palmer Clive - By Kenneth Palmer Happy - Probably By Joan Walter Max - By Kenneth Palmer Socks - By Kenneth Palmer Yvonne - By Kenneth Palmer June - By Kenneth Palmer Babbling Betty - By Kenneth Palmer Betty - By Kenneth Palmer Bake - Probably By Joan Walter Sherry - Probably By Joan Walter Janice - By Kenneth Palmer Joan - By Kenneth Palmer Lynette - By Kenneth Palmer Dot - By Kenneth Palmer Margo - Probably By Joan Walter Shirley - By Kenneth Palmer Joan - By Kenneth Palmer New Entry School - Know your bends and hitches - By Max Coward Eyres - Probably By Joan Walter Dean - Probably By Joan Walter Simpkin - Probably By Joan Walter Ron - By Kenneth Palmer Siv - By Kenneth Palmer Doc - By Kenneth Palmer Hindson - By Kenneth Palmer Bandy - By Kenneth Palmer Sharpy - By Kenneth Palmer Clifton - Probably By Joan Walter Cocky - Probably By Joan Walter George - By Kenneth Palmer Topple - Probably By Joan Walter Jukes - Probably By Joan Walter .6 Artwork Mr Barker - Possibly By Maxwell D. Berlyn Mr Aston - By Shirley M. Ross John - Possibly By Maxwell D. Berlyn Chris - By Shirley M. Ross Rus - By Shirley M. Ross Pimp - By Robert Tantau Phonso - By Robert Tantau The Stud Room - By Robert Tantau Auntie Shirl - Possibly By Maxwell D. Berlyn Miss Morgan - By Rosemary Hullick Hand Grenade - By Shirley M. Ross Plane - By William E. Ross Potty - Possibly By Maxwell D. Berlyn Beverley - By Shirley M. Ross Beth - By Rosemary Hullick Gwen - By Rosemary Hullick Sadie - By Shirley Ross M. Cutter - Possibly By Maxwell D. Berlyn Dingdong - By Robert Tantau Blue - By Shirley M. Ross Hoffy - By Shirley M. Ross ballarat school of mines, magazine, joan walter, kevin j. whiter, kingsley bremmer, d. spence, neville reeve, p. banfield, r. sudholz, n. lumsden, john g. procter, peter j. wilson, john w. jolly, stanley s. parker, john a. mckenzie, beatrice e. burgess, p. maloney, f. daykin, margaret mcleod, dr pound, peter h. marxsen, f. g. procter, c. fairbank, dawn williams, c. hoffman, t. trengrove, n. t. bunning, d. t. kellock, a. f. heseltine, dr h. hirst, w. s. stuckey, e. j. mcconnon, ron cairns, gwen spiers, f. l. collins, a. w. bridson, j. j. hanrahan, h. brew, g. w. cornell, j. t. collins, r. w. whitla, s. mayo, n. bunning, l. o. brown, g. v. bergin, r. r. watson, t. kellock, a. j. murdock, r. w. richards, a. c. miller, a. v. gilpin, t. r. gordon, r. p. flower, h. yates, d. mullins, w. wilkinson, l. hillman, alison johnson, a. jones, m. fogarty, hester darby, j. allsop, w. paterson, a. lambert, h. goldsmith, m. mctaggett, c. king, m. harland, g. g. procter, n. w. penrose, r. r. calder, s. williams, c. g. jeffery, d. i. johnston, j. sutherland, r. h. lonie, f. e. ferguson, b. law, j. lochhead, david coburn, jack scala, douglas dean, alan wilson, doris pengalley, roma sudholz, ken palmer, winnie beckwith, tonie hilton, jean waller, david hobson, william rowe, robert allen, mrs smail, betty young, william blackie, alfred mckenzie, peggy crosbie, lloyd lehman, d. judd, rex h. holliocke, david j. jelbart, ian d. mclachlan, frederick g. savage, john m. blainey, b. hewitt, roy e. mawby, maxwell f. murray, g. sewell, lindsay g. pattenden, neville morton, william h. wray, john e. ambrosio, ronald d. cairns, kenneth s. lindsay, graeme w. scarfe, john middlin, william hewett, victor m. mcgrath, john s. spittle, alfred e. temby, d. young, willis brown, b. sherrit, r. jillet, nola hornbuckle, jean sewell, maureen walsh, margery ross, m. james, n. sewell, winifred m. beckwith, olive whitworth, winifred stevens, j. waller, mavis connell, r. gladman, n. pitcher, heather duncan, patricia gleeson, margaret stevens, edna stevens, reita rowe, rosemary gillett, roy mawby, kevin whiter, robert morgan, laurie krausgrill, don lucas, gilbert j. troplis, j. hanrahan, w. sutherland, b. bowman, l. clifton, w. coad, i. james, k. eberhart, g. jukes, k. dean, k. george, ronald healey, r. montgomery, t. aggett, r. hocking, m. grinham, m. lawless, k. cartledge, g. clifton, d. halson, g. hindson, w. hon, howard mcwilliam, w. haire, r. sargent, m. mccarthy, c. sadoe, a. spicer, w. nunn, m. tweedale, l. weir, r. watson, l. wilson, k. spalding, k. east, w. holdsworth, e. jackson, j. anderson, t. shaw, w. whittle, d. morris, w. fisher, g. toplis, a. hughes, w. coles, f. atchinson, f. gallagher, t. hewitt, a. ward, r. lambert, w. brogden, r. farquhar, j. james, l. keen, s. h. jones, max coward, esme atkins, maxwell d. berlyn, shirley campbell, dorothy a. casey, patricia j. coates, shirley m.j. cook, patricia a. fitzsimmons, denise l. gilbert, maurine o. grose, barbara c. hanrahan, louis c. huisman, rosemary hullick, kevin a. mcphee, dorothy p. parker, lois m. pedrazzi, jean m. rizzoli, shirley m. ross, william e. ross, shirley m. roepcke, robert w. tantau, w. howard tozer, john b. vernon, delores weatherill

Newspaper supplement to The Sun News Pictorial, Tuesday 30/9/1924 - "Victoria Country Centres - No. 4". Has extensive notes on Ballarat, its history, civic history, and personalities. or figures. Page 11 - photo from the Town Hall, Avenue of Honour Arch, rowing, Hospital including W J Hoare, R H Ramsey of the Ballarat Cricket Association, Mr Charlie Suffren, J R Jopling, R W Todd. Page 12 - Ballarat and district history, industry, statistics, School of Mines. Has a photo of the Lydiard St Methodist church. Page 13 - Civic Identities - A E Kenny, Frederick Brawn MLC, W R Elsworth, Frank Herman, Alex Bell MLC, notes on Ballarat Power supply ESCo and SECV - Yallourn vs local generation, and an advertisement for Tyler's men's clothing and house furnishings. Page 14 - Ballarat sports, Cr Robert Cooke, South St, Craigs Hotel, photo of Ballarat Woollen Mills, the observatory, and an advert for A M Heath, Booksellers, stationer. Page 15 - Advert for Barlow Motors, Mining exchange building, Buick and Vauxhall motor cars Page 16 - South St competition adverts, schools, Mayor Levy, W J Coghlan, railway and wheat traffic, Myer's woollen mill, J T Walker furniture. Page 17 - advert to T M Burke - real estate - Forest St estate Page 18 - photos of the Executive's office, the Water Board - F Brown, A Farrer, W Brazenor, J C Fletcher, F W Saunders and G M Searle. Football league - A A O'Dea, W R Elsworth, J R Cooke, Cr F Besemeres. Brind's Diestillery of Dunnstown - Frank Brind and Harold Gill. W Ware boxing. Photos of St Andrew's Kirk and live livestock market with Graeme Dowling, Gold diggings. Page 19 - Council officers - G F Morton, A Levy, H Finch, J Pascoe, C J Liddiard, W McIntosh, W P Pryor and E R Marchani. South St Society W W Harris, W H Pearson, W S Sampson, A A King, F J Martell, F S Herman, A A O'Dea. Photos of Woollen mill, Sunshine biscuits, Ballarat Water pipe, Golf Club, Ballarat High School, Bridge St with tram and Golden Point monument. Page 20 - notes on racing, red cross - Mrs James Coghlan, fire brigade, sewerage scheme. Photo of Ballarat Freezing Co meat works with adverts for Craig's Hotel and the Ballarat Trustees Executors & Agency Co. Page 21 - General items re Tylers, city of statues, George Hotel, Barlow's cars, Eva Chemist, Dr W A Spring - racing, with an advert for Millers the Clothiers, Page 22 - Ballarat streets, Adam Lindsay Gordon cottage in grounds of Craig's Hotel, Miller's clothing store, with adverts for the Annual Spring agricultural show, and EVA's pharmacy. Page 23 - Photo of Sturt and Lydiard St with two trams, one possibly 13 in an accident with a motor car, photos of McDonald gates, Loreto Abbey with a racing people - Dave Barry, C L Fox, andHarry McGoldrick. Has adverts for Gribble suits and J T Walker furnishers. Page 24 - notes on real estate, stock agents, with photos of Miss McDonald of Red Cross, Mr and Mrs James Allan, Mr H H Osborne, and an advert for Sunshine Biscuits. Page 25 - Photos of the School of Mines, Orphanage, football crowd and Miss D Balten and Miss K Kennedy tennis with adverts for Macleod and Booth stock and station agents and The George Hotel. Page 26 - advert for Melbourne Sub-division company - Capitol House Melbourne.Yields information about Ballarat, its civic history, and personalities in 1924.Newspaper, 16 printed pages with photographs.ballarat, ballarat history, civic history, tramways, accidents