The Isle of Wight County Press has been bringing Islanders the news since 1884. We've delved into our archives.

125 years ago, in July 1899:

A terrible disaster occurred in the Solent  when the starboard engine on torpedo destroyer HMS Bullfinch exploded, killing eight men and injuring several others. The vessel had completed a series of trials and was running at high speed towards Cowes when the explosion occurred. Volumes of steam filled the engine room, terribly scalding the occupants, eight of whom died.

A children's wing at the Royal IW Infirmary and County Hospital was set up to commemorate Queen Victoria's long reign. 

Charles Dennis of Ventnor appeared in Ryde court charged with swearing at the top of his voice for half an hour. His voice could be heard some 60 yards away from his house and he continued swearing until he was exhausted and was taken to bed. He was fined 7s 6d (371/2p) and 8s (40p) costs.

A huge fire broke out at Messrs. Sibbick and Co in Cowes. So furious were the flames that in a short space of time the fire had covered a large extent of the ground and the blaze lit up surrounding buildings and masts.

100 years ago, in July 1924:

Camp Hill convict George Jones, 45, of London, was working in a party of prisoners, building officers' quarters, when he got away unnoticed and escaped into Parkhurst Forest. A hole was found cut in a high barbed-wire fence and he concealed himself in the forest until nightfall. A search overnight proved fruitless until traces of the prisoner were found in the Osborne district where a cottage had been entered. Jones was finally recaptured 30 hours after escaping.

75 years ago, in July 1949: 

Adjacent buoys marking the fairways in the Solent were extinguished just days after they had been serviced. When the problem was investigated it was found that a swarm of bees had invaded the top cowl of each lantern, virtually starving the gas lights of oxygen. It is thought the bees were carried out over the sea by wind and were attracted to the buoys by the lantern's light and warmth.

Around £15,000 was needed to repair and reinstate Victoria Pier in Cowes, Cowes Council members heard. The committee approved the scheme in principle, although some members felt more money would be needed to complete the work.  

50 years ago, in July 1974:

All records were smashed at the 76th annual county show at Northwood as ideal weather brought the biggest turn-out ever, with 10,000 people attending.

Fairlee was favoured as the location for the Island's fifth largest high school and other locations were effectively dismissed by the county education committee.

Early morning singing by a Camp Hill prisoner nicknamed Elvis Presley annoyed other inmates so much that they attacked him, Winchester Crown Court heard. An attacker was given a further nine months' sentence.

A defendant at Newport Guildhall made a dash for freedom and tried to leap over a 16ft high balcony after being sentenced to 30 days in prison. Officials foiled the escape attempt by clinging to the man.

Hovertravel unveiled a new £1 million hovercraft to provide a faster service on its Ryde to Southsea route.

Plans to create a medieval theme village in the centre of Newport rested on a wrangle over car parking spaces.