By Isle of Wight Observer
One hundred and thirty-seven years ago this week the Isle of Wight Observer published on 27th October 1888 a description of the impact of a dense fog. The article describes how those who live on the mainland do not always understand the realities of living on an island.
THE FOG. – On Wednesday the Island was enveloped in a dense fog, which effectually stopped all traffic. The steampackets did not run till the afternoon, and as a consequence the letters and newspapers failed to reach Ryde till mid-day. The charge against the Post Office employé, Rabson, had to be postponed till the next day, as the prosecuting solicitor and principal witness were unable to get over here, owing to the same cause. It is on such conditions as these, which have of late years become of frequent occurrence, that our residents have fully realised what is it to be denizens of an island. At a recent meeting held at Winchester, to discuss business connected with the new County Council, one of the speakers opined that the Isle of Wight was not more difficult of access than many other parts of the county. But the recurrence of these fogs is a complete answer. They show what an isolated community we really are. Let us suppose that a meeting of the County Council, or of a committee, was to have been held last Wednesday to discuss a question of vital importance. The whole of the representatives from the Isle of Wight would have been prevented attending, and the Island would have been practically disfranchised, as far as the County Council was concerned!