The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-10-17 00:00:00

ANOTIIER BOAT ACCIDENT.

THREE MEN DROWNED IN WEYMOUTH BAY,
On Therodey afternoon last another shock-
ingly fetal accident oecarrei in Weymouth Bey,
wher,by a WWI and two boys almost in an instant
lest their lives. The fishing trow Ciroline put out of
Weymouth harbour early in the afternoon, with six
pensons on board, namely James, commonly oiled
"Dobbin," Burt, Harry Burt, Wiliam Bart, R ,hert
Burt, Joseph Sheen, and Robert Barden, two of them
Harry Burt and Robert Burden being young boys about
sight or ten years old. They had on board their pots
and two rdlers. to roll the boat up on the hese], and
were got gto Greenhill for that purpose. The aa and
wind were rough, and when they approached to about
100 yards from the shore, a sea caught the boat, and this
was followed by another, whieh immediately swamped
her,and she went down stern foremost, capsizing a, she
Wink Jos,ph Sheen and one of the Berta struck out to
swim ashore : but had hard work to reach it. Very
quickly, however, the Two Brothers, belonging t) Mr.
Woolsford, a fisherman, who with his mew had sc n
the accident, put off, and by their aesistanv, and
es: really that of Woodsford, they were saved, cno
being got on shore and the others into the Two
Brothers. Robert BLrl, was picked up on an oar, and
was taken home to be recovered, and the body of
Dobbin Burt was washed ashore at Greenhill, and
efforts were made to revive him, but without effect.
The coastguard boat was quickly manned, and pro-
ceeded to the scene of the accident, which is opposite a
part of Greenhill just outside the borough boundary.
Here the fishermen were sweeping with their nett, and
the coastguardamen dragged for the other bodies ; but
without result. About half-past 10 next morning the
body of little Berdon was picked up by John Darner
and Alfred Knight near the Higher Slab*, above
Greenhill, and was taken to the Burden Hotel, to
await an inquest, with the body of James Burt. The
Burt family live in Jockeys-row, Silver-street. North
Qusy, and the Burdens in Old Nicholas-street, Ohapolry.
The incineet was held on Friday afternoon, in a room
at the back of the Burden Hotel, before IT. Look, Esq.,
deputy c,roner, and a respectable jury, of whom Mr.
Hibbs was foreman.

The bodies, whioh were lying in ono of the buildings
'ounces(' with the Hotel Tap, were first viewed. They
were thoso of James Bart, Henry Burt, and Hobert G.
Burden. The following was the evidenoe taken :
William Burt: I sin a fisherman, living at N. 3,
Joeltay's-row, Weymouth. We loft New Quay End,
yesterday afternoon about ten minutes before three. I
bad emomand of the but, Caroline, which it • fiat-
bottomed boat, called • trow. Six got into the boat;
'smelt, Joseph Sheen, Robert G. iltirdon, and the
tire, of any brothers. We went to haul the boat up,
awl went across to the leephouse, where our nets were,
spread upon the beach, and we should have gone fish-
ing. Before we got to the beach. a sea Urn& the
boat, as we were backing towards the beach, eh reed
the stro of the boat under water, and when ahe was
half fell of water, turned her over. We were all
thrown out of the boat. I swam ashore, and so did
Joseph She In. My little brother Robert swans • little
way, took bold of an oar, and put his leg across, and
he wax picked up by Woodsford'a boat. There was no
nett in the tow. Woodsford'a boat tried to pick up
the other: but they were already under water. I left
them, and went home to change my clothes, taking my
brotb.r iloSert with:me, I had remained about ten min.
nt.'s l fore I got out of the water. Wear, in the habit
If nine the boat for OA. perpoeo, and have no other
b.4'. 1 kLow well how to manage a boat ot snit laud ;
but the sea was rough at the time. It was not very
recta when we left the Harbour, but it same on rougher
while we were crossing to the Greenhill. The accident
happened about a quarter or half-put three; it would
take about half-an-hour to go to this place. I am 19
years old, my brother who was drowned is older than
I am; but I know better how to manage a boat than
he does. The trow is a proper boat to be used for this
purpose.
Henry Woodsford : I am • &herniae, residing in
Weymou:h. I was on the beach when we saw the trow
come out of the harbour about three o'clock yesterday
afternoon. We thought it was Doble's boat going to
tho orth Shore, at we didn't think Burt's trow wuuld
venture rot in such rough sea. I was watching them
as th..si came in. anal as they had rounded the stern to
oomo in, Rica struck the boat, and gave her the least
bit of a cent, and another ma struck her, and filled her.
Tre boat was properly managed, nothing could be
manor id better: If I had been in the bosh I could
not hae, avoided such an accident, unless there had
been four strong men in the boat, when they might
perhaps have done better. There was danger in landing
and we went to help them. This WM a boat that we
called a team, and will carry a net about 100 fathoms.
Wreeily the boat turned over, we launched our trow
and calle.4 out to them to hold on their troy. I went
into the water to try to help those who were swimming.
I got ashore, and tiled to help another whom
I saw swimming but he went down before I could get
to him. I saw • body in the water afterwards, and
went itito the water, and fetched out James Burt. lbe
bad been In the water about • quarter of an hour.
Chick Keil I rubbed him • good while, but he wu quite
dead. I helped to bring in Henry Burt. I know tilt se
boys wed, and think them well fitted to bandies boat;
William Burt has been with me all the summer. 110
,'id not need to have so many in the boat; bat five of
them belonged to them; we have brought over 21 in
our boat, and here were only six. The sea began to
"make" about 12 o'clock, and got rougher as the tide
mnds," but they could not see the roughness of the
sea front the Harbour. Supposing I had came out at
this time, and found the sea so rough, I should not have
liked to land on the shore; but should rather have put
back. A more experienced seaman than William Burt
would perhaps have put back, instead of attempting to
laid. They were not within speaking distance of us
when they began to back the best; but after they had
done no they came within speaking distance; but it
wan too late then.to.warn them.

The C,roner : Did not you consider it was the duty
of tho oon shore to prevent them from landing.
The witaeu mid they did all that they could. In
further examination he said no doctor came for half-an.
hour. Did not think any one went for the dopier.