The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-09-21 00:00:00

THRRE MEN DROWNED IN FRONT OF THE
I ESPLANADE AT WEYMOUTH.

Avery sad accident occurred on Seedily afternoon laM.
in Weymouth Bay, in the preemies of hundreda of pro-
nnundan bent on pleasant, and who were entirely un-
prupered for the terrible sensation that awaited them.
The lea Vete very rough; but in spite of this aid If the
mmedinens of the day, a number of fishermen Imre yar-
ning their hemetions sailing in the front. Among them
were • Parte diner, named William Watch, an elderly
fisherman of Weymouth, Samuel Chick and William
I Chink, also of Weymouth, and George Watts, who bee
been living at Wyke, but who was formerly a carpenter
at Blandford. About half-pest four these men were In
• Punt nearly opposite the house of Ift. Trenebard on
the Greenhill They had a net In the stern of the boat,
and the rope by some means got entangled in the
thwart. On this they tacked the boat to clear the
rope, *ben a heavy 'slop" came in over the stern, and
the punt instantly went down stern foremost with the
four men. This was about twenty minutes to five.
William Chick almost immediately struck himself dem
of the net and boat, and mired a floating oar, and the
other three also seised len ; but it is supposed that they
must have been entangled in the net, for, although ea-
eessint swimmers, they failed to get clear. Having
omotod herself of the met, the beet immediately floated
again, and Watch, Samuel Chick, and Watts imbed her
and tried to right her. Hampered, ae it wee supposed
they were, with then:vet or net, they Dodd not manage
it properly, and turned her over Weimer four times, and
being at last exhausted they sank. Chick thereon, who
bad been supporting himeelf in the water clear of the
dangerous entanglement, seem to the punt; but whether
he found her right, or righted her, he does not
know, the whole affair happming In lees time
then it takes to write of a. In the meantime
the boat, which had been launched front the
shore approached; one contained Sergeant Brine, P.C.
Hansford, end an old men named George Bart, who
promptly launched on observing the seeidebt, and
another fishing host wee put off by her drew. Sergeant
Brine omilffoodomi got into the punt; hat the party
found they had but one knife between them. Fortu-
nately they Were able to cut the net clear. In the mean-
time Burt had seen Watch ening and oinking, and pulled
to the place ; but the unfortunate man had gone down.
Burt, however, saw his cap floating on the water, and,
thrusting down his arm in that place, be was able to
feel Watch and pull him out. Immediately be rowed
ashore with Watch leaving the other fishing boat to
search for the two sunken men. Chick and the police
followed in the punt. Poor Watch was laid on the
shingle, and the greatest activity was displayed by the
inhabitants in the neighbourhood, who palled the
blenketa from their own beds, and hurried dollen to the
beach. The Mayor, Mr. IL Devenish, and others,
brought hot water-bottle( and dilatants 08 various
kinds. The Burgeon and assietant.eurgeoh of the Slat.,
were meant, and Dr. 'fiord, end Dr. Griffin, and Dr.
Rhodes, came directly slier, and under their guidance,
the means proper for the recovery of drowned persons
were wed, and enlisted in for two hours, bat un-
happily without effort. The excitement wes yen groat.
and Supt. Vickery had to enrage some soldiers to keep
the ground and prevent the crowd from pressing on the
party who were endeavouring to restore the drowned
man. Al length the efforts weie seen to be hopeless,
and Watch wee removed to the Bunion Hotel Tap.
Tbe other boat liked continually for the other bodies,
but without MOW&
Dr. lizard and Dr. Griffin made another effort at the
publichoum to reetions life ; but without effect. The
police engaged a host to drag for the bodied next
morning. All four are stated to have been excellent
swimmers, so it is supposed the three who lost their
lives were entangled in the rope or net.