The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-08-23 00:00:00

LAMENTABLE DEATH OF A DORCHESTER
7RADEBMAN.

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C!'".l!Si!'s,

rtzia—Ryde
Sham*lin '
third; Bois
First prize, .
Rowing Club
wood ; Ryde
Blmoode, and
Turner sod I
Ludzmnouthpeire
aZa.eod J. '

Rpwing

Rowing

Ride

I!.:G.

-H;iter,

Quito a gloom was cast over the town on Monday
lad by the news that Mr. Thomas Wilson, sculptor,
a young and highly respected tradesman of this town,
had met with his death by drowning, at Bournemouth.
The cirenmetances are peculiarly sad, and much
sympathy is felt for his widow and child. From the
evidence adduced at the inquest, which was held the
same day, before Mr. J. Druitt, coroner, it appear'
the deceased went on the beach, near the pier, to
babe with three companions, and was seised with
cramp whilst out of his depth. He was men by his
friends to sink, and they, being some distance from
him, could render him no aid, and he was drowned.
The body wee not recovered till some time afterwards.
He was only 24 years of age,
Tim INQuker
on the body WM held at the Rowing Club Boathouse
In the afternooe, before J. Drnitt, Esq., jun., deputr
coroner. Mr. G. Fudge was chosen foreman of the
jury, and the body having been viewed the following
evidence was taken :
William Townion said he was manager to Mr.
Brown, fishmonger. He wee bathing from the beach
this morning, at about • quarter-past sever:, and was
coming towards the shore, on the west aide of the pier,
jest below the boathouses. Just as he got within
depth he heard someone cry, "Help." He looked in
the direction from whence the cry proceeded but could
see no one. except two men on the bathing raft. He
wax midway between the raft and the shore. Thinking
it was the men on the raft who had called, sod that
they were only joking, became • little further towards
the shore when some one said there was • man drown.
lug. He Immediately swam out, calling out, • Where."
When he got parallel with the pier steps, about fifty
yards westward, he caught sight of the back of • man's
head, with the face downwards. It was about half •
dozen yards further out to sea. He struck out as hard
as he could, but when he reached the spot the man had
disappeared. He was • little exhausted, but as soon
as he could get hi, breath he dived about, endeavouring
to find the body. The water was so thick he could
seareely see his hand under it. Noticing someone
putting off from the shore, he put his hand up and
remained in the same position. It was nearly ten
minutes before any grappling irons or other appliances
were obtained. He kept swimming about the spot till
about a quarter to eight, but saw nothing of the body
till at last it was washed in to shore, nearly in a
straight line from where he last saw it disappear. A
men espied it from the pier. and someone walked in
from the shore and took it out from the water. There
was no sea on, but • heavy ground swell. The tide
was flowing in. The swell made the water shallow at
one moment and deep at the next. It was not
sufficiently powerful to take any one off his feet,
though it would take him out a his depth. There
was, however, • strong under current.
George Sutton, upholaarer, living at 1, Taunton.
terrace, said he knew the dee:need. He was 25 rears
of age, and was a stone carver. His home was at Dor-
chester, but he had been lodging at 22, The Triangle.
He and deoes,sed were bathing together from the beach
that morning. They came down at about seven
o'clock, accompanied by Mr. White and Mr. Ham-
comb*. Deceased gave him to understand he could
swim. Dimmed went into the water first, and witness
followed him, but he did not notice whether he swam
at all. They had bathed together yesterday (Sunday)
morning, but that was the only time. Witness could
swim • little, but not much, and never went out of
his depth. White, who followed him into the water,
swam straight off to the raft. When he last saw the
deceased he was standing with the water up to his
armpits, facing the shore. Witness then threw him.
self on his back. A little while after he stood up,
and looked round, but could see nothing of Wilson.
White and Hensoombe were on the rya. He saw
Townson directly be mimed Wilson, and said,
'There's a man gone there." Townson at once swam
In the direction indicated, and witness ran to the
boathouse to get • boat out. Some one got a boat out
directly, but who it was he could not tell. He helped
to bunch another boat, and then feeling he could do
no further good, he went and put on his clothes.
Wilson had been living here for several months, but
he could not say how long. Be was • strong, healthy
man, and he had heard no complaint as to his being
unwell. He appeared quite right when he went into
the water.
Benjamin B. White said he was one of the party of
lone who came down to bathe this masa He
walked ant as tar as he could towards the and
when the water became too deep be turned and
told Hmactombe they would have to swim. lie saw
'Wilson on the top of • breaker. He appeared to
jump up as the wave him. He was some dis-
tance nearer the shore than witness, and Dauer the Pier.
On reaching the raft he rested for • short time with
Hanscombe. Be heard nothing of Wilma being
missing till he reached the shore. His attention was
taken up with Hansoombe, who appeared to be giving
out, and asked him if he oonil "bottom." He saw
Sutton, and mold tell brhis face there was something
the muter. He saw Townson with his band up.
When he last saw Wilson he was walking. Witness
had bathed with him once before, but mold not say
whether he could swim or not; deceased told them he
could. The OM was calm, except when the great
rollers came in.
Oscar Cl. Mootham said be was on the beach that
morning at about ha-peer seven. He heard that a
rem was drowned, and came to the club-rooms with
other man and got • boat out. That was the third
boat. People were searching heat the steps at the
Pier. He We'd that the men who was drowned could
ot wink and told them that in that case they
_bad
getter look nearer the shore. He then saw the body,
but before he could reach it someone walked in from
the shore and took hold of it. Witness, however,
jumped out of the beat, and helped to take the body
ashore. They laid it on the sands, and endeavoured
to restore animation. Their efforts were unsuccessful,
and they than took a board and carried deceased
up to the boat-house, where they made further
efforts, Dr. Nankivell and Dr. Thompson then came
and they able tried to restore life, but without success.
Them was • smooth sea, with rolling waves, as was
very often the cam after stormy weather. It was
not a dangerous sea to bathe in, and the water was
warm.
By the Jury : He maw no sign of life when the
body was taken out. There was no appearance of

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cramp.
The Coroner briefly summed up the evidence to
the jury, who returned [a verdict of " Accidently
Drowned?
A ftw iman expreseed the opinion that there should
bet 'boat kept near the bathing station, and at the
request of the jury Dr. Druitt promised that he would
Ii y the matter before the Commissioners.
Mr. klootham suggested that what was wanted was
that there should be • large net which could be run out
In cases of this .art; had there been such • net on the
present occasion the body could have been recovered
In three mientes,—probably in time for animation to
have been restored.
The jury having thanked Mr. Townson focfcleleizal.
hint efforts to save the deceased, the pr
terzabluted•

BOURN MICOI7TEC.
Rsosprs.—The annual regatta took place on
Thursday. The sea was lumpy and unsuited to skil-
ful rowing. There was a very large number of
spectators. The results of matches were :—Sailing
boats, 18ft. and upwards—First, Wm. Haynes;
second, W. Spencer. Ditto, not exceeding lfift.—
First, W. Turner; second. W. lieckford •, third,
Henry Cutler, Junior. Sculling.—J. Tnmey, Bourne-
mouth, first; H. Evans, Southses, second. Coast-
guard gigs, rowed by Coastguardsmen.—Bournemouth
first, Bmokses I.land second, Senior Fours with
priz" Els ; second ; third ES. The
Club crew took the first prize ;
tub second; Poole Rowing Club
--n a bad fourth. Junior fours.
:12 ; second. £6: third, £2. Sunthses
t crew, first; Shanklin Rowing Club.
s Rowing Club, third. Senior pairs H,
F. Foghill, of South's's. took first; .T.
New Bournemouth, second. In
first and second prizes were taken by
some. H. Simonds, of South's*, took
Bournemouth, second, In SWor

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