The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-06-30 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

MOROI SUMMON. —Bnbociptiotui are DOW being
collected for erecting a church on the hill, at the Grove,
and Captain Meaning has headed the list with the
handsome sum of £5O. There is also a movement on
foot for the enlargement of St. John's church, at
Fortune'. Well. n. is rendered necessary to afford
accommodation for the military who now attend it, in
aditton to the usual congregation.

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DitcwlllD WHILST BATHING. —On Friday afternoon
last the coroner for this district, R. N. Howard, Fescl,,
held an inquiry at the Royal Victoria LA PHotel.
touching the death of Robert Wiggett. who was
drowned near the Mere. Portland, on Thursday after.
itoon. The jury viewed the body, and the following
evident!e was adduced.—William White, • little boy arid
eleven years, said he resided with his parents at ChasiL
On Thursday afternoon he went to bathe with the
deceased and another boy named William White, out to
the Hun. The deceased undressed himself and went
Into the water. He beard the deceased cry out "
Will, lam going." He bad been in the water about a
qui rter of an hour when the deceased cried oat He
was trying to swim, and was lying on his face at the
time. He saw the deceased sink twice, and then be
disappeared. Ha was about 93 yards Irons the deceased
when he sank. He went to help him, and the demonised
caught him by the arm and dragged him into the water
'up to his neck, and he afterwards let go of
I his hold. He cried out to souse men who
were gathering some perriwinkles for help.
John Bildt and William White were with them,
but they were near the shore. The men same
their assistance. Robert Lan° dragged the deceased out
of the water, and pieced him on the grass. The deceased
had been under water about ten minutes from tbe time
he let him go until Robert Lano brought him ashore.
—Robert "ARO said he was • carpenter, and resided at
Easton. On the day in question he was sear the Black
Boards, in company with two or three others, gettinr
some cockles and periwinkles. He saw sereral boys
bathing near the H. about Nine o'clock. The
deceased was bathing with them. Prior to bathing
the deceased and the other boys were fishing with them.
He hoard the boys cry out that there was a boy
drowned. They held up their ceps. He undressed
himself and swam to the spot, but he did not me the
deoesied when he oink. About twenty minutes after-
wards he saw the deseased in deep water. He was
twisting round and round with the tide, and he had to
dive after him. There was a number of holes close to
the spot where the ships cart their ballast. He held
the decease I in one arm and swim ashore with him.
The body was warm aud be did Dot breathe. He was
quite dead. A young man named Wey went for the
doctor. Joseph Read took the body after be brought
him same. Dr. Carruthers attended the deceased a.id
used every effort to bring biro to life.—Another youth
named William White was sworn and corroborated the
evidence of the previa= witnesses. —Robert Wiggett,
the Dither of the demised, identified the body as his son,
who was nine years of age last December—The f 557
Immediately returned a verdiet "That the deceased was
accidentally drowned at the Ham whilst bathing."