The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-06 00:00:00

OF DBVONPORT DOCKYARD.

An inquest eras held in her Majesty's dockyard,
Dsvoaport, on Tuesday, on view of the body of Douglas
Dent, Esq., storekeeper of her Majesty's dockyard, who lost
his life on the prosodist day under the following circum-
stances. Mr. Dent and two of his sone, one a limesaat in
the Royal Navy, and the other a clerk in the dockyard,
proceeded into the Bound to fhb. Their boat was a small
one, known as a " dingy," and was rather croak. After
enjoying their sport for a short time they thought of re-
totems, and between 6 and 6 o'clock in the evening,
sail being hoisted, they steered in towards Hameln, Mr.
Dent holding the tiller. They had reached the " bridge,"
a ridge of suakea rocks connecting St. Nicholas's Island
with Mount lidgeumbe, and were just cff Redding
Point, when it was noticed that the gear of the
sail wanted correction. Lieutenant Dent accordingly
stepped on the middle thwart of the boat, and reached aloft,
in order to reeve the halyards. Whilst he was so engaged,
a puff ofwind, blowing from the north-east, caught the
sail, and gave the beat a lurch. Lieut. Dent perceiving the
danger of an upset, if he should remain oa the thwart,
leaped out of the boat; she, however, continued to Cast
over, mad was immediately caosised. casting Mr. Dent and
his other son tato the water. The lieutenant was the only
owe of the three who could swim, and by hie aid the other
two were able to get hold of the boat ; be also attempted to
di mgegs the mast, but it resisted hie efforts, and the little
esesel was rolled over and over, and at each tura those
who were struggling for their litres were drawn ander water,
or with difficulty kept their holdfast. They were thue
dangerously exposed for a quarter of au hour, daring which
time Lieutenant Dent gave to his father every support it
was passible for him to render io their dreadful satiation,
but notwithataudisg all his efforts, there was one m mute
. _ _ . _

when M had ski; agony of seeing hie fatll;r totally
immersed. He states, however, that the deceased was cool
end collected daring the whole of the trying time, and, pro-
bably, could aid have hem rendered at as earlier moment,
the fatal catastrophe would not hare occurred. At Megth
some shore boats came to their rescue. Mr. Drat was the
first takes from the water. He 'speared quits senseless.
The Magmata form was taken to Cremill with all despatch,
sad wse carried to 0 ' Ferry lan, where Dr. Kidd, the
medical_ patients& in attendance on board the Earl of
hi oust Ed geu mU's yacht, was speedily pelmet, and together
with Dr. Nelda, of the elleskyard, sad Mr. J. May, musses,
'beaks mesa &gifted at the lan, prosody used every @sor-
ties *Moslems Gould suggest to resuscitate the body, but
without avail; Weed, it le probable that all vitality was
but el the time the deceased was takes from the water.
The kidy was removed the same eveniag to the home in
the deskyard which had been the official residuum of the
deesesei. Lientemat Dist sad his brother were both
Ise= ...e...2.,7i..:46but threat M
te. ark ;hay
wasted,
an,dtt.iffesse:,tic.
leg the lei escaped from great peril. The following morn-
ht 'must was held at the dockyard, before F.
, Esq., germs, of lieltseb, sad a jury composed of
eases of the prolog which W. Bays, 114., MUM'
igia.lNS feemmea, when, after Lien. mast Dent and Dr.
had hems mamisied, a verdict Is &economies with
the amidestal Ware of the event was returned. The
demand woe 12 peers of age; from youth his life has bus
devoted* the Wise alb* pukka. and almost emissive:l
is dim Mae peered through the dd.
forest adobe.
Miserly bemuse meets
to the
Mai mpeeleisailest, wes afterwards appointed stor►
keeper of the stsemyard at Keybam, and themes was re-
tranderred to the dockyard, sad for several yeah he ha•
bold the storekeepetship of that establishmeat. His duties
were elwaye performed assiduously and faiUtfelly ; his
manners were chemist sad urbane, end whik he 'commended
the respect of all who had dallier with him, he inspired r
kledlier ("flies is thou who enjoyed his friendship. Hie,
less will be !mg regretted by those who were hie esacciates ,
or his enhordleater sa the mtabliihment la which he ktmsell
attained a high position.