The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-18 00:00:00

THE DANGER OP BATHING IN THE RIVER

LEA.

Mr. Humphreys, the Middlesex coroner, held an
inquest last eveniug, at the Three Cups Tavern, High-
street, Bow, toe the death of Charles Wm. Osman,
aged 18 years.
The deceased was assistant to a warehouseman, and he
resided at No. 18, James-etreet, St. Luke's. On Saturday
morning at 11 o'clock he left his home for the purpose of
enjoying a day's fishing in the river Lea.
Wm. Southcoste, a companion of the deceased, said that
at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon the young man was
standing on the banks of the Lea, near Bow. He was
fishing, and a portion of his rod and line fell into the
water. In trying to recover it the deceased slipped into
the river. He managed to get out of the water, and he
then took off his wet clothes and hung them on a rail
to dry. While they were drying he said be would go
into the river and bathe. While in the act of doing so
he sank. A young man named William Reed dived into
the river after the deceased. He dived several times, and
after an hour's search he brought up the deceased's body.
Inspector Kerressey, K division, said that he had placed
three policemen on duty near the Lea to warn persons
against the danger of bathing in it.
Police-constable Joseph Goodson, K, said that his
orders were to warn and prevent unskilled persons
bathing in the Lea. Bathing in that river was very dan-
gerous, and witness had the greatest difficulty in pre-
venting numbers of young men going into it. On Sunday
last, while he was warning a number of persona of the dan-
ger of bathing in the river, he was actually stoned. Men
and boys threw the stones on the day of the fatal occur-
rence. Witness heard a cry that the deceased was drown-
ing, and he was present when the body was recovered,
quite dead.
The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a
verdict, "That the deceased was accidentally drowned
while bathing in the waters of the River Lea."

THE PRINCE OF WALES AS A CRICKETER.—His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales made his first sp.
pearance yesterday in the cricket-field since his college days
at Oxford. The match was played at Sandringham, and
the Prince formed one of the celebrated " I Zingari" twelve
against the Gentlemen of Norfolk. It will be seen from
our report that the Prince retired without scoring, being
bowled by Mr. Wright. The scores having been sent by
telegraph, we have no particulars of his royal highness's
cricket discomfiture, but he is too much of a sportsman to
be in any way discouraged by his " duck's egg," and we
hope he will be more fortunate in his oes*nd innings.
Spurting Life.
LIFEBOAT SERVICES. COURTOWN, IRELAND,
JULY 16.—At midday (writes J. S. Scott, Esq.) a large
barque was reported to have gone on the Blackwater Bank.
The Alfred and Ernest lifeboat, of the National Lifeboat
Institution, stationed at Coartown, immediately put off to
render assistance. Up to 7.30 p.m., when our despatch
left, the lifeboat had not returned. A telegram
subsequently received from Waterford states that
the vessel proved to be the Pawnee, of New York.
from Liverpool to Monte Video, with coals ; that she
struck on the Blackwater Rank ; that she was abandoned
by her erew, but drifted off ; and that she was taken by a
tug in charge of the omit guard to Waterford. 'Me
Courtown lifeboat was a gift to the National Lifeboat
Institution of the people of Manchester; the cost of that
boat, and of several others, having been benevolently
seised in that town through the jadMatigable exertions of
Robert Whitworth, Esq., and the Rev. K Hewlett. The
boat is named after the eons of the latter gentleman.