The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-13 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT AT ABERYSTWITIL
DROWNED IN A BATHING MACHINE.

The following letter appears in the Time.,:
"Sir,—This morning at breakfast the visitors of this hotel
Were alarmed at an occurrence, attended with loss of life,
when using a bathing-machine, to Mr. Stuckey, of Chelten-
ham. The news was brought by Dr. Blakely, of Hereford,
who, like me, stays here for his health, and who escaped
with his life. The following is the case as near as I can
explain:—Aberystwith, from its fine position, rises each
year in public estimation, and to aid in the formation of a
good parade near the sea its authorities have allowed the
sea to be hemmed in on each side of the bay by high walla.
The middle of the bay is as nature =Welt, I% gradual slope, and
here are very properly placed the bathing-machines for
ladies, so that should a heavy sea strike them they can re-
"le to the shore without danger. But under one of the
side walls alluded to are the bathing-machines for gentle-
men, and these wallsbeing so close to the sea at high water
bathing becomes dangerous, as this catastrophe will show.
At high tide this morning some bathing-machines were
under this wall, and bathers, too, for who thinks of danger
is using a bathing-machine An unexpected horsy sea,
however, lifted the machines, dashed them against the
sent my friend Dr. Blakely through his machine, and
In retiring carried with it the unfortunate Mr. Stuckey and
the wreck of the bathing machines. Mr. Stuckey was
drowned, and, although he might havebeen a good swimmer
it is probable he was struck by parts of the wreck and
prevented swimming ashore. I am quite aware this
is a very dangerous place to put off a boat,
especially in such a sea, and am also satisfied the men in
charge of the machines did all they could to save lives.
The bravery of Watkin Lewis, son of the owner of the
bathing-machines, deserves high commendation, for he
saved the lives of his father and brother, and did all in
his power to rescue Mr. Stuckey. But what I wish to
arse attention to as an observer of cane* and effect,
is the absurdity of allowing bathing-machines to be
need under such A sea-wall There is an ill-looking
block of buildings nearer the middle of the bay that
might be removed, so that bathing-machines being there
would have room behind them to recede, instead of being
dashed to pieces as they were this morning. I bear from
some of the authorities that immediate steps will be taken
to prohibit bathing in such weather and under such dream-
stances at Aberystwith, but the idea merely of being emashed
and drowned whileusing &loathing-machine is so absurd that
I take the liberty of asking your attention to these re-
as a warning to bathers In general, and to the an-
ti?" ties of other places that may possibly have such con-
ditions for drowning.—l remain, sir, yours faithfully
i
"G. TIDCOMBI, nn., 0.8.0
" The Castle Hotel, Aberystwith, Sept. 10.

PARLUMENTARY REFORIL—SALFOILD.—A very
neanimona meeting was held in the Temperance HAIL
Lamb-lane, Salford, last evening, tinder the auspioss of
the Northern Department of the Reform League, Mr.
Brawl Jones in the chair. Reeohitiesa were passed with
sielemation pledging shone present to support and join in
e demonstration on the 24th instant, and earnestly
milling Mt. Bright to be present on that coossion.