The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-06 00:00:00

DISTRE.YS!NG qOCCURRENCE.

A most melancholy accident (says the Initehavea Ga-
zette) happened here on Wednesday morning last. James
Cardew, son of J. Cardew, F,sq. Collector of Excise, and
Mr. William Muncastcr, grocer, were bathing behind the
North Wall, about seven o'clock in the morning, and
having got beyond their depth, Mr. Cardew was unfortu-
nately drowned. Mr. M. and the unfbetunate sufferer
went out together from the rocks below the William Pitt,
just at the time of low water. and the tide was ttnnsally
far out ; and it appears they had proceeded some distance
northwards along a sand bank that runs In that direction ;
they had been out about a quarter of an hour, when they
attempted to return, but instead e retracing their steps,
they took a direct course for the shore, end had not gone
far.before they came into deep water. The deceased, who
was first, cried he was getting bevOnd his depth. Mr.
Muncaster immediately made towards him, to tender him
assistance. They hail hold of each ether for some time,
and both were in danger of meeting a watery grave ; but
in the struggle, Mr. Cardew, probably through weelness,
lost hold of his friend, and the waters closed above him
for ever. Mr. M. with great difficulty reached the shore,
much exhausted, and the alarm was soon spread. Unfor-
tunately there was no one on the beach who could render
any assistance ; the revenue boat, indeed, soon reached the
place, but being unprovided with drags, the men were un-
successful in t.leir search and retired. Some delay took
place before other boats could be sent out--sotne sailors,
with more of worldly wisdom than humanity in their dis-
position (a fault by no means characteristic of this clam
of persons, and confined, we hope. to the two or three un-
feeling fellows to whom we allude) refusing tithes to
lend their assistance, or allow the boats the had charge
of to go out, until assured of being paid. Three or four
boats were at length put off, and with the assistance of the
revenue beat, under the direction of Mr. Paisley and some
other officers of excise, every exertion *As made, by cast-
ing nets, &c. to recover the body, but we are sorry so ray
without effect: nor, up to this day (Monday), have any
tidings been heard of it. The unfortunate deceased was lre
the 19th year of his age, and was very generally beloved
amongst his acquaintance, as was fully evinced by the in-
terest and anxiety shown by a number of young men for
the recovery of the body. One peculiar feature in this
melancholy affair we cannot omit mentioning: there were
two of Mr. Cardew's sisters, with two other young ladies
about to bathe not far from the place where their unfor-
tunate brother toe: his untimely end; and the agony cf
their feelings on learning his fate may be better conceived
than descried: one of them would have rushed into the
water to attempt his rescue, had she not been restrained by
her companions. Mr. Cardew's father was from In me tit
the time, and when it is considered that the deceased was
the only son of a family of eight children, we can scarcely
conceive a more distressing case than the loss of this in-
teresting and promising youth. We trust this afflicting
case will be a caution to persons bathing, especially those
who cannot swim, not to venture out at low water, as the
ground is then perfectly unknown to them. The boatmen
who were searching for the body state, that there is from
3 to 4 feet greater depth of water between the bind: where
these young men had bathed, and the shore. Ti.e only
safe method for those who are learning to swim is to wade
right out as far as they find it convenient, and then. swim
direct in shore. The advancing tide always renders it 4:su-
p-mutt to remain long at a distance from shore.