The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-14 00:00:00

AIELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE.

On Thursday last, in the wide part of the
Grand Junction Canal,- on Halton Moor, within a mile of
Wendover, near Aylesbury, a party of six persons, chiefly
inhabitants of Tring (five females and a young man) had en-
gaged a boat to convey them to Wendover, from whence they
proceeded to Velvet Lawn, to spend the day. On their return,
and when they had proceeded about a mile from Wendover, the
boat upset, and two ofthe females (Miss L. Butcher, of Tring,
and Miss M. Allen, of Leighton Buzzard, were unfortunate!
drowned. The ladies were totmd, one about an hourand the other
about two hours afterwards. They were conveyed to the
house of Mr. Win. Reed, near the Reservoir, in the parish of
Wendover, where every means was resorted to withcut effect.
Several religious books were picked up near the spot yesterday
morning, and also a reticule and a book on matrimony, and into
which state we are informed one of the unfortunate females had
been about to enter.

CORONER'S INQUEST.
Mr. William Lake, of Marswordt, Surveyor, a young man
about 20 years of age, said he was in the boat with the two
deceased and three other females, on Thursday night, about
half-past eight o'clock- near Halton Moor; the boat was
towed by a horse, and which was driven by a man and a boy.—
The boy was forward on a gate on the towing path, at the
time the accident took place. The party was perfectly steady,
and the boat was going at the rate of four miles per hour. The
party reached about a mile from iVendover—believed the boat
was going a little faster than before: it became agitated, as if
the horse had given a sudden snatch, when.the fore end pitched
into the water, the boat filled with water, it upset, and the
whole party were immersed. The canal, was deeper than the
height of the witness. Witness could steim'a little, and suc-
ceeded in rescuing three of the females ; by this time the two
deceased females had sunk. He made some efforta to find
them ; but he was quite exhausted, and could not have done
more without endangering his own life. The party was seated
quite steady when the boat was upset; the drivers were quite
steady, and stopped the horse when they were called to, and
Witness could not attach the, least blame to any one.
Robert Falkner (the boy), said hit was opening the gate at the
time the accident took place; he heard a voice cry "stop I" it
appeared a cry of alarm ; the man who drove the boat stopped
immediately, and went back to the boat, and assisted to get
some of the females out of the water. Witness Saw the deceased
females sink; they did not rise again; did not know the cause
of die boat sinking.
Thomas Barwick, labourer, was present when the first
ceased body was taken out of the water, abotit.9 o'clock ; the
ether was o‘ken out about an hour afterw ,r is ; the surgeon and
Sir J. D. King were attending the first body, while search wss
making Mr tne discovery of the other; the person who drove the
bolt was searching, and appeared quite steady.
Mr. T. IV. Turner, surgeon, of IVendover, was called to the
first deceased body that was found about a quarter past ten
O'clock, and used every means to restore animation for nearly
three hours, but his eftbrtaproved inefti catal. He saw the other
boil
y about one o'clock ; it was quite in an irrecoverable state.
The Jury returned a verdict-...“ Accidentally Drowned."
An undertaker attended early yesterday to measure the un.
fortunate/ for coffins, and it Was expected they would be re.
moved in the course of the evening to the distressed habitations
of their parents and friends, which they had so lately quitt in
health and spirits.
They were both possessed of great beauty. The surviving
females were, to a late hour yesterday, at the Engine-house.
about 200 yards from the melancholy abode of their deceased
friends and companions.
Miss Butcher was the daughter of Mr. Butcher, grocer, at
Tring, and Miss Allen, daughter of Mr.. Allen, parchment
manufacturer, at Leighton Buzzard.—( Buck: Chronicle.)