The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-02 00:00:00

V,ONDO N,

SATURDAY EVE iif 0, JANUARY 2, 1847.

FOUR YOUNG I%IEN DROWNED.
An inqui-st was taken before Mr. I'Vhitinarsh en
f„!! .1-1 v 7
Heiiry Virith,r6, 2i years of age; Vi llllil n Pagc, 19 years
of age; Francis Coss dry, 18 years of age; and Stoph4n
Green, 18 years of age, who came by their death under
the following circumstances:—these young men were of
fine status e, and averaged nearly six feet ( ach.
It appeared from the statement of Stephen Shipman
(the :u:viv +r)., who j. 3 between 17 and 18 years of age,
:hat on Sunday last, about six o'cldek, he and the above
uhate individuals left Allcannings for a wad:,
when they went to Stanton St. Bernard, which is a mile
and a half off. They proceeded by the Kenneth and
Avon Canal, and at times walked on the ice, till they
reached Stanton, where they remained a while, and left
at half-past eight to return home. About a quarter of
a mile from Stanton, on their way back, as they were
all walking upon the canal, the ice broke, when they
fell into the water. All was silence directly, and witness
saw no more of his companions. In sinking, he caught
hold of the edge of some old ice, and remained for some
time in this position, till at last with much difficulty he
raised one leg on the ice, and after much delay and great
effort he was enabled to get up the other, and then he
crawled to the bank ; but it was some time before he
could stand, being so cold and weak. Afterwards he
went to Allcannings, which he reached about 10 o'clock,
and gave information of what had taken place. Their
friends and relations immediately went to the spot, where
they saw the hats of the deceased on the water, and re-
turned for the morning, when the bodies were taken out
of the canal. Henry Withers was found in an uprighi
position, and his hair was frozen to the top of the ice.
Verdict, " Accidentally drowned."
All were unmarried men. They had, we understand,
been to the house of Thomas Broomham, at Stanton,
where they drank six quarts of beer between them, but it
is stated that they left sober.
The following is from a correspondent:—
, On Sunday night last, five young men, of the parish
of Allcannings, returning from Stanton, were rash
enough to venture on the canal, the ice of which is daily
broken by the barges. Still they went upon it, whether
to slide or merely to cross the water is not known, and
were instantly immersed, and soon sank to rise no more.
One of the party, however, escaped, through the mercy
of God, after struggling for about an hour, and by the
help of the masses of ice around him, finally reached
the shore. What overwhelming sorrow to the families
of these deceased youths this fearful visitation has occa-
sioned may too easily be conceived. Nor should the
voice of God, here admonishing the young, both of the
uncertainty of life and of the value of each returning
Sabbath, be speedily forgotten.—Devizes Gazette.

RAILWAY RETUR.

NS.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC.—The following are the Total
ways for the past week—that is to say, up to the
respective returns are made, together with the rel
week in the previous year:

I Receipts of Rail-
date to which the
tceipts of the same