The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-26 00:00:00

DEATH BY DROWNING- AT OXFORD.

The inquest on the body of Mr. J. H. B:adh y, Scholar
of New College, whose death by drowning was noticed in
our last impression, was held yesterday afternoon, be-
fore G. V. Coxe, M.A., University, Coroner, and amatricu-
lated jury of tradesmen and members of the University. The
untimely fate of Mr. Bradley had created great interest
throughout the University and city of Oxford, and the
head of his college (the Rev. Dr. Sewell) attended to watch
the case, and rendered the coroner valuable assistance dur-
ing the inquiry. The inquisition was held at the Boat-
house Tavern, St. Aldate's; where the body was lying. The
jury, of whom the Rev. E. C. Wickham, M.A., Sub-War-
den, of New College, was foreman, having proceeded to
view the body, the following evidence was adduced :

Charles N. Bolton, Commoner of New College, said—A
scratch race had been prepared, and the crew of the boat
in which the deceased was consisted of myself, Bradley,
Browne, Seymour, and Routh (steering.) They had the
middle station in the river, and had got near Saunders'-
bridge on the way up, when the boat which had the Ox-
fordshire side crossed just before the accident took place,
causing a great deal of wash. Browne, who was at the
bow, caught a crab, which upset the boat. All the crew
were thrown into the water on the Oxford side of the
river. Routh swans to the Oxfordshire shore. The rest
clung to the boat, which had turned bottom upwards.
Seymour, who was close to me, said, " Had'nt I better go
to one of them, they can't swim ?" Both Browne and
Bradley were then holding on, and a punt was coming.
Then Browne and Bradley both tried to get on the boat,
but finding it turning over I left it so that the others might
be supported on it, and to avoid the danger of being caught
by it if it turned over. Both being at the bow end it was
made to turn over again, bottom upwards, and from that
time I saw no more of Bradley, both he and Browne being
thrown off on the other side of the boat which was then be-
tween me and them with the iron rowlocks, projectingunder
the water, which made it 'dangerous to dive underneath,
and thereby prevented me from rendering assistance.
Bradley had been in the habit of rowing for a quarter of a
year, and Browne had also rowed before.
The witness, in answer to jurymen, said there was no
fouling, and that the crossing of the first boat was in order.
He also explained, in reference to the report which ap-
peared in the papers, and which implied deceased had been
neglected, that he was under the impression he could swim,
and he knew Browne could not.

John M. Routh, Commoner of New College, said, —I was
steering the boat nearly opposite Saunders'-bridge when
the bow oar caught a crab, and almost immediately the boat
upset on the Oxfordshire side of the river. I fell into the
water, and on coming up saw the other four who had been
in the boat with me clinging to it. I immediately swam
across to the Oxfordshire side ; the boat was about 15 yards
from the Berkshire side. When I reached the shore I saw
a punt assisting to pull two men out of the water. Bradley
was pulling No. 2. I had noticed that Bradley was looking
exhausted. Before starting the question was asked whe-
ther the men could swim. Mr. Bradley led me to believe,
from what he said, that he could not swim. Mr. Browne
rowed as if ho had rowed before. I knew that he could not
swim. The crew had not rowed together before. It was
in the afternoon, between 2 and 3, as far as I recollect.
Reginald Digby, Commoner of :New College, said—l was
on the bank running up about five yards in front of the
boat. Hearing a shout behind me, I saw that the boat had
been upset. I saw all the crew in the water on the opposite
side of the boat, four out of the five clinging to it, and the
other swimming for opposite side. I saw. one (Bradley, I
think, but I am not sure), getting astride the bow of the
boat, which was keel upwards. Then the boat turned over,
and I lost sight ofßmdley. My attention was then attracted

to Browne, who was clinging-to the boat, and shouted out
that he could not swim. Two or three punts came to as-
sist, and 1 saw Browne pulled into one of them. I did not
know for some time that Bradley had not been saved. On
healing Browne cry that he could not swim, three or four
persons from the bank plunged into the river to go to
his assistance. Mr. Cripps reached Browne, who was then
clinging to the boat.
The Bev. W. F. Short, M.A., Fellow, Tutor, and Bursar
of New College, said—l had started the race, and was
within a few yards of the boat, skulling myself on the
Oxfordshire side. I saw the boat upset, but did not see the
cause. I saw the crew cling to the boat, and Mr. Bradley
got astride. I heard some one say, and to the best of my
belief it was Mr. Bradley, " I'm all right," or words to that
effect. After that the boat turned over, and I can add
nothing to what has been stated by the former witnesses as
to what followed. I think, it probable the boat may have
struck Mr. Bradley as it turned over.
Mr. Short was recalled, and added the following evidence
to that he had already given :

I heard Browne my out that he could not swim. I pushed
the boat towards the boat that was upset, but punts were
coming up, and I rowed to the shore. It was asked whe-
ther the crew were all safe, and it being said that Bradley
was missing, I stripped, and from a punt dived at the spot
where the boat was upset. Three or four other pe mons had al-
ready plunged into the water and were diving. Their names
were the two Messrs. Forster, of New College, and I believe
Mr. Allen, of New College, and Mr. Willan, president of the
Boat Club. I found it impossible to see an inch in the water
owing to the thickness of it. I must have been very near
the body, though I could not discover it. I believe the

accident happened just before 2 o'clock. Their efforts were
continued for some time. Previous to these attempts to find
Mr. Bradley several persons went into the water to render

assistance,

Francis Robert Steele Bowen, scholar of New College, i
stated—l was on the banks of the river yesterday afternoon
running up in advance of the boat that was upset. Hearing
a shout I looked round and saw the boat turned keel up,
and the crew in the water. Hearing a cry from some one
on the boat, that they could not all swim, I took off my coat
and swam almost up to the boat. A sailing vessel comingby
I had to go back a few yards and get out of the way, and
when the sailing boat was past I swam to the boat. I saw
Bradley holding to the boat and looking much exhausted.
On seeingme he leant over to me, and I caught hold of him
by the hair, and I tried to swim with him to .the shore, but
found. after a few yards, that I could not proceed. Finding
I could not keep his head out of the water I let go his hair
and took hold of him under the arm. He was at that time
quite like a log. I tried in different ways to keep hishead
above water, until I was unable to do so any longer, and
got to the shore as well as I could. The boat, I think, was
nearly in the middle of the river.
William Allin Thompson, surgeon, said—l was sent. for
about 3 o'clock yesterday to go to Saunders'-bridge, where
an accident had happened. On my arrival the deceased had
not been found. I waited about 20 minutes, and then he
was brought to the shore. I had him removed as quickly
as possible to the Boat-house Tavern, when Mr. Mayo as-
sisted me. We employed the usual means to restore suspended
animation without the slightest effect for nearly an hour.
A juryman observed that it seemed strange no assistance
had been rendered Mr. Bowen.
The Coroner said that if he had been helped the deceased
would have been saved. Mr. Bowen deserved the highest
Praise for his bravery.
Nicholas Parker Gipp, commoner of New College, said—
I was on the shore when the accident happened. I called
out to know who couldnot swim. I only heard Browne say
that he could not. I went into the water to assist him and
took hold of him. I was, somehow or other, obliged to
let him go, and was forced under water. On coming up
I
got
into a punt close by. Hearing that some one was
missingdr I called out to some one on the bank to go for the
lw gh across e oottnlo ctttohhhmeeo eubt
thought
hip. went haadgsn. I landed from the punt, and finding the drags
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drags
t whsevKef
ore
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a barge trying to get in. There was
some one at this tline who had managed toget in, and who
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eosnaheeoeirined,
gave the drags out to Awdry, and Awd
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...
I did not see any life-buoys along the river.
Charles Awdry, commoner, of New College, being sworn
said—Hearing a cry for the drags I ran to the nearest post,
and got to Harvey's barge (the green barge) by a punt which,
was moored opposite to the barge. By the time I reached
it an Exeter man had already got on the barge and suc-
ceeded in getting inside by a window, the doorbeing locked.
He handed the drags and some life-buoys out to me.
Charles Mayo, Fellow of New College, said—The Cathe-
dral
clock struck 2, and withinve two minutes I hoard shout-
haveoltati
ing continued fot some
aquickly
to
jumped
Tihneto a
accidentpu t t' withm uaysn itn
just Salt ecro'
o rag for
pened
smbeafrogre,thaenddntgs:
got out about 12 minutes to 3.
some time. The body was . .
about seven minutes after 2. I helped t d hap_
afternoon, and saw a
Boat Club. I was on the barge in the
Thomas Sims said—l am waterman to the University
four-oar upset, but seeing many people on the banks, and a
sailing boat close by, I did not go
down till, about 10
the bank threw me a
some
time
minutes after, I heard there was a gentleman drowned. I
took the punt and some one from
drag, and I began to use it. After dragging
(not less than 20 minutes) I caught the body, lifted it, and
brought it ashore. Several other punts were dragging at
the same time.
William Harvey said—l am water bailiff to the Univer-
sity. With two assistants I have charge of the barge
belonging to the Uninversity in which the apparatus cf the
Humane Society is kept. I was on duty yesterday after-
noon on the banks of the river. The general beat I take
is from the barge to the Long Bridges; one assistant is
between the Long Bridges and Iffley, the other is up the
Cherwell. It is my duty to see that drags and life-buoys
aro every day placed at the posts along the river. I placed
both drags and buoys at the usual place yesterday morning.
ten
was a drag and a life-buoy at the usual post about
overlooked n_yaerds from the spot where the accident happened.
from the respectable Coronerth e said
dragsit wasand
bstrangeuoys otuh at tbseo t
omanytowing-path,
ipeopleng-
p, had
t
Dr. Sewell referred to tahievesnin
tg 1,. l
ma r his assertion.
pectable character of Harvey he must believe
circumstance that so
wasr.mßrr.aßdrloeyw.neTwhheojur
little assistance had been
accounted for it by supposing it
briefly addressed the jury, the latter
Theap-
peared
Coronet
tnienr dila:: git
le lg..
returned their verdict in a few minutes as follows :—"That