Star.
London, England, 1828-08-30 00:00:00

NINE PERSONS DROWNED.

One of the most calamitous events that has hap-
pened in this neiAlibourhood for a number of years, oc-
curred on Wednesday evening, about a quarter past
nine. Several persons returning from Egham races had
embarked in an eight-oared wherry, with the intention
of returning to Windsor by water; they remained for
half an hour at Datchet•bridge, partaking of refresh-
me—sit, when, shortly after their departure from thence,
they struck upon a sharp pointed, stake forming part of
a wattle hedge, which had been formed; used as the
boundary of an eel weir. All endeavours to release the
boat proved unavailing, and she rapidly filled with
water, wheo the greater number of individuals being
seated at the stern, that part of the boat sank with such
rapidity, that, to use the words of one of the survivors,
examined on the inquest this day, 4, four women, four
boys, and one girl, went down while sitting quietly to.
getlier, and he scarcely saw the going of them." " A
waggoner (he added) who sat next to him, went from
his side into the t iver,xnd he did not for some moments
perceive he had fallen out." Some others of the pas-
sengers jumped out, and it is scarcely possible that a
single life out of the nineteen could have been preserved
but for the praiseworthy help which two men, who were
in a small boat at some distance, and heard the cries of
slake, afforded. By their exertions five were rescued
from the river while floating down the stream, and five
more, who had remained in the boat, were removed to
the shore, after the water had risen nearly to their
shoulders. Nine unhappy individuals were, however,
1,,A; Mrs. Willing (husband and infant child saved);
Joh') Taylor, waggoner; J. Fletcher, sailor; Mrs. Hill
and infant (husband and mother saved); two children
of J:iseph Cannon, one of the watermen; Mrs. Cross,
and Mrs. Clayton. Every exertion was made through-
out the following night and day to recover the bodies,
which have all been found, with the exception of the
infant child of Mrs. Hill.

INQUEST ON THE EOM%
At twelve o'clock a respectable Jury of shopkeepers
of Old and New Windsor assembled at the Town Hall,
to inquire into the circumstances attending the deaths of
the individuals already named. The Mayor acted as
Coroner, and was assisted by Mr. Luker, the Town
Clerk. After the Jury was sworn, they walked across
the Lltle Park to the Datcbet Bridge, where they
viewed the bodies, and on their return to the Town Hall,
proceeded wsth the examination of witnesses, the first of
whom was—.

Charlotte Pidley, who stated, that on Wednesday
evening she was returning from Egham Rues in a boat
tit come to Windsor Bridge. There were nineteen per-
sons alt gether in the boat. They came to Datchet
Bridge about nine o'clock, and there they had some-
thing to drink. At a quarter past nine they.embarked
from Datchet Bridge to proceed np the river. They
were then going by the shore side, when Joe Cannon,
one of the boatmen, desired his son, who was steering,
to cross the river; he was doing so, and shortly after
she heard a concussion at the bottom of the boat, she
thought as if it was about to sink; she cried out that it
was so, but the boatmea said All's right." Soon after
the boat filled all at once with water, and got fixed
upon the stakes: when it was full of water the stern
sunk under, and four women, four boys, and a girl,
who were seated there, were all washed out of the
boat by the stream ; that part c f the boat went down at
the time ; some of them were floating in the water, and
others were striving to get ashote; there were four left
behind in the head of the boat with herself; they were
rescued by a boat, which cameo to their assistance, after
they had helped those who fell into the water, as well
les they could. She paid a shilling fare in the boat. It
was a light sand boat ; Joseph Cannon, the boatman,
was, she thinks, sober at the time; he was so at the
public-house at Datchet-bridge; his son, who steered,
ss as also sober; he is only thirteen years of age; when
they came out of the last public-house, the boy said he
was afraid that he could not see to steer so late; some
one answered that he could very well; Braids and Can-
non were the two boatmen; the steerer could not see
over the people's heads in the boat, but if he had been
an elderly personage, that is, a man, he could see per-
bans so as to avoid the accident.
In answer to the Jurors, she stated that there was a
post over the water at the place where the stakes or
butts commenced, and another at the end, which a
grown person might see from the steerage; the water•
men staid quite still in the boat on endeavouring to get
it ashore, and did not attempt to save thensselves ; they
were the last in the boat ; those who staid after the ac-
cident were Braid and Cannon, Willing (the drunken'
man), Smith, and the witness.
The rest of the evidence was not materially different.
The Jury retired, and, after a short consultation, re-
turned with a verdict of" Accidental Death," coupled
with a recommendation to the Commissioners for Na-
•igating the river Thames to remove stakes.

The Chapel of Winchester College, which bas long
been an object of attraction to the passing stranger, now
possesses additional claims to public admiration. The
whole of the ancient painted windows (nine in number,
containing upwards of 5,000 feet of glass) have been
completely restored according to their original design;
and fur brilliancy of colours and rich mellow effect, now
present a most beautiful specimen of the perfection of
which this al art is susceptible.