DEATH BY DROWNING ON THE DUDDON SANDS

An inquest was held on Monday afternoon, at the house of Mr. Thos. Gawith, farmer, Ronhead, near Dalton, before Wm. Butler, Esq., coroner, on view of the bodies of James and John Bird, fishermen, Ronhead-foot, aged respectively 19 and 16 years, who were drowned on Duddon (sands) under the following circumstances:- John Bird, fisherman, said – Deceased were my sons, and went out to fish for flukes on Friday night last, in company with Wm. Allison. I was expecting them to return on Saturday morning, and was looking out for them with a spy-glass. About 8 a.m. I saw them leave Hodbarrow. When about half way across towards (the) Ronhead side, I saw the boat capsize with the men. I could see the boat was very heavily laden. – Henry Bird, brother of the deceased, deposed that on Saturday morning last he trimmed the boat, and set them off from (the) Hodbarrow side. The boat was heavily laden, and he told them to be very careful. – The jury returned a verdict that the deceased were drowned by the upsetting of a boat in the Duddon estuary. – The body of Allison has not been found.

Extraordinary Mining Accident at Hodbarrow

An inquest was held on Tuesday, at the house of Mr. John Jackson, of Haverigg, innkeeper, on the body of Henry Bird, late of Haverigg, in the liberty of Millom, Cumberland, iron ore miner, before Henry Myers Meakin, Esq., coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. Henry Park was the foreman. Police Inspector Roney was in attendance. The court having been duly opened, the Coroner said: Gentlemen, before taking my seat as coroner of this court, I wish to pay my tribute of affectionate respect to the memory of the late Mr. Myers, who so long and so worthy occupied this post, and who won the esteem of all who knew him — the affection of those who knew him best. It is my earnest wish and intention to walk in the path of honour; and if I am spared to spend among you as many years of life as he spent, may I leave behind me a name as stainless and a memory as much respected and beloved. — After this brief address, which was received with every expression of approval and concurrence, Mr. Myers Meakin swore in the jury, and proceeded with them to view the body. The evidence went to show that the deceased literally leaped to meet his doom by attempting to spring upon a scaffolding suspended over the mouth of a shaft. Missing his hold he fell about fifteen fathoms, into ten or more of water. He was stunned in the course of his descent by striking against the side of the pit, and was drowned before assistance could be rendered. A verdict in accordance with the facts was returned. The manager of the works where the accident occurred was called by the coroner, to receive from himself and the jury the expression of their opinion that no blame was to be attached to himself or to any person connected with the works, but that the accident was the result of the lamentable recklessness of the deceased. — By a singular fatality, it appears that two brothers of the deceased met with their death by drowning not very long ago.