BATHING FATALITY IN ULVERSTON

On Saturday, whilst bathing near the viaduct, a young man, named James Hodgson Thomson, was drowned.

INQUEST

The inquest on the body was held on Saturday evening. The following are the names of the jury: - W. Y. Swainson (foreman), John Tyson, Wm. Stubbs, Joseph Taylor, Thomas Affleck, Robert T. Deason, Henry Holmes, Roger Parkinson, Isaac Martindale, Henry Pennington, William Armer, Christopher B. Gardner. – Isaac Brocklebank deposed: I live in Soutergate, and am a painter. I know the deceased James H. Thomson, who lived in Soutergate.  He was a plumber, and about 21 years of age. He and I went today to bathe. We left the Queen’s Hotel about twenty-five minutes to two. We went to Plumpton. We had just got into the water, he first. I could swim a little, and got across the channel, and was about six yards from him. He tried to come to me, but the current was very strong between us. He was swimming with the tide, and never reached me. He asked me to take hold of him. He got hold of my right wrist. I was out of my depth. We both went down together, and while we were overhead we parted with each other. I never saw him again after that until he was put in the boat, about half-past three. I could swim a little, and got out myself. There were a good many bathing there at that time. I can only mention two Rookes and a McSally’s name. A man called Tyson went down at the same time, and McSally got him out. We were at the low side of the viaduct, and the current was running pretty strong. We had bathed there before. We were in the bed of the old channel. We bathed there about six weeks ago. The tide was going out today. We would be in about 7ft. 6in. or 8ft. at the time. We were about five yards from the side. The distance across the old channel will be about 20 yards. The deceased was not with us when we bathed there before. I can only swim a little. – By one of the Jury: We went into the water about half-past two. – By another Juryman: There was no one else that could swim. – McSally said: I live in Tyson-square, and am 18 years of age. I was coming down with deceased as far as the viaduct from Plumpton farm. We stripped off and had a bathe. I went in first and swam about sixty yards. I am a pretty good swimmer. The water was running out very strong. Kitchen came in next and got safe on to the bank. Tyson came and he tried to get on, but could not. He went down over head once. He and deceased were not together. He went down once, and I went to help him out. I got hold of him by the back, and Kitchen and McDonald came and we got him out. McDonald and Kitchen went off the bank. Tyson went in and went down again, then I got hold of him about four yards off the side, and the men standing there got hold of my head and we pulled him out. Thompson was not out then and I went as fast as I could after Thompson and dived down but could not find anything of him. I went round about the nets to try and find his body but could not. When I passed with Tyson I saw him under the water. He was being carried by the tide. I don’t think I had to go above five yards after I passed him. The water was pretty clear. I thiNk there would be about eight feet of water, but I could not see him. He was nowhere about the nets. Then I put my jacket and hat on. They all went out when Thompson went under. They could not swim very well. I saw Thompson go over the head. Brocklebank was out in the water when deceased went overhead. I did not hear deceased say anything to Brocklebank. I think deceased had his back to Tyson. I called to the others to come back, but none would come. There were about twelve, only about three of whom could swim. After the tide went down a boat was brought, and I went in again, and I just touched him with my foot, and we put him in the boat. When I touched him he was in about seven or eight feet of water. These lot were trying to swim across the place. I think there was only three out of us out of our depth. I saw deceased got out; he was quite dead. – By one of the jury: O don’t think he had ever hold of my hand; I would have taken him out had I found him. He was working his arms when I passed him. When I found him it was not above four feet deep. – Wilson said: I heard this man was drowned about half-past three. It was four o’clock when we got into Cottam’s public house. I saw him under the water, and reached my hand down. – McSally (re called): I helped to get him out. – Wilson: No one saw him but me. – McSally: Did not I get hold of his legs? – Wilson: I could not tell. It is deep there. When we got there the water would be about three feet deep. There is no tide there. They are not likely places to go there. Both there and the canal foot are dangerous places. Plumpton Hall is the best place to bathe. – Mr. Poole in summing up said: - Gentlemen, - The facts are so plain that it is not requisite for me to go into them. All I have got to say about the matter is this, of course we all know it is very desirable that all young men should learn to swim if they have a proper place to do so, but in my opinion it is most absurd and ridiculous that a lot of people should go and risk their lives, as they do every day, by going down to places they know nothing about. There is no doubt whatever the witnesses may say that they had been trying to swim across this place. No doubt the danger does give it a little more zest, and if they had got across they would have had something to say about it. In this case the poor fellow did not manage it. The stream, no doubt, was pretty strong there at the time. In going to his companion it appears deceased was carried down. It seems to me that were the man went over head there was not any very great exertion, with the exception of McSally’s, to save either Tyson or the other man who was drowned. There is considerable praise due to McSally for having saved the other man, who would otherwise have been drowned. He did what he could, looking at the fact that he had been in the water for some considerable time. I do not know whether it is true or not, but I am told that there has been two drowned at Coniston today, and a boy at Barrow last night. I believe the Local Board are going to take into consideration these places which are dangerous and mark them. At Barrow it has been a considerable protection to life since it was adopted, and I hope it may have the same effect here. Whatever you or I would say will not prevent these accidents from occurring. Though they may be bigger than children, still when they get there they are very foolish and run risks. They are very silly in trying to do what they have no business to do. If they will learn to swim they ought to do so in a proper place where there is no risk, and there are plenty of places, as I dare say Mr. Wilson can tell you, where they would be perfectly safe. Under the circumstances, gentlemen, you will find that deceased was accidentally drowned while bathing. – Mr. Blacklock here remarked that he had witnessed the accident, and there were considerably more exertions than the witnesses led them to believe. – A verdict in accordance with the coroner’s remarks was returned.

Barrow News, 12 August 1884

SAD RAILWAY FATALITY AT ULVERSTON

INQUEST

Still another sad calamity in our district. On Saturday, whilst a man named Thomas Thompson was crossing the railway at Plumpton, or near thereto, he was knocked down by a train and killed. It will be seen from the evidence that he was drunk at the time. It appeared that this man had helped to tie the legs of James Thompson, who was drowned a short time before, and had then made the remark, that he wondered whose turn it would be next. The inquest was held on Monday morning. The following are the names of the jury: T.F. Tyson (foreman), T. Kendall, P. Kay, R. Robinson, J.N. Kitchen, J.S. Millon, S.S. Crewdson, R. Harding, J. Ferguson, R. Clark, R. Brunton, and Wm. Johnson.

Sarah Agnes Thompson deposed: I live at 14, Ratten Row, Ulverston. The deceased Thomas Thompson was my husband, and was a waller by trade. He was 39 years of age. He left home about 3 o’clock on Saturday. He had 6d. in his pocket. He said he was going to Canal Foot to see a man.

WILLIAM COTTAM said: I live at Canal Foot, Ulverston, and keep the Horse Inn. I can’t tell what time deceased came to my house. It would be about tea time. I can’t tell you when he left. I never saw him with any drink.

John Miller said: I am in the signal box at Plumpton Junction. I saw the deceased about 6.35 on Saturday night. He was then in my house where he stopped about a minute. He did not say where he had been nor what way he had come. He was drunk. I did not see which way he went. He would not have to go very far from my house before he got on the line. Perhaps 150 yards. He had a dog with him. I find by the book in the box that a train left the box at 6.40 for Ulverston. I know the place where he was killed. It would be about 200 yards from my house, or about 56 yards from the bridge. When he was standing talking to me he staggered from side to side. My attention was drawn first to him by his knocking at the next door. I then went out, and he said “Mrs. Barker won’t let me in, so I will go home.” I said it is the best thing you can do.

P.S. Bull said: I was down at Canal foot on Saturday last, on account of a young man being drowned. I saw the deceased in Cottam’s about half-past three o’clock. He had had drink at that time.

William Park said: I am guard in the employ of the Furness Railway. I left Plumpton at 6.40, coming to Ulverston. I don’t know how many waggons there were on the train. I was in the break (sic) van of this train. I was alarmed at the train stopping, and on looking out of the van I saw a man lying on the ground. I ran to him, and saw that he had been run over. Both legs appeared to have been run over between the ankle and the knee. He had a wound on the right side of his forehead. His hat was lying about 15 or 20 yards from him in the direction of Ulverston. He was on the down side of the down line. He was bleeding. He was lying in a pool of blood that appeared to be partly dried up. It did not seem to have been recently done. Two trains passed previously to ours. One was due at Ulverston at 6.38 and the other at 6.52. Both had passed down the line before us. There isn’t the slightest doubt that he had been run over.

John Postlethwaite (driver) said: I live at Barrow. I was driving the 6.7 down goods train. I left Plumpton about 25 minutes to seven. When I got a little past the bridge, I saw something on the line.

In summing up, Mr. Poole said – There are three things quite clear, 1st, that deceased was trespassing; 2nd, that he was drunk; and 3rd, that he was killed on the railway by some train. It does not matter which train it was, he was killed by some train coming up to Ulverston. It is very likely that he was knocked down by the train which came before the one on which witness came. They don’t appear to be very clear as to when the other left. Inquiry has been made, and the drivers of the other trains did not see anybody. Being a passenger train, that is very likely the case. At all events they say they did not. It appears that deceased left the house of the witness John Miller only a short time before. Miller says he was drunk when he left his house. No doubt that is so. He says he could walk, but could not stand steadily. There is no doubt that deceased was knocked down and killed on the railway when he was trespassing in a state of intoxication. I have told the police to bring Cottam here, for the reason that this is the third death of parties who have left that house after getting drunk there. It is all very well for the landlord to come here and say he did not see deceased in his house. I think it must be pretty well known – at least in my mind – that deceased got his drink at Cottam’s house. It might be that the deceased was in the habit of carrying drink about with him, but it is very improbable. I do think it a serious matter that there should be three deaths arising from the purchase of drink from any house. I have asked the police to direct their attention towards this house in the future. So far as the accident happened, it is perfectly clear, and the verdict that you will have to find will be that the deceased was knocked down and killed on the line whilst trespassing in a state of intoxication.

A verdict was returned accordingly.

Barrow News, 12 August 1884