Reading Standard

Dated 29^th September 1893

A BOY DROWNED IN THE CANAL

AT NEWBURY

GALLANT ATTEMPT TO RESCUE

On Sunday afternoon, shortly before five o’clock, a boy, whose name was George Hemmings, aged fourteen years, was discovered to have fallen in between the lock gates at Greenham Lock, by an elderly couple, who at once gave the alarm at the lock-house. In the meantime, three young fellows, living in Newbury, who were out for a walk at the time, arrived at the spot, and were soon apprised of the fact that a boy was in the water. He was seen to be lying, apparently in the last gasp of life, some three feet below the surface of the water, and at once one of the young men, names Mr. A. E. Roberts, divested himself of his coat and waistcoat, and plunged in to the rescue spot, a very dangerous one, the water being some ten feet below the bank, and about six or seven feet deep. The boy was seen to be close to the lock gate in a spot where it is known there is a hole like the aperture of a well, extremely dangerous for anyone to dive into. But as Roberts plunged in, it seems that the drowning boy sank to the bottom, for his would-be rescuer could find no trace of him, and after searching about for several minutes, had himself to be hauled out of the water. The body was recovered about ten minutes later, but by this time life had apparently gone.

THE INQUEST

Was held on Monday evening, at the Queen’s Hotel, before the Borough Coroner, Dr. Watson, and the full circumstances of the case are detailed in the evidence given below: -

Charles Hemmings said he identified the body of the deceased as that of his son, who was staying with his brother-in-law in Johnson’s Yard. Witness had no home at present, but up to the previous day, was employed at Lambourn Woodlands. The deceased was in the charge of witness’s brother-in-law. Witness first heard of the death of the boy at a quarter to five on Sunday afternoon, when he was at his brother-in-law’s house. He went down the canal side towards Greenham Lock, and met the body, which was being taken to the mortuary. Witness did not know whether the deceased could swim. The boy was fourteen and a half years old.

Albert Edward Roberts, corn merchant’s assistant, employed by Messrs. Hollands’ Bros., of the Broadway, said that on Sunday afternoon, at about a quarter-to-five, he was coming from the iron bridge of the Didcot line towards Greenham Locks, with two friends. After they had reached the stream bridge, close to the lock, they had proceeded about twenty yards, close to the cottage, when they were told by several people, who were collected there, that there was a boy in the water between the lock gates close to the lower ones. One of the witness’s companions went to the side of the water, and said “Albert, here’s a boy drowning.”

Witness himself looked over the bank, which was some eight or ten feet above the water. He saw the boy about three or four feet beneath the surface, and he appeared to be alive. Witness looked around to see if there was anyone coming with apparatus to help the boy out, but saw none. He found there was no time to be wasted, and took off his coat and waistcoat, and dived in. When he got into the water he turned and found he had taken a wrong direction; he felt about for the boy, but could not touch anything. He hit his back against the lock gates when still under the water, and then rose to the surface. Witness hung on to a chair, and looked for the body, and remained in the water till the lock-keeper came to help him out, he having shouted for help. He then got out, and made no further efforts and the boy did not rise again, and he could not see where he was. Witness then changed his clothes in the lock house, and when he came out, he saw that in the meantime the body had been got out of the water and put on a stretcher. When witness first got to the spot, there were present two elderly people and a man, who it appears, was Mr. Waldie, assistant to Messrs. Fielder and Co. chemists, who was accompanied by some children. Witness was the only one who had attempted to rescue the deceased. - By the jury: Witness had no idea how deceased fell into the water.

The coroner (to witness): I think you deserve very great credit for what you have done.

P.c. Gibbs: The man living at the lock tells me the witness went in at very great danger to his own life.

The coroner (to Roberts): You deserve the greatest credit for your humanity in attempting to save the boy, the fact that you were unable to effect, that end, does not lessen the feeling of the gentlemen of the jury that you displayed great boldness and courage. It was a very nasty place to jump in.

Philip Henry Davis said he lived at the cottage at Greenham Locks. On Sunday afternoon, between four and five o’clock, his wife gave the alarm that there was somebody in the water. He at once went out and saw the previous witness swimming in the lock. Witness assisted to get him out. After this, he saw bubbles coming from the bottom of the water, and by that time witness’s wife and a young man had reached the spot with a punt. Witness got into it, and began groping about with a pole, and in the meantime his wife had gone off and obtained a rake used for bottom fishing. After using the rake for five minutes witness handed it over to the young man, who found the body. In a few minutes it was drawn up, so that witness could reach it, and it was then got on to the bank. Witness thought that the boy was then dead. No medical man was sent for. He did not know who the elderly people were who were mentioned by the last witness and gave the alarm to his wife.

P.c. Gibbs, the coroner’s officer, said that from enquires he had made, the boy had been seen about half-an-hour previous, to falling in the water, playing on the swing bridge, near Greenham Mills. Supt. Bennett’s son also saw the boy jumping from one lock gate to another, some twenty or thirty minutes before he must have fallen in. The lower lock gates were not quite closed, being about a yard apart, and probably the boy slipped in jumping from on to the other and thus fell in.

The coroner, in summing up, said it was unfortunate that the elderly couple mentioned could not be found as they might be able to throw considerable light on the occurrence. He thought the jury would agree with him that the witness, Mr. Roberts, deserved the greatest praise for the humanity he displayed. He plunged boldly into a dangerous place, and though his attempt was unhappily not crowned with success, yet his action spoke very highly for his courage. He did all he could, and he thought they could not speak in too much praise of his great humanity and courage, there were not many men who would jump down a place like this, because it was almost like jumping down a well, and there was absolutely nothing to cling to at the sides. He hoped the Press would be good enough to notify their opinion of Robert’s conduct. When the boy was brought out of the water, he imagined the case was quite hopeless, but if a medical man had been called, it would have been more satisfactory.

The foreman of the jury (Mr. W. Taylor) asked if the jury could not recommend that some award, such as a medal of the Royal Humane Society, should be given to Roberts.

The coroner said he thought this could only be done when life was saved, though this case certainly deserved a reward. The coroner on recommendation of the jury, gave Roberts 15s. as compensation for a pair of trousers, he spoilt in his attempt to rescue the deceased; Dr. Watson remarking he would do it on his own responsibility, as he had no doubt the Town Council would allow the amount under the circumstances.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and fully concurred in the coroner’s observations, with regards to Roberts’ gallantry.

Upon the advice of the coroner, the jury came to the unanimous conclusion, that it would be highly desirable to have a drag placed near the dangerous place, and they also requested Dr. Watson to communicate to the Town Council, the hope that all the other drags in the borough would be looked to, and seen that they were always available, and in their proper position.

Mr. A. E. Roberts, who so pluckily attempted to rescue the deceased, is a son of Mr. Roberts, the landlord of the Sun Hotel, Castle-street, Reading, and is well known at Reading and Newbury as a promising young athlete.