Shocking Death of a Navvy - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Shocking Death of a Navvy

John Giles, a navvy employed on the Keswick railway, and an inmate in the
house of Henry Whittaker, a sub-contractor of this town, drank, on Saturday
week, so much whisky that he had not recovered from the effects of his
position on Sunday. In the afternoon he got out of bed to go downstairs,
but, not being steady, fell on a post at the head of the staircase, which
was remnant of a balestrade no longer remaining. So violently did he fall
that he was almost transfixed on the post, from which he was taken by Mrs.
Whittaker and removed to bed. On Wednesday he expired from the injuries
which he had received. Dr. Tweddle made a post mortem examination and found
that the abdominal vincers were ruptured. On Tuesday evening the funeral of
the deceased took place in Crosthwaite Churchyard. Many of his companions
attended, all of whom wore white bows. The burial service was read by the
Rev. Mr. Knowles, head master of St Bees Academy, who, after the service,
briefly, but emphatically, addressed the men on the melancholy results which
were attributable to a career of intemperance.