Drowning at Whitehaven Print E-mail
The Maryport Advertiser - Friday, July 21, 1882
FIVE MEN DROWNED AT WHITEHAVEN.
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On Sunday night, shortly before six o'clock, a melancholy boat accidentt happened just off the north pier at Whitehaven, by which five men lost their lives, and two others had a very narrow escape.  The men took a boat, belonging to MR. T. RICHARDSON, of Whitehaven, and went out for a sail.  The boat was one which formerly belonged to the unfortunate vessel 'Agantyr', which was wrecked at Whitehaven some time ago.

After being out some time, the men returned and put on shore three of their companions, and took on board some other friends.

Shortly before six o'clock, it being nearly low water at the time, those who were in the boat attempted to turn her for the purpose of taking on board another friend.  The tide was so far out that when the boat was turned she grounded on a bank, got broadside on and a heavy wave striking her, she was upset.

Two of the men held on to the boat, but the others were washed out into the sea.  Although the water was comparatively shallow the men were unable to get through the surf.  The occurrence was witnessed by several persons on the north and west piers, and a rush was made by them for the North Sands. Some men ran into the water and succeeded in bringing out four of the men, two others being able to get ashore.  The four men were laid on the ground, and attempts made to restore animation.
   Two of the men were evidently quite dead, but in the case of the others, there was a hope that they were still alive.  The four bodies were removed after a short time from the beach.  Two of them were taken to the dead-house, and the other to the Cab Company's premises, where for nearly an hour medical gentlemen tried every means to restore life, but without success.  When it was seen that life was extinct, the bodies were removed to their homes.

In the meantime an exciting scene was witnessed on the north pier and the beach.  Another man was still missing, and several men, some of them naked and others with their clothes on, rushed into the water, and, guided by persons on the pier, went hither and thither in search of the missing man. No trace of him could be found, however, the the search in that quarter was for the time abandoned.
   An attempt was then made to get the boat back into the harbour, but without success.  Afterwards a man's hat was seen to wash up on the rocks near Redness Point, and a boy who had been on the look-out there declared he had seen a portion of a man's coat in the water near where he was standing.The statement was evidently correct, for about half-past nine o'clock the body of the fifth man washed ashore near to William Pit, and was taken away on a stretcher to the dead-house.

DRS. l'ANSON and ABLETT, DR. MURIEL, and DR. DICKSON were the medical gentlemen who were in attendance.


**to be continued*
 
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