John PICKNETT 1834

On Saturday afternoon, Mr T. H. Middleton (representative of Messrs Varvill and Co., wholesale ironmongers and hardware merchants, York), and Mr Taylor (representative of Messrs Peel and Watson, Manchester), went out for the purpose of fishing, in a coble belonging to Richard Robson, fisherman. As will be seen, they were both commercial gentlemen, and were staying at the Red Lion Hotel. Besides the owner of the boat, they were accompanied by two sons of Mr Alderman Imeson, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, named respectively Albert, aged about eighteen, and Charles, who is about thirteen years of age. When they set off there was very little wind, but after they had sailed a mile or so a smart shower of rain fell, and the breeze freshened. There was not sufficient wind, however, to cause anxiety as to the safety of the occupants of the boat, but when just outside the West Scar Rocks, right in front of the town and midway between the two piers, from some cause or other the piece of rope, nautically termed the "tack," by means of which the sail is secured to the boat, broke, and in consequence the sail was driven up the mast out of reach of the occupants of the boat. This placed those on board in a position of danger, and their cries for help were heard both from the shore and from Redcar piers. A fisherman named John Picknett was on the beach waiting to take out a fishing party who had been delayed by the rain, and he was the first to notice the disaster, immediately putting off to render assistance. Before, however, he could get his sail set a puff of wind caught the loosened sail of Robson's coble, and it turned completely over, which could be distinctly seen from the shore, bottom upwards, a mere speck on the water. Picknett, who is one of the most experienced boatmen on the coast, also observed this, and redoubled his exertions to reach the spot where the accident occurred, more especially as he discerned two persons on the bottom of the capsized boat, trying to save themselves by clinging to it. They proved to be Mr Middleton and the younger Imeson. Before Picknett could reach him, the former slipped his hold of the coble, and was only rescued as he was sinking for the third time. But by this time nothing could be seen of the remainder of the persons who had been in the coble, and as other boats were now at hand, attention was directed to Mr Middleton, who, though breathing when got on board by Picknett, was feared to be in a dying state. He was accordingly brought to the shore with all speed, and removed to the Royal Hotel, but died before he could be got there. Every effort was made for over two hours to resuscitate him. An unsuccessful search was made for the remainder of the bodies on Saturday night, by means of dragging and other appliances, but without success, and again yesterday morning, when the search was more successful, the corpse of Richard Robson being brought to shore between eleven and twelve o'clock by another fisherman named Carter, who had picked up the body close to the scene of the accident. Robson, who was between twenty and twenty-five years of age, had been married about eight months; his mother died only a month ago. Mr Middleton was about thirty-six years of age, and unmarried. Concerning Mr Taylor but little is known at Redcar, and the jury, after consulting together, returned a verdict of "Accidentally drowned by the upsetting of a pleasure boat, caused by the giving way of the 'tack'." They appended to the verdict the following recommendation, which the coroner promised to forward to the Board of Health:- "It is desirable that proper bye-laws should be framed by your Board for the regulation and management of boats containing pleasure or fishing parties, belonging to Redcar: and it is further desirable that all cobles and boats carrying sails should have two competent men, or one competent man and some person to assist on board."