Keble's Gazette Saturday 17th September 1887 Margate The Inquest An inquest, in respect to the death of Robert Jones, aged 54, a Boatman who lived in Trinity square, was held on Friday afternoon last, by the Borough Coroner Mr Boys. The jury which was summoned, appointed Mr G D Friend as their foreman and after they had viewed the body, evidence was taken. William Thomas Jones, son of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. He stated that he last saw his father alive about the 23rd August, when he went away to Faversham. Deceased always had good health. His habits were not particularly sober. Henry James Bondfield Stephens said; I am staying at 3 Belgrave Villas, Eaton Road and have been there since Saturday . On Wednesday last, about half past three, I and my friend Arthur Crockford, wanted to go for a row, and engaged the deceased . When we had got a little way out, he proposed that we should go to Westgate. It was calm when we started but a breeze sprung up when we were half way to Westgate . We went there and deceased got out - I think, to get something to drink. I do not think he could have been quite sober when engaged him, because he caught a "crab" on the way.(?) He did not walk unsteadily when he got into the boat at Westgate; he was then rather abrupt in his manner - unpolite in fact. He seemed very daring, and as if he did not care what he did. He said he would bring us home. He knew about the roughness of the weather, and asked if we were frightened. On the way back, deceased, who was rowing with one oar, was thrown off his seat three times. We shipped several inches of water into the boa, and it was about up to my ankles. On the further side of the Sea bathing Infirmary we pulled up to shore and I and my friend got out, as I thought it not safe to go on with the deceased. Jones also got out and we was settled up on the shore; he appeared quite steady then. When the deceased got out he confessed that there was a rough sea, but said he must go. He put to sea again round the Nayland Rock and got out about 100 yards. The seas went then, into the boat and sank it. I did not see him afterwards. We saw something black in the water but I could not tell what it was. I went into the water as far as I could with two others, but we couldn't reach him. By the Foreman: We did not bail out the water when we went ashore. By the Coroner: Deceased said on the way that he wished to get in quickly. The wind changed just as we got past the Infirmary and the waves chopped. George Fruin stated: I know the deceased, and have done so for five or six years. I saw him at 12 o clock on Wednesday and he then appeared to be sober. I was on the sands, near the Sea Bathing Infirmary, about seven o clock. I searched after the body and found it in about 4feet 6 inches of water. With assistance I got it ashore. It was afterwards taken to Gore's yard. William Pyle of Cassell's Gardens, King Street, deposed: I saw the deceased at 2 o clock on Wednesday and he was then sober. I was at York Corner when deceased was on the water and I saw him put into the bay. I went round there to see if I could help him. Deceased pushed off again and afterwards sat of the fore thwarts and put anchor down. I held up my hand to him to let the boat come ashore and he answered me back. This was about six o clock. The next sea which came seemed to take the boat from under him and filled it. I do not know what his object was in letting go the anchor. I should think he was in about 9 feet of water, and if he had come in about 20 yards he would have touched bottom. I did not see him afterwards Deceased had not time to get up the anchor when I lifted up my hand, because the next sea came and filled the boat. It was stupid thing to do, but no doubt he shipped some more water in rowing, and when he began to find it was filling he threw out his anchor with the intention of bailing out the water. I cannot say whether the deceased could swim. The Deceased son in answer to a question, said his father was a fair swimmer. The Coroner: It is extraordinary, unless he had some injury, that he did not attempt to strike out and keep up for a short time. Dr White Deposed" I examined the body shortly after eight o clock on Wednesday evening at the mortuary. There was no marks of violence on it. I examined it as to whether it was possible he might have had a fit, but there was no indication of anything beyond death by drowning. the Coroner then summed up and remarked that he did not think it would take a jury more than a few seconds to come to a verdict. There was no doubt it would have been far better if the deceased had remained with the two gentleman on the sands because the boat could easily have been conveyed from there to the harbour. The deceased how ever, somewhat fool hardy and the consequence was that he went again. Why he had put down the anchor was impossible to say, probably it was to bail out the water, but the waves went over it and the boat filled. It seems somewhat curious that one who could swim should make no apparent effort to get to shore. But it was impossible to say what happened. The coldness of the water and the shock might possibly have paralysed him. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Drowning". -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.5/321 - Release Date: 4/21/06