View
from Bedford town bridge towards William H. Chetham, boatbuilders c.1925
[Z50/9/880]
Monday
6th May 1918: An
inquest has been held at the Bedford Police Station into the tragic deaths of
Cadet Malcolm Peter McLachlan of the Royal Engineers, and Winifred, the sixteen
year old daughter of Mr. E. A. Gilbert of 7 Offa Road, Bedford. Thomas George
Cox, waterman for Messrs Chetham, told the inquest that the young people had
hired a three-seated canoe from him at 8.30pm on Saturday. Cadet McLachlan took
the stern seat, the young lady the seat in front, and the front seat was empty.
Both were paddling the canoe. The river was normal, perhaps a little faster
than usual, but boats had been out all week. About twenty minutes later he
heard that two people were in the water and took a boat out. He found the canoe
had floated across to the opposite bank, the right way up but full of water.
The paddles were floating some yards away, and the backboards and cushions had
been picked up by a punt.
Mrs. Huckle of 10, Pilcroft Street
stated that she was walking along the path through the Cattle Market when she
saw the couple in a canoe. The lady leant forward as if reaching for something,
the boat swayed and tipped over, and both occupants went into the water. The girl
was not holding a paddle and the gentlemen was not paddling – they were just
letting the canoe float. After the canoe capsized the young man first went for
the canoe, but let go when he saw the girl go under. He brought the girl to the
surface twice and tried to swim with her to the shore. She clung round his neck
and they went down together. They surfaced one more time before disappearing.
Four other boats were nearby. A sailor and two civilians in one laughed and
passed on. Two soldiers in another boat could not swim, but tried to look for
the couple. The other two boats rowed away.
Charles Hartwell, a waterman, saw the
accident from the Cauldwell Road walk. As he entered the Bridge the young man
was standing up in the canoe, which was going very slowly. and the young lady
was sitting. He insisted that his recollection that the young man was standing
was accurate, although it disagreed with the previous witness’s statement. He
though the young man must have lost his balance, as he sat or slipped down on
the side of the canoe, tipping it over. He said there were “ever so many” boats
on the river at the time. The man made for the canoe, the canoe rolled over,
and that was the last he saw of them. He shouted to some people in a boat to
let him have it to go to the couple, but they moved off. He then sent a young
man for the lifebuoy hanging near the bridge, but when he got to the spot with
it the couple were gone. He believed if he had the use of a boat he could have
saved them.
In his summing up the Coroner said it
was clearly an accident. That anyone should be so callous as to be nearby and
yet not try help was acutely painful; only Mr. Hartwell appeared to have made
any effort. It was one of the most painful cases he had ever had to preside
over. The Jury returned a verdict of “accidentally drowned”. The remains of
Cadet McLachlan are to be taken home to Bootle in Lancashire by train, with
full military honours. Miss Gilbert’s funeral is to be held at Bedford Cemetery
on Thursday.
Source:
Bedfordshire Times, 10th May 1918
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