York Herald, Tues 28 December, 1833

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR YORK.
ELEVEN PERSONS DROWNED.

IT is our painful duty, this week, to narrate a most melancholy occurrence which took place on Thursday afternoon last, on the river Ouse, about 7 miles from this city, when eleven persons, five men and six females, met a premature death. We understand that it has been a custom, for many years, for the choristers at the church at Stillingfleet, near Cawood, to go to Acaster and Kelfield, during the Christmas festival, for the purpose of singing. On Thursday last, they went to Acaster, and were on their return when eleven of them were drowned under the following circumstances.

Instead of crossing the river in the Acaster ferry boat, they all (14 in number) got into a boat the property of a man named Turner, a fisherman. As they were crossing the river, a vessel, belonging to this city, laden with coals, was coming up, hauled by a horse. Owing to a heavy press of wind, the rope attached to the keel and to the horse was very slack. Two of the men in the boat, lifted it up, and thus endeavoured to pass under it, when the horse quickened his pace, and the rope suddenly became tightened, and upset the boat, by which the whole company were precipitated into the water, except the two who held fast by the rope, by which they were saved. Their names are Richard Toes and John Fisher. Another man named George Eccles, seized the stern of the boat, by which he held, until taken up, in an almost exhausted state, by John Saynor, the captain of another keel which was in the river. No sooner did this poor fellow come near Saynor, than he exclaimed, “Help me, Oh, for God's sake help me – Don't drown me – There are eleven drowned already.”

The names of the sufferers were Henry Spence [sic], labourer, who has left a wife and eight children, four of whom are very young. They were entirely dependent upon his industry for their support. The widow has only a short time ago been discharged from the York County Hospital, where she had been for some time an in patient. Sarah Spence and Elizabeth Spence [sic], two of his daughters, met a watery grave, along with their father, and also Christopher Spence [sic], his brother, who has left a widow, and four or five children. John Turner, a fisherman, and Jane, his daughter, - William Bristow, the parish clerk, - Thomas Webster, labourer, - Elizabeth Buckle, daughter of Mr B. of the White Swan Inn, Stillingfleet, Sarah Eccles, daughter of George Eccles who was saved, - and Clarissa Sturdy, daughter of Mr. Sturdy, school-master of Stillingfleet, formerly at this city, linen-draper. The body of the last-named female was first taken out. - The painful intelligence was communicated to her mother on Thursday night, in this city, immediately after she had attended the funeral of a nephew.

This melancholy accident has plunged several families into the deepest possible distress, and no sooner was the afflicting news communicated at Stillingfleet, Naburn, Acaster, and all the adjoining villages. Than the greatest gloom pervaded the countenances of the inhabitants.

At three o'clock yesterday afternoon, all the bodies had been taken out of the water, except that of Sarah and Elizabeth Spence [sic], Wm. Bristow, and Sarah Eccles. We have since learnt that two more bodies were found last night.

We fear that much blame is to be attached to the people in the vessel, but censure of the living can be of no avail to the dead. Their own consciences, if blame be due, will be sufficient source of punishment.

Great praise is, however, due to the Rev. D. F. Markham, the worthy vicar of the place, for his kind and seasonable attention to the distressed relatives of the deceased. With all the benevolence of feeling, which may be expected in a spiritual pastor, he visited each and administered, so far as he could do it, the consolation of religion, and pointed out to them the unerring wisdom of that kind Providence. Who has promised to make all things work together for good to those who, in humble resignation, place their confidence in him. Mr M. has, we hear, also ordered mourning to be provided for them, at his own expense.

To Paul Beilby Thompson, Esq., M.P., equal praise is due, for he was personally indefatigable in the search for the bodies of the unfortunate people. We understand that he not only engaged and paid the labourers. who dragged the river, but also, at his own expense, has provided the coffins, and the requisite appendages, and we have no doubt but, he will hereafter aid, by his princely fortune, the hapless widows and helpless orphans of the deceased.

To the benevolent, we would anxiously suggest that this mournful event presents an opportunity of doing good, far beyond the ordinary occurrences of life. The dreadful bereavement of a family in our vicinity, some time ago, by a similar fatality, though exceedingly distressing, carried no such direful calamities in its train as the occurrence above described. There was no widow – there were no orphans – there was no poverty. Here is a combination of the whole – and if the sufferings of the afflicted can ever penetrate the hearts of the humane and affluent – if the dictates of Christian benevolence can ever urge to an active exercise of the nobler virtues, we must feel satisfied that the wretched will be comforted – we must be convinced that the privations of the bereaved will be amply compensated.

Photo: Dave Hunt. From Castle Museum, York. Mid 19thC mourning clothes. Note even the baby wears a black sash.