ENGLISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 678, 3 May 1869, Page 2 (Supplement)

ENGLISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

LAMENTABLE HUNTING ACCIDENT.

On Thursday, Feb. 4, a sad fatality occurred by the upsetting of a boat in which a number (if gentlemen connected with the York a.id Ainsty Hunt were crossing the river Ure, near Kipley. The number of persons drowned was six. They were—Sir Charles Slingsby, of Scriven-park, Lingcroft, near York ; Mr Edmund Robinson, of York; Mr William Orvys, the first whipper-in; Mr James Warriner, the gardener at Newby-hall, the seat of Lady Mary Vycer ; and Mr Christopher Warriner, the son of the former. The Warriners had charge of the boat. The hounds met on Thursday morning, at 11 o'clock, at Stainley house, half-way between Harrowgate and Ripon. There was a large field, and among the leading personages were Sir Charles Slingsby, who, as already stated, was the master of the hounds; Viscount Downe, of Danby-lodge; Lord Lascelles, of Harewood; Sir George Wombwell, of Newburgh-park; Captain Vyner, of Newby-hall; Mr Clare Vyner, of Newby-hall; Mr E. Lloyd, of Lingcroft, near York; Mr E. Robinson, of York ; Major Mussinden, Capt. Molyneux, the Hon. Henry Molyneux, Capt. Key, of Fullord; Mr White, and several of the officers of the 15th Hussars, stationed at York; Mr Wood of Bellwood ; Mr William Ingleby, of Ripley Castle; and Mr Darnborough, of Ripon. William Orvys, the first whip, was in attendance, and the weather being fine, anticipations prevailed of good sport. No fox was found until the hounds reached Monkton Whin, but a good run of about an hour's duration was had at Copgrove and Newby hall, near the latter the fox and the pack crossed the river Ure. Several of the gentlemen who were in pursuit attempted to cross the river at a ford some distance up the stream, but Sir Charles Slingsby and a majority of those who were close up made for the ferry, which is almost directly opposite New-by-hall, and signalled for the boat to be sent across. Swollen by the late rains, and to a great extent diverted from its natural channel, the river at this point some 50 or 60 yards broad, swept along with a strong deep current. With little or no hesitation the master of the hounds sprang into the boat, to be piloted across by the New-by-hall gardener and his son, and this example was so largely followed that in a very short time some twelve or fourteen gentlemen, with their horses, crowded into a vessel intended only to accommodate half that number, Those who entered the boat were Sir Charles Slingsby, Orvys (the whip), Stir George Wombwell, Captain Vyner, Mr Clare Vyner, Mr Lloyd, Mr Robinson, Major Mussinden, Capt. Molyneux, the Hon. Henry Molyneux, Captain Key, Mr White, and some more military officers from York barracks. Viscount Downe, Lord Lascelles, and several others, who were either unable to find room in the boat,

or had their doubts as to its safety, remained on the banks awaiting its return. No warning voice cautioned them when they started on what proved to some of them a fatal journey ; indeed, their apparent luck in having gained the start of the others was looked on with many envious eyes. Any such feeling was, however, of short duration. Seizing the chain by which the flit-bottomed boat is propelled, Captain Yyner and his brother pushed it off from the river side, and sent the vessel right into the stream. Before one-third of the distance had been traversed Sir Charles Slingsby's horse became restive, and kicked the animal belonging to Sir George Wombwell. The latter —a high-met-tled chestnut —returned the kick, and something very like a panic arose among tiie horses. The boat was swayed first to one side and then to the other, and finally it was fairly turned bottom upwards. The scene which then ensued was of a very paiuful character. For a moment the slimy bottom of the boat, rocked to and fro by the struggling of the men and horses, was all that could be seen by the spectators on the bank ; then here a:ul there in different parts of the stream heads began to appear, only to sink again amid agonised cries, hands and arms were flung up in despair. Horses were seen to battle with the current, striking out regardless of the injuries they inflicted on their masters, who were also swept by the current out of the reach of those anxious to aff/rd relief. In some cases, however, the prompt measures takeu by the spectators were effectual. Those who could swim cast off their coats and pluuged to save their friends, while others, not so happily gifted, took less vigorous, though not less useful, steps. Lines formed of whips were tied together, and thrown within reach of the drowning men, and several beams of wood, which fortunately lay scattered about, were quickly launched on the stream. Captain Vyner was one of the first to get his head out of water, and to save himself from the current by clinging to the upturned vessel. After a vigorous struggle he reached the top of the boat, and was able to assist first Sir George Wombwell and afterwards one of the York officers to the same position. Mr White got on shore by means of the chain stretched across the ferry, while others were rescued by the means adopted for their safety from the banks. In a very few minutes, however, it was found that six men and eleven horses had been drowned. Two horses were rescued. An account in a local journal says several gentlemen and horses were under the boat when it floated bottom upwards Among these were Sir George Wombwell and an officer from York, who was very very badly kicked by the horses. Sir Charles Slingsby was seen by the spectators on the bank to strike out for the opposite shore, but when nearing it he threw up his hands, and the last seen of him was his b>dy floating down the river with his head and legs under water. None of the others drowned were seen at all. Every effort was made by those upon the bank to rescue the sufferers. Mr W. Ingilby threw off his coat and pluDged into the river, and made a desperate effort to reach Sir Charles Slingsby, but in this he unhappily failed, and with great difficulty and in a state of complete exhaustion reached the shore. Captain Yyner and Captain Preston plunged into the river in the hope of rendering assistance. Mr Bartram, of Harrowgato, rendered very active aid, and succeeded in assisting to the shore one of those who had been thrown into the river, and had clung to the chain of the ferry. The body of Sir Charles Slingsby was dis covered 300 yards below the scene of the accident by Mr Denison, of Ripon, and Mr Wood, of the same city, about half-past four o'clock. The bodies of Captain Lloyd and Mr Robinson were afterwards taken out of the river, and all were conveyed to Newby hall.. On Feb. 5 the bodies of William Orvys, James Warriner, and Christopher Warriner, were recovered. Mr Robinson's watch had stopped at 10 minutes to 2 o'clock. Sir Charles Slingsby was riding one of oldest and most favorite of his hunters, " Old Saltfish," which was discovered lying near the master whom it had served so faithfully some 15 years,

We need hardly state thst the intelligence of this melancholy catastrotrophe cast a gl >om over the whole district. Sir Charles Slingsby's amiable disposition and gonial manners rendered him most deservedly popular throughout the whole of the Riding,, The deceased, who was unmarried, was the tenth baronet. He was son of Charles Slingsby, Esq., who was second son of Sir Thomas Turner Slingsby, eighth baronet. He was born on the 22nd of August, 1324; succeeded his uucle, Sir Thomas, in Feb., 1832; entered the Royal Horse Guards 1813 ; became lieutenant 1845, and retired 1847. He was a deputy-lieu-tenant and a magistrate for the West Ridiug of Yorkshire. His sister, Emma Louisa Catherine, who is still living, married in 1860 Captain Leslid, of the Royal Horse Guard. Mr Robinson, who had the reputation of being one of the best riders in the ount/ of York, lived at one time at Thorpe Green Hall, near Ouseburn, which he sold not long ago to Mr H. S. Thompson of Kirkby-hall, whose estate it adjoins. Orvys has long been connected with the York and Ainsty hounds, and was one of the most experienced whips in Yorkshire. Both the Warriners were married. The elder leaves nine children, and the younges a wife and three children. Among the gentlemen who were saved after the boat had been upset were Major Mussiudeu, Captain Molyneux, the hon. Henry Molyneux, the Mr White, of the 2511 i Hussars, stationed at York; and Captain Key, of Fulford, near York. The inquest on the bodies of the deceased was held on February 5, at Newby-hail, before Mr Rhodes, coroner for the liberty of Ripton. After hearing the evidence of Mr H. F. Vyner and Mr li. S. Crompton, of Axerley, which supported the main facts as above reported, the coroner summed up, remarking on the painful character of the occurrence, the circumstances of which left no doubt tijat it was purely of an accidental nature. Tne jury without any hesitation returned a verdict of "Accidental death." It has been clearly ascertained that there were 13 men, including the two in charge of the boat, and 11 horses in the boat, aud that eight of the latter were drowned as well as six men.