MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 24 October 1868, Page 6

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

We learn from a home paper that lately a very deplorable boat accident took place on the Thames, just above Battersea Bridge opposite Battersea Clmrelv, by v» T hieh a young couple lost their lives a, few hours after they had been married. A young girl, sister of the bride, 'who acted as bridesmaid, .was also drowned. It appears that John Betsworth, a plasterer, said to have-been at Hendon, and Sarah Chads, were married at Camberwell Church in the course of the morning — the sister of the bride, Ann Chads, and a young man of the name of Alfred Thompson taking part in the ceremony. The party then dined together, and went for a stroll over to Chelsea — the parents- of Belsworth accompanied frieni. It was then proposed to have a-trip on the water, and they hired a pleasure boat at Mr. Alexander's yard at Chelsea. - The parents said they would remain on shore, and the party of four went out in the boat, the man Thompson rowing. ' The boat was I pulled over to the Surrey side of the river and unfortunately came in contact with some barges moored off Battersea Church, and went under them. The persons in the boat thrown into the water,- and the young married couple and the sister disappeared almost immediately. The only survivoijThomp- ■ son, .after passing under the barges, contrived to cling to the boat, and: was picked up. Drags were immediately used, with the view of recovering the bodies, but without success. The deceased' couple were neither of them inorethaSi twenty-one years of age, and the sister was younger.