Welsh News - Drowning of Bride's father, Charles Cullimore (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Monday, January 26, 2015, 00:57 (3379 days ago) @ Jefff

The above Marriage Record from 1892 quotes the bride's father to be Charles Hook Cullimore, water bailiff. It appears he was drowned on the Severn ten years later as this report shows, despite being highly-experienced watermen, a devastating tragedy to the local community.
A hundred years or so later a Forest schoolfriend of mine drowned in a boating accident on the Severn, he was also experienced and well-equipped, but a River with such a huge tidal range as the Severn is never "safe".

From the Cardiff Times of 22nd November 1902;

"ENGULPHED IN MUD.
Two Men Drowned in the Severn
A disaster involving the loss of two occurred in the Severn on Friday evening. On the morning of that day Walter Prosser, Primrose Hill, Lydney, foreman water bailiff, Charles Cullimore, of Brookend, Woolaston water bailiff, and Thomas Jordan, of the same address, farmer and fisherman, crossed the river in a boat (the property of Cullimore), from the neighbourhood of Woolaston Station to Oldbury-upon-Severn, the river at that point being four miles wide. As the tide was then pretty well run out they anchored their boat aboat a mile from the shore and proceeded to OlobOj? upou business. They returned to the river side at flood time, soon after 4 o'clock, and started to walk along the sand to their boat. Prosser, who drew ahead, discovered that his mates, particularly Jordan, were encountering some difficulties owing to the depth of mud. He called upon them to come along, and in due course he reached the boat, which was still high and dry. His friends were then a hundred yards bebind and as the tide had by this time begun to surround the boat he implored them to make haste. Their reply was an entreaty to him to bring boat, but as the craft was a heavy one it was impossible to push her off. Every moment the tide grew stronger, and in a very short time men were overwhelmed and drowned. They were practically engulphed in the mud, which held fast, preventing any possible means of escape. As soon as Prosser's boat floated he pulled up to the spot and remained there a couple of hours after which he landed at the Hayward, anchored his boat, and proceeding to a farmhouse obtained assistance. Returning to the scene of the disaster he waited for the water to go down, found Cullimore's body just after midnight about 400 yards from where the accident happened. The body was conveyed to the Anchor Inn. Some hours afterwards the body of Jordan was recovered from the river at a spot about 200 yards farther away. It was not till 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon that tidings of the occurrence reached Woolastone. Jordan, who was about 60 years of age, leaves a widow. He was a member of the School Board, the Parish Council, Lydney Rural District Council, Chepstow Board of Guardians. He was well known and much respected. Cullimore was a native of Woolaston, and had been in the employ of the Severn Board of Conservators for many years. He was under 50 years oi age, and leaves a widow.

Cuillimore's Self-Sacrifice.
Dr. E. M. Grace, coroner, held an inquest at Oldbury-on-Severn on Monday afternoon, on the bodies of Charles Cullimore and Thomas Jordan, who were drowned on Friday evening in the River Seven. Deceased were both of the same age, 60 years, their birthdays being only four days apart. Cullimore was a water bailiff in the employ of the Severn Board of Conservancy whilst Jordan was a farmer, who also did a little fishing. It appears that the deceased, in tbeír excursion across the water, were joined by Walter Prosser, of Lydney, foreman water bailiff. The watermen bad business at Oldbury with the local waterman, Mr Hennes, as to relieving Cullimore, who had injured his leg and needed a rest, whilst the farmer intended to purchase some fish basket wood. As they started late, they could not get their craft nearer than a mile from the shore. As it was nearly the top of the spring, with a tide of 27 feet, the party arranged to leave Oldbury for their boat about 3 o'clock in order to be in good time, as the flood at that point runs up very swiftly. Prosser reached the boat, but Jordan was a bad walker, and lost time floundering in the mud. Cullimoro returned to him several times, and helped him along. When they found it was impossible to make the boat, they hesitated for a few minutes, and then started for the shore — an impossible task, as the water was already upon them. Cullimore sacrificed his life for his friend. — The witnesses were Walter Prosser, Alfred Till, and Thos. Hennes. Verdict. "Accidentally drowned."

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3421342/ART75/lydney

I think this is the correct burial record for Walter Prosser (not a rare name !);

Record_ID: 68978
Entry_Number: 711
Year: 1902
Month: Nov
Day: 19
Surname: JORDAN
Forenames: Thomas
Residence: Garfield Villa Woolaston
Age_at_death: 60 years
Officiating_Minister: J Jones Officiating Minister
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P12 IN 1/8
Page_No: 89
Parish_Chapel: Alvington
Soundex: J635