Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 for Wiltshire

Adams, John         1911 Dec 29^th        Wilton

Plucky Attempt at Rescue by a Wilton Man

The Deputy Coroner for South Wilts (Mr F H Trethowan) held an inquest at the new —-, Wilton, on Thursday afternoon, on the body of John Adams, a young man of about twenty years of age, second horseman of the Wilton Hunt, who met his death by drowning in the river Nadder on Wednesday night. He left the Greyhound Inn at Wilton, at 11 o’clock with some companions, and went in the direction of the Kennels. When near Bulbridge, he apparently lagged behind, and when crossing the bridge fell over the parapet into the swollen river and was drowned, in spite of the plucky attempt at rescue by Mr James Sanger.

Mr A Whatley was appointed foreman of the jury.

Captain Henry Aubrey Cartwright, master of the Wilton Hunt, said Adams was employed as second horseman, and lived at the Kennels, Wilton. He was an orphan and his age was probably about twenty.

Harry Ingram, the first whip of the Wilton Hunt, residing at the Kennels, stated that on the previous day he was with Adams and two other men – Joe Lucas and James Sanger. They left the Kennels at about seven o’clock in the evening for the Greyhound Inn, Wilton, which they left about eleven o’clock. On the way back he went in front of Adams, who was with Sanger, and last saw him on the bridge by the Saw Mills. Sanger had come up to witness, and when they were about twenty yards past the bridge they heard a splash, and suspected Adams had fallen in. Sanger went back to the bridge and jumped into the river, while witness went to the “Greyhound” for assistance, returning with Mr Harvey, but it was too dark to see anything.

The witness added, in reply to a juryman, that he passed the police station on his way back to the “Greyhound,” but he did not give any information to the police. He was frightened and wanted to find the first person he could.

James Sanger, second whip to the Wilton Otter Hounds, and also living at the Kennels, said he was walking with Adams and Ingram. Ingram and he were in front, and just after passing Bulbridge they heard a splash. He had left Adams at the bridge, but on looking round he could not see him. He exclaimed to Ingram, “Jack has fallen over,” took off his coat, and, returning to the bridge, jumped into the river Nadder, which was very high and flowing with a fast current. He went down stream as far as the hatches to try and find Adams, but failed. He heard no cries. He struck his head against the woodwork of the hatches, partially stunning himself. Some way past the hatches he found the body, and touched it. Prior to that, witness had been through an underground culvert. He tried to lift the body out, but could not get it up the steep bank. There were no signs of life, and he thought a quarter of an hour must have elapsed since Adams fell in. On getting out of the river he went for help. They were all perfectly sober when they left the inn. Adams was a little short-sighted.

PC Pinnell, stationed at Wilton, deposed that he saw Adams and the last two witnesses just after eleven o’clock at the Four Corners. They were standing talking, and were quite sober, and a few minutes later they went off in the direction of Bulbridge. The parapet of the bridge was 2ft 5in in height in the centre.

Dr A W K Straton, of Wilton, said he saw the body of Adams at nine o’clock that morning and was informed that it was recovered from the Nadder at about seven o’clock. Life was quite extinct, and in his opinion death was due to drowning. There were no signs of injury.

The Foreman said the jury wished to make a recommendation to the effect that the County Council should be approached to making the parapet of the bridge higher. One of the jurymen had been over the bridge himself to rescue two children who had fallen in, and he himself had done the same thing himself some years ago. Children often ran and jumped on to the parapet and fell over.

The Deputy Coroner said he would communicate with the County Council and inform them of the jury’s recommendation, and no doubt the press would take notice of it.

The jury also highly commended the conduct of the witness Sanger.

The Deputy-Coroner said he would like to associate himself with that. He understood that the culvert through which Sanger swam was practically nothing more than a drain, and he placed himself in great peril.

Subsequently

1912 Feb 9^th

 Heroism Rewarded – Sequel to Midnight Jump into a River

At an entertainment at the schoolroom in Netherhampton on Thursday in last week, arranged by Mr Ingram, under the auspices of the St George’s Society, recognition was made of a gallant attempt at rescue from drowning at Wilton during the Christmas holidays.

The first part of the programme was given by the school children, one of whom, Freddy Edwards, took the chair.

Mr Newbolt, of Netherhampton House, on behalf of the members and friends, presented Mr J Sanger with a silver watch chain and pendant as a small token of appreciation of his heroic conduct in trying to save the life of his fellow workman, John Adams, who fell into the river Nadder on the night of December 27^th.

Mr Sanger, in acknowledging the gift, said he would rather jump into the river again than stand on a platform and make a speech. However, he thanked them very heartily for the present, which he should value all his life. His only wish was that his efforts had been more successful. He was sure all sympathised with the deceased’s relatives.

James Sanger