A tragic and somewhat mysterious drowning fatality occurred in the river Itchen late on Saturday night. The facts reveal a somewhat strange story. The victims of the tragedy were twin brothers, named respectively Thomas and Edwin Painter, 27 years of age, both married, and living at Willingham Cottages, Millbank-street, Northam. Born together, they have lived out their short and chequered life together, and now, under the saddest circumstances, they have crossed the Great Divide—still together.
The brothers have lived in the town for many years, neither of them following any trade, and they have managed to scrape up a precarious living simply through the channel of casual labour. Some little time ago the brothers thought they would attempt to build a boat. The difficulty in obtaining material, their lack of funds, their limited knowledge, both of building and managing a boat when built, did not seem to weigh with them at all. In a back room in one of the brother's houses they worked away steadily, and ultimately their task was completed. But, as might easily be imagined, the result of their efforts was practically useless. Crudely built, by inexperienced hands, the craft, which was a kind of punt, was more than unseaworthy, it was absolutely unsafe, and a veritable death trap. It was a flat-bottomed boat, 10ft. by 3ft., and about eight inches deep. There was no attempt at caulking, and the planks were simply roughly nailed together, and the whole tarred over. Neither of the brothers was able to swim.
On Saturday night, about ten o'clock, they got the boat out of the house, through a front upstairs window, and carried it to the small landing-stage at the Ice House, which is within a few yards of Willingham Cottages, and there launched it. Originally the wives of the two men were to have accompanied them. Fortunately, however, they were dissuaded by a friend, who pointed out how utterly unsafe the craft looked. The brothers, however, would not be dissuaded, and started off.
A man named Albert Stokes, a seaman, employed on the steam yacht Hiawatha, was on the deck of that vessel on Saturday night, and about ten minutes past ten saw the boat float past, heading down the Itchen. It was bright moonlight at the time. A moment or so later cries of "Help" rang through the stillness of the night. Stokes at once put off in a boat, and rowed as fast as possible in the direction from which the cries appeared to come. For some time be found nothing. He continued his search, however, and at last came upon the boat, empty and water-logged, with two caps floating beside it, and the oars, which were of the most primitive description. One was simply a flat piece of board, absolutely unshaped, the other was similarly made, but had a rough handle cut to it. There was a small hole in tho side of the boat and one in the bottom.
The spot where Stokes discovered the boat was not far from Messrs. Day and Summers’ yard, and there, with assistance, he towed the empty boat, which has subsequently been removed. by order of the police, to the mortuary. The gatekeeper at the yard at once telephoned for the Water Police, while Stokes and another man continued to search for the bodies. The empty boat was located about 10.30 p.m., but it was not until 3.45 a.m. that the two men found the bodies, just outside the berth of the s.y. Taurus. Death had taken place some hours previously. The bodies were subsequently conveyed to the mortuary. The families of the deceased are, we understand, absolutely destitute.
The tragic occurrence had its sequel at the Coroner's Court on Tuesday, when the Borough Coroner (Mr. W. Coxwell) held an inquest on the bodies of the two men. The first witness called was Florence Painter, wife of Edward Painter. Witness gave evidence of identification, and stated that her husband, together with his brother, bad recently been building a boat. About 9.30 on Saturday night the two brothers took the boat out of the house. Witness was out at the time, and when she returned about ten o'clock the two men had gone. As a result of what she was subsequently told by a neighbour, witness went down to Day and Summers’ yard, where she saw a flat-bottomed boat, which she recognised as belonging to her husband and his brother, also the two caps belonging to the men. Witness then went to the police station and stated that her husband was missing, and that she had identified the boat as belonging to him and his brother. Deceased was a teetotaler and a non-smoker. He and his brother had built, the boat in order to dredge for coal and collect wood from the river, as a store for the winter.
Albert Stokes, an able seaman employed on board the s.v. Hiawatha, stated that he was on deck about 10.20 p.m. on Saturday last, when he saw a boat with two men in it pass the vessel. Witness did not notice the boat particularly. He went into the galley, and when he came out a moment afterwards he heard someone say “Sit Still” and then he heard twice a cry of “Help.” Witness lowered the boat immediately and went in the direction from which the cry came. They presently came up to the boat, which was waterlogged, and saw the two caps floating beside it. They searched for some time, but could find no trace of the bodies. They then took the boat in tow and brought it to Day and Summers’ yard, and reported tbe matter to the water police. Witness and his companion returned to the Hiawatha and rested for about two hours, and then resumed their search at about 3.45 the following morning. They saw the two bodies on the mud close to Day and Summers’ yard, and got them ashore.
Dr W. P. O'Meara stated that he saw the body of the deceased at the Mortuary on Monday, and as the result of a subsequent post-mortem examination, was of the opinion that death was due to asphyxia from drowning.
The jury returned a verdict of death from accidental drowning.
The case of the brother, Thomas Painter, was then taken. Deocased’s widow, Daisy Pamter, gave evidence of identification. and also corroborative evidence, and stated that her husband was unable to swim.
Albert Stokes repeated the evidence given by him in the case of Edward Painter, as did Dr. W. P. O'Meara.
William James Painter, a fitter, of 9, Pope's buildings, St. Mary-street, stated that he identified both bodies at the Mortuary at 12.45 moon on Sunday last, as being those of his two brothers, Edwin and Thomas. In his opinion one of the rowlocks of the boat gave way, and caused it to capsize.
The jury returned a similar verdict in this case as in the last.