Wadham Wyndham ^54,471

  General Notes:

From The Times, May 3, 1839

The Late Fatal Accident at Marlow to Mr. Andrew Henry Poulett
Thomson, and Mr. Wadham Wyndham, Jun.
On Monday evening the inquest on the bodies of these unfortunate
gentlemen was held at Newlock Weir, near Great Marlow, before Mr.
Charsley, coroner for the county of Berks, and a jury of high
respectablility, when a verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.
The Right Hon. Poulett Thomson, with other members of the family, were
present at the investigation. The best account that can be given of
the melancholy catastrophe, in the absence of the regular depositions
taken on the occasion, though application for them was made by us and
refused, is this:-These gentlemen, after attending divine service at
Bisham church, accompanied by Mrs. Thomson, the lady of one of the
unfortunate sufferers, took a skiff for the purpose of recreation,
which was conducted by Mr. Thomson, who rowed to the outlet of an
island situate near Newlook Weir, where the party alighted and
remained for a time. They re-embarked, and took the direction of the
upper side of the weir. In this course they were observed by Mr.
Thomas Burnett Fell, who was on the opposite side of the river, and
about 200 yards distant from the weir, and, imagining from all
appearances that the skiff was approaching the weir to closely, and
fearing the result if such was the case, ran towards the spot for the
purpose of cautioning them; but before he could gain upon them the
boat had come within current of the weir, and was capsized into the
eddy of the water below. Mr. Fell seeing this, lost no time in
obtaining assistance; and a man named Johnson being in the eyot, on the
Buckinghamshire side of the river, he gave the alarm to him. Johnson
without delay went with a boat, to render assistance, and arrived just
in time to save Mrs. Thompson(sic) from a watery grave. She was
sinking for a third time, when he caught her finger, and rescued her.
Johnson had a distinct view of the gentlemen of the surface of the
water, yet before he could reach them they had sunk. Mrs. Thomson was
with all possible speed taken on shore: she was in a state of great
exhaustion. The bodies of deceased were ultimately brought out of the
water. It is a remarkable circumtance, that notwithstanding the rules
of the Humane Society were on the walls of the cottage near the weir
in which the bodies were deposited after their recovery, yet there
was, it is said, a lamentable degree of ignorance shown by the parties
in taking them to a cold shed, and treating them in a manner contrary
to these regulations. It is apprebended, however, from the length of
time the bodies had been immersed (upwars of half a hour), there was
very little chance of resuscitation. Medical aid was promptly
obtained, and every effort to restore animation used without effect.
The lamentable accident has caused considerable excitment in Great
Marlow and the surrounding neighbourhood. Mr. Thomson was advance in
years, and greatly respected for his munificence in the furtherance of
charitable objects. Mr. Wyndham was a young gentleman also much
respected in the vicinity, and held a commission in the army. It is
understood he was only on a visit to his family, and had received
orders to return to his quarters during the present week. The remains
of Mr. Thomson are to be buried in the new church at Marlow on
Saturday. Mrs. Thomson remains very severely indisposed. It is to be
regretted, under all the circumstances stated, that the depositions
taken at the inquest were not given. There is a duty towards the
public on these occasions to which all private considerations should
yield.