HUNTING SONGS 



inflicted on their masters, who were also swept by the current out 

 of the reach of those anxious to afford rehef. In some cases, how- 

 ever, the prompt measures taken by the spectators were effectual. 

 Those who could swim cast off their coats and plunged to save their 

 friends, while others, not so happily gifted, took less vigorous, though 

 not less useful, steps. Lines formed of whips, were tied together, and 

 thrown within reach of the drowning men, and several beams of wood 

 which fortunately lay scattered about, were quickly launched on the 

 stream. Captain Vyner was one of the first to get his head out of 

 water, and to save himself from the current by clinging to the up- 

 turned vessel. After a vigorous struggle he reached the top of the 

 boat, and was able to assist first Sir George Wombwell and afterwards 

 one of the York officers to the same position. Mr. White got on shore 

 by means of the chain stretched across the ferry, while others were 

 rescued by the means adopted for their safety from the banks. In a 

 very few minutes, however, it was found that six men and eleven 

 horses had been drowned. Two horses were rescued. An account in 

 a local journal says several gentlemen and horses were under the boat 

 when it floated bottom upwards. Among these were Sir George 

 Wombwell and an officer from York, who was very badly kicked by 

 the horses. Sir Charles Slingsby was seen by the spectators on the 

 bank to strike out for the opposite shore, but when nearing it he threw 

 up his hands, and the last seen of him was his body floating down the 

 river with his head and legs under water. None of the others drowned 

 were seen at all. Every effort was made by those upon the bank to 

 rescue the sufferers. Mr. William Ingleby threw off his coat and 

 plunged into the river, and made a desperate effort to reach Sir 

 Charles Slingsby, but in this he unhappily failed, and with great 

 difficulty and in a state of complete exhaustion reached the shore. 

 Captain Vyner and Captain Preston plunged into the river in the hope 

 of rendering assistance. Mr. Bartram, of Harrogate, rendered very 

 active aid, and succeeded in assisting to the shore one of those who 

 had been thrown into the river, and had clung to the chain of the 

 ferry. The body of Sir Charles Slingsby was discovered three hundred 

 yards below the scene of the accident by Mr. Denison, of Ripon, and 

 Mr. Wood, of the same city, about half-past four o'clock. The bodies 

 of Captain Lloyd and Mr. Robinson were afterwards taken out of 

 the river, and all were conveyed to Newby-hall to await a coroner's 

 inquest. Yesterday two more of the bodies were recovered, those of 

 William Orvys and Christopher Warriner, the eldest of that name. 

 The only body now to be recovered is that of Christopher Warriner's 

 son. Mr. Robinson's watch had stopped at ten minutes to two 

 o'clock. Sir Charles Slingsby was riding one of the oldest and most 



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