98 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



The men upon the bank now strove 



To lend a helping hand. 

 By logs of wood, and whipthongs tied, 



Brought many safe to land. 



" But where is Slingsby ? Edward Lloyd ? 



The Warriners ? The ' Whip ' ? 

 Ned Robinson ? Can it be true 



Death holds them in his grip ? 



" Speak ! speak ! and tell if they be safe, 



Ye men who stand around ! 

 Have any seen them come ashore, 



Or have they all been drowned ? " 



Sir Charles and Lloyd were seen to swim 



Towards the southern bank ; 

 When, quite exhausted and outspent. 



They in the middle sank. 



" Go fetch some boats, and poles, and lines, 



We'll drag the river's bed ; 

 Strain every nerve to save each man — 



They may not yet be dead ! " 



Four boats were brought, the river searched — 



Alas ! 'twas all in vain ; 

 Six bodies to the surface came 



That ne'er would breathe again. 



Eight horses, too, were drowned that day, 



Of purest hunting blood ; 

 •' Old Saltfish," who had caused the woe, 



Was rescued from the flood. 



Poor SHngsby's watch had stopped at 



Fifty minutes after one, 

 Precisely indicating when 



The deadly work was done. 



• • • • 



Thus closed in darkest gloom the day, 



A day so well begun. 

 Ah ! sure, no hunting page can tell 



Of such a fatal run. 



Ye men of England's noblest sport 



Together mingle tears ; 

 Bow down the head in silent grief 



Around these mournful biers. 



Prepare a set of marble scrolls, 



Erect them o'er their graves ; 

 Portraying how these gallant men 



Were drowned beneath the waves. 



KEY 



(1) Viscount Downe, of Danby Lodge. (2) Lord Lascelles, of Harewood. 

 (3) Sir George Wombwell, of Newburgh Park. (4) Edmund Robmson, Esq., of 

 Thorpe Green. (5) Captain Molyneux, Thorpe Arch. (6) Edward Lloyd, Esq., 

 of Lingcroft. (7) Major Mussenden, 8th Hussars. (8) Sir Charles Shngsby, of 



