Washed down a gully

WASHED DOWN A GULLY.

ASTON BOY DROWNED IN FLOOD WATER.

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned yesterday at the inquest at Aston Police Station on the body of Arthur Henry Edwards (13), of 50, Holborn-hill, Aston, who was swept away by a sudden rush of flood water and washed down a gully into the River Tame, at Salford Bridge, Gravelly Hill.

Richard Walker (10), of Long Acre, said he met Edwards about 5.30, and at his suggestion went to the river to see the “waterfall.” They got through a gap in some palings. Edwards got down some nails in the wall. The water was only up to the top of their boots in the middle, and they could walk down the sides without wetting their feet. They went to look at the “waterfall,” and then returned to where the nails were in the wall. They were about three strides away from the nails when they saw a volume of water rushing towards them. Witness kept as near the side as possible, but the water came up to his knees. Edwards, however, ran into the middle of the stream and the force of the water knocked him off his feet. He was washed away by the current under the bridge. Witness was assisted out of the water.

Thomas H. Smith spoke to hearing the water coming, and ran to the boys’ assistance. He assisted to get Walker out, and tried to save Edwards, but was too late.

Joseph Wilkins deposed to plunging into the flood water. The current was so strong that witness was swept off his feet and carried down for a distance of twenty yards. Witness seized the boy, however, and managed to get him to the side.

The doctor said the boy had apparently been dead about ten minutes when he arrived, death being due to drowning.

Police-constable Sweeney said at times the river rose very rapidly. He understood it was due to the opening of the flood gates on the other side of the city. An hour after the accident the water had dropped a foot.

(Birmingham Daily Gazette, 9th August 1912)

Drowned in the River Rea

Context Note: Son of Arthur Henry Edwards and his wife, Sarah (Mathews) Edwards.

---

ASTON BOY DROWNED.

CONSTABLE’S GALLANT RESCUE UNAVAILING.

The heavy rainstorm which swept over Birmingham yesterday was the cause of a remarkable drowning fatality at Aston. Shortly before six o’clock Arthur Henry Edwards (13), of 50, Holborn Hill, Birmingham, was walking along the bed of the River Rea with another youth when a sudden rush of storm water swept him off his feet. He was carried a considerable distance to the junction at Salford Bridge, where his progress was stopped by a mud-bank.

Police-constable Patrick Sweeney (178D) was attracted to the spot by the presence of the crowd, and he and Joseph Wilkins entered the water. The strong current carried the constable off his feet, but he managed to reach the unfortunate boy. He at once applied artificial respiration, but his efforts were of no avail, and when a doctor saw the lad he pronounced life extinct.

(Birmingham Daily Gazette, 5th August 1912)