Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 21 March 1884
Sad Death of a Keel Captain at Denaby.
On Tuesday evening some excitement was caused at Denaby Main by the news that a Keel captain have been drowned.
It appears that a boat belonging to the South Yorkshire Glass Bottle Company, Swinton, had been lying at Denaby “stay” in charge of a man named James Lawson, residing at White Lee Rd, Swinton.
He was engaged in levelling the coal which had fallen from the “shoot” at the Denaby boat stay when last seen alive, and for some hours it was not known what had become of him. At length his hat was discovered floating in the canal, and the drags were requisitioned. After some time the body was drawn out of the water, and conveyed to the Station Hotel, Conisborough.
It is supposed that the deceased slipped off the plank, and it is somewhat surprising that the splash was not heard by any of the men engaged in loading the boat with coal.
An inquest was held on the body by Mr G.S.Nicholson coroner.
William Lawson, son of the deceased, identified the body.
Eli Scorah, the man who last saw the deceased alive, stated that the deceased must have accidentally slipped into the water.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.