Home People Accidents The Kilnhurst Drowning Case. 

The Kilnhurst Drowning Case. 

July 1890

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 25 July 1890

The Kilnhurst Drowning Case. 

Yesterday Mr. B. Bagshawe, deputy coroner, held an inquest at the Queen’s Hotel, Sandhill, Rawmarsh, touching the death Frances Ellen Bennett, aged 14, daughter of John Bennett, miner, of Sandhill. The girl was in service at Kilnhurst.

On Tuesday night while carrying a baby in her arms she began playing with a girl named Sarah on the canal at Kilnhurst wharf. The owner, Mr. Bisby, spoke to them, and they ran along the canal bank, and endeavoured to hide themselves.

As they were doing this the soil gave way, and Bennett, the baby, and Swann fell into the water. Assistance was quickly forthcoming, but only Swann and the baby were rescued.

The deceased was not got out until 12 minutes had elapsed. Efforts at resuscitation were made by several members of the St. John Ambulance Association, but without success.

The jury returned a verdict of ” Accidentally Drowned.”