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I'm reading about a dramatic boat accident at Two Waters in Hertfordshire, where two brothers (George and Arthur Sells) rescued five drowning people in 1905. Who wants to hear more?
OK, a brief cast list:
George and Arthur Sells (aged 30 and 21), two brothers who live canal side with their mum Sarah. They hire out rowing boats for tourists.
Mr and Mrs Kimble, and their daughter Avis. Mr and Mrs Higgs and their baby boy: A group of friends from London
George and Arthur Sells (aged 30 and 21), two brothers who live canal side with their mum Sarah. They hire out rowing boats for tourists.
Mr and Mrs Kimble, and their daughter Avis. Mr and Mrs Higgs and their baby boy: A group of friends from London
The Kimbles and Higgs family hired out a rowing boat. Mr Kimble and Mr Higgs were lightermen on the Thames, so well used to waterways and boats.
George, Arthur and Sarah were in their garden, selling refreshments.
A scream went up.
Another scream.
Sells boys to the rescue!
George, Arthur and Sarah were in their garden, selling refreshments.
A scream went up.
Another scream.
Sells boys to the rescue!
Mr Higgs and Mr Kimble had changed sides in the rowing boat, and while doing so, the boat capsized.
Mr and Mrs Higgs and Mr Kimble were all holding on to the capsized boat. Mrs Kimble was just going underwater.
George, older and experienced, went to rescue Mrs Kimble.
Mr and Mrs Higgs and Mr Kimble were all holding on to the capsized boat. Mrs Kimble was just going underwater.
George, older and experienced, went to rescue Mrs Kimble.
He yelled at Arthur to go to the boat, and dived in.
He grabbed hold of Mrs Kimble, but she sank, and he went with her. At the same time, he realised she was holding a baby. They were both unconscious and heavy.
He grabbed hold of Mrs Kimble, but she sank, and he went with her. At the same time, he realised she was holding a baby. They were both unconscious and heavy.
George showed the most ASTONISHING common sense and instead of fighting to get Mrs Kimble and the baby to the surface, he WALKED ALONG THE CANAL BED until it was shallow enough to surface.
Meanwhile, Arthur shouted to the Higgs couple and Mr Kimble to HOLD ON to the boat.
Mr Kimble, in a panic, let go and sank. Arthur went after him.
When he hit the bottom of the canal, he stood on a body.
Mr Kimble, in a panic, let go and sank. Arthur went after him.
When he hit the bottom of the canal, he stood on a body.
He surfaced, and screamed at George "THERE'S ANOTHER BODY"
George had just got Mrs Kimble and the baby to the bank, both unconscious. He dived back down.
George had just got Mrs Kimble and the baby to the bank, both unconscious. He dived back down.
It took him several attempts to locate the body, that of an eight year old girl.
While he was underwater, Mr Kimble had reached the opposite bank. And saw his wife and a baby apparently dead on the opposite bank.
In hysterics, he jumped back into the canal.
Sigh.
While he was underwater, Mr Kimble had reached the opposite bank. And saw his wife and a baby apparently dead on the opposite bank.
In hysterics, he jumped back into the canal.
Sigh.
So, Arthur went BACK IN to rescue Mr Kimble AGAIN.
Meanwhile, George had retrieved the body of the little girl from the canal bed.
Sarah took the unconscious kids and women into her house to revive them. Mr Kimble went to a pub on the other bank to be calmed down and warmed up
Meanwhile, George had retrieved the body of the little girl from the canal bed.
Sarah took the unconscious kids and women into her house to revive them. Mr Kimble went to a pub on the other bank to be calmed down and warmed up
*THE LITTLE GIRL WAS TWO YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS, NOT EIGHT*
Anyway, the Kimbles older daughter had refused to get in the boat and had witnessed this whole dreadful ordeal.
Thanks to the exceptional courage, speed and common sense of George and Arthur Sells, everyone survived.
POSTSCRIPT: The two lightermen, who took small craft back and forth across the Thames, couldn't swim!
Source: Herts Advertiser, 19th Aug 1905
Source: Herts Advertiser, 19th Aug 1905
George and Arthur were later g presented with medals and certificates by the mayor of Hemel Hempstead.
It took five months of campaigning by the local paper though!
It took five months of campaigning by the local paper though!
The little girl, Avis, died in 1920 when she was seventeen.
I can't trace the other family.
I can't trace the other family.
