As Summer holidays approach many organisations make use of nicer weather to hold their annual excursions. Camps, outings, day trips, this still happens today, as it did in Victorian times.
In this article, we’re reminded about the need to supervise children on such outings, to ensure their safety and avoid the unthinkable. Spare a thought for all concerned in this next story.
On Saturday 9th June 1894, the members and friends of Blantyre Parish Church Choir were looking forward to their planned picnic in Lanark. An annual outing much anticipated by around 40 people, comprising of adults and children. That morning, the whole company set off from Blantyre and the Falls of Clyde was the destination.
The picnic however, soon took an alarming, shocking turn when suddenly a young girl and boy fell together from the precipice over the fast flowing dangerous falls. The boy ended up in the water, the girl fell hard to the riverbank far below.
The alarm was raised and the rest of the choir arrived at the top of the precipice very quickly gauging the difficult situation. Mr Allison, one of the 40 in the group, gallantly volunteered to bravely descend the steep precipice putting his own life at risk. As the falls roared to his side, he manoeuvred slowly down to the gorge with the intention of bringing up the young girl. On getting to the bottom however, he could find no trace of the boy in the water, who was quickly feared as drowned.
Mr Allison had put himself forward in an instant for the rescue and over the course of an hour or so, managed to retrieve the girl to safer location. Authorities were at the same time fetched who commenced a search of the river downstream.
With little else they could do that evening, the saddened choir company headed back to Blantyre, arriving in the town around 9 o’clock, notably missing one of their own. The fatality clearly had a saddening effect on them all, no less on the person who had the misfortune of having to go to the family of the drowned boy, to tell them what had happened.
I haven’t managed to find a follow up to this story or the name of the boy, but may he rest in peace.
There are many lessons learned from this story. To supervise children on group outings. The dangers of playing near heights or fast flowing water. Prayers were offered by the church for some weeks after this incident.
Falls of Clyde (Corra Linn) are pictured.
