There is a stained glass window in the South Aisle of St. Nicholas' Church, Skirbeck, Boston, Lincolnshire, England which commemorates two brothers drowned at sea. The following extract from a local newspaper tells the story.
There was widespread regret in Boston when tragedy on last Sunday 28th June resulted in the death of Herbert and Ralph Wheeler, sons of Boston's Borough Engineer. They were experienced yachtsmen and good swimmers. The two men and their dog started out in their yacht Daisy intending to sail to Hull. They cleared the river and arrived off Gib. Point deciding to stay there the night. Having anchored they took to the canvas dinghy and set out for shore (1.25 miles) to buy gooseberries from the coastguards. After telling the coastguards their intentions, they set off to return to the yacht. It soon became clear to the watchers that they were being blown off course. The current was very strong as the tide was rising. It was seen that they had given up trying to reach the yacht and were trying to reach a buoy. Suddenly, the watchers said, the boat and men disappeared. The boat had capsized as they were trying to tie up to the buoy. A fisherman boarded his smack and searched but found nothing. Boston was informed and the parents told. Dragging and searching went on for a day and night to no effect. Just the one body that of Herbert Wheeler was later found by the tug Boston. The inquest was held at The Ship Inn, Skirbeck Quarter and the funeral held at Saint Nicholas' Church on the following Friday.
Boston Guardian, July 11th and 18th 1896
Page last updated 4 December, 2003
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