THE SKATING ACCIDENT NEAR SHEFFIELD

A later message from Sheffield with regard to the skating disaster says:- The disaster occurred on the Chesterfield - Stockwith Canal at Churchtown near Killamarsh. The victims were:-

Fred Northridge (17), pony driver, Killamarsh;

Harry Milner (18), pony driver, Killamarsh:

Annie Sedgewick, (12) , Killamarsh;

Mary Elizabeth Watson, (6) Killamarsh;

Alice Read, pottery hand Chesterfield; and

Mary Ann Ranskill, (18),  pottery hand Chesterfield;

The canal which is not now used for traffic had been frozen over for some days, and had been the rendezvous of large numbers of young people. On Saturday, there was an unusually large number of young people on the ice, when suddenly there was an alarming crackling sound. Before anyone had time to realise what was happening, the six victims, who were close together were plunged into the water, which was something like nine feet deep. The alarm was raised, and although gallant attempts ate rescue were made, the unfortunate skaters perished. Dragging operations commenced, and the bodies were recovered within the hour. Miss Read was engaged to be married to Tom Northridge, brother of Fred Northridge, the banns having been read out the second time at Killamarsh the same morning.

ICE VICTIMS.
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TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT KILLAMARSH.
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SIX DROWNED.
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A terrible ice fatality involving the deaths of six young persons occurred on the Chesterfield and Stockwith Canal at Churchtown, Killamarsh, near
Chesterfield, yesterday afternoon. The names and addresses of the victims are:-

Fred Northridge (17), pony driver, son of Fred Northridge, miner, Kirkcroft Square, Killamarsh.

Harry Milner (18), pony driver, son of Elizabeth Milner, widow, Kirkcroft Square.

Annie Sedgewick (12), daughter of Sarah Sedgewick, Kirkcroft Square.

Mary Elizabeth Watson (6), Daughter of Geo. Watson, miner, Kirkcroft Square.

Alice Read (21), pottery hand, of No.1 Dock Wall, Boythorpe, Chesterfield.

Mary Ann Ramskill (18), pottery hand of No.6 Spa Lane, Chesterfield

The canal, which is not now in use for traffic, has been frozen over for some days, and in certain parts large numbers of children have indulged in
sliding and skating. Yesterday there was a larger number than usual on the ice, and the numbers apparently proved more than the ice could bear, for suddenly the six young people mentioned disappeared below the surface, the depth of water at this place being stated to be about nine feet.
Miss Nellie Foster, Churchtown, Killamarsh, stated that she was in a field by the side of the canal near Church Lane at 2.45 yesterday afternoon and
noticed two young women and two young men arm in arm walking or sliding on the ice. Suddenly there was an ominous cracking, followed by screams and the four young people were struggling in the water.
Miss Foster screamed for help, and a young man, Wilfred Sargeson, Miner, long lane, Killamarsh, who was a short distance away ran to the canal bank at the point where the accident had taken place. He promptly got on the ice to render assistance, and succeeded in grasping one of the young men, but the ice gave way and he dropped into the water. Two other men, named Watts and Jones, were by this time on the scene, and they were able to rescue Sargeson. In an exhausted condition Sargeson was taken home, and it was found necessary to call in Dr. Saunders, of Wales. Meanwhile none of the persons in the water was visible, but Police-constable Tinder was summoned and at once commenced dragging operations. Other persons also searched the canal with drags and within an hour six bodies were recovered. Dr Adams of Killamarsh, was present during
the operations, but could only pronounce life extinct as the bodies were brought to the bank. The fatalities all took place at one part of the canal
within a radius of three or four yards. The bodies were removed to the houses of relatives or friends to await the inquest. The Two young women from Chesterfield were on a visit to friends at Killamarsh, Miss Reid, was engaged to be married to Tom Northridge, brother of one the victims, and the banns were read out for the second time at Killamarsh church yesterday.

KILLAMARSH DISASTER.
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Further Details Of Sad Ice Accident.

The ice disaster which claimed six victims at Killamarsh on Sunday has cast a gloom over the village, and yesterday the war had to take second place as a general topic of conversation. It appears that for some time after the occurrence there was a wide spread fear that the tragedy was even more serious than six fold. When the dragging operation had resulted in the recovery of the sixth body, it was freely rumoured among the hundreds of people who thronged the canal banks that a seventh person was missing. The police and civilians who formed the search party accordingly continued to drag the canal for sometime, but as the afternoon advanced without anyone else being reported missing, the search was discontinued shortly before 5pm.

The inquest, which is to be held this afternoon, at the congregational school, Killamarsh, will probably bring forth evidence to throw further light on the tragedy. It is stated that there is a stream running into the canal near the spot where the ice gave way, and, if so, this fact coupled with the weight of a group of persons at one particular place, will explain the cause of the ice giving away. It appears that the victims were sliding on the ice in a sort of procession, Harry Milner, linked arm in arm with Mary Ann Ramskill - one of the Two chesterfield young women to lose their lives - taking the lead. Miss Ramskill was visiting Killamarsh with a friend, Alice Reid-another of the unfortunate victims who was engaged to be married to Tom Northridge came second in the line, and behind them holding a part of their clothing, came Annie Sedgewick and little Mary Watson. The sliders were all laughing and making merry when Harry Milner slipped and fell heavily in a sitting position. The other members of the party tripped over him, and the combined weight of the whole proved more than the ice would bear, and the six persons were precipitated into the water, their screams being described as agonising.

There were a number of children on other parts of the ice, and they at once got to the bank. Wilfred Sargeson, Miner, Long Lane was one of the first to attempt rescue work and as he stated yesterday he himself had to be pulled out of the water in an exhausted condition. Sargeson is still suffering for the effects of the immersion. "Save me Wilf" cried Harry Milner from the icy cold water, as Sargeson made every effort to save the victims and it was while Sargeson was stepping towards the edge of the broken ice that the ice under him gave way, and he, too, found himself in need of help. There were other men on the spot by this time - Benjamin Milner (brother of one of the victims), George Watson (Father of the six year old girl who was drowned), Joe Kelk, two men named Jones and Watts, and several others. In the absence of ladders or planks rescue work was practically impossible, for the ice broke away as one approached the hole through which the victims had fallen. Fortunately, a rope was at last procured, and with this Sargeson was assisted out. By this time there was no trace of the other victims.

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