SUMNER Henry Kingston

Other Events:

• Occupation: Bruthen VIC; Groom
• _UID: 12BA0ABFCA3E4AAC9460F17295D830A42B57
• Inquest: 2 Jan 1907, Davidson's Hotel, Bruthen VIC; Into the death of Henry Kingston 'Harry' SUMNER (1885-1906)

Notes:

Henry Kingston (Harry) SUMNER (1885-1906) was committed to the Neglected Childrens System (No. 17811) on 24 Nov 1890 soon after the arrest of his father for coining (counterfeiting). He was fostered at several addresses in the Bendigo area and later at Connewarre near Geelong VIC.

Neglected Childrens' Registers
SUMNER, Henry, 1885, Vol 11, p.178.
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Bruthen and Tambo Times, Wednesday 2 Jan 1907

Drowned in the Tambo River
Henry R. [sic] SUMNER, a groom employed at Davidson's Bruthen Inn, met his death by drowning, in the river on Sunday afternoon last. The day was very hot and [the] deceased with two companions, George SMITH and Andrew SMITH respectively, betook themselves to a deep hole in the river, about a mile from the town, for a swim. According to the evidence adduced at the enquiry they remained in the water for about two hours and had only got out, somewhere about 4 p.m., when a cry for help was heard from one of a number of lads who were bathing in the pool. SUMNER and Geo. SMITH immediately responded and Phillip KING, the lad who had appealed for help, having been put in a place of safety by SMITH, [the] deceased, who was within two yards of KING, suddenly called out "I am drowning" and sank. Most of those present thought he had dived but as he did not re-appear Andrew SMITH swam to the spot where he was last seen, but as he could not dive he was unable to render any aid. The alarm was given by Norman STRANGE and Constable HOWARD, Mr. C. DAVIDSON and Mr. G. McDOUGALL were quickly on the spot. The last named and others dived into the water which is about 13 feet in depth, but failed to locate the body. Grappling irons were subsequently obtained and the river dragged until nightfall, but without result. It was then determined to suspend operations for the night and to procure a boat for the morning. On Monday work was resumed by Messrs D.T. KING, Geo. McDOUGALL, Constable HOWARD and a number of others. After about an hours' searching the body was located and brought to the surface, and subsequently conveyed to the Bruthen INN.

The deceased, Henry SUMNER, was about 20 years of age. He had been in Bruthen for the last twelve months, but is believed to have originally come from Bendigo. A brother lives at Sydney, a married sister at Belmont and an unmarried sister at Murrumbeena. SUMNER bore an exemplary character, being a sober and well behaved young fellow. The sum of 17 pounds was found in his room. Mr. HEARD, [sic] a brother in law of [the] deceased's, arrived in Bruthen on Tuesday and arranged for the burial to take place this afternoon.

A magisterial enquiry as to the cause of death was held at Davidson's Hotel at 2:15 p.m. on Monday. Dr. BOND, J.P. acted as coroner and Constable HOWARD conducted the examination.

Geo. Henry McDOUGALL, storekeeper, sworn, said:- I knew Henry SUMNER for the last six months; He had no relatives in Bruthen; in consequence of hearing something, I went to the Tambo River, near Mr. STIRLING's paddock, about 5 p.m.; I dived several times but did not succeed in finding anything; the river bed at that point is sandy and rocky and is about 13 ft. deep; on Monday morning I again proceeded with others to the river; we had procured a boat, and after an hour's search I found the body of [the] deceased in some 8 ft. of water, just about where he was last seen. The body was naked and the arms were doubled up close to the body; no marks of violence were visible; the body was about 25 ft. from the East bank of the river, and about 50 feet from the sandbank in the middle of the river. I identify the body as that of Henry SUMNER. I obtained the body on the lower side of the sunken sandbank amidst some rocks.

Phillip Cardigan KING, a lad of 11 years, residing at Bruthen, deposed: I knew Henry SUMNER about six months; I remember Sunday 30th. December; I was swimming in the afternoon in the Tambo River, above Murphy's crop; there were a number of boys swimming there; there were three young men also present; their names were Andrew SMITH, George SMITH and Henry SUMNER; I was swimming to the sunken sandbank to go out when I got "puffed" and called out "Help! I am just about done." George SMITH ran down and jumping in swam to me and pushed me with his feet on to the bank; Henry SUMNER followed George SMITH and tried to swim to me and got within two yards when he called out "I am drowning"; I held my hand out to him but he did not offer to take it; his head sank below the surface and he was kicking; I did not see him alive again: there was no sign of him, not even a bubble: George SMITH was down on the log about 12 yards away; my brother Charlie was about six yards behind me; [the] deceased was in the habit of calling out in fun that he was drowning.

Geoge Pentland SMITH, carpenter, Bruthen, sworn, said: I knew the deceased Henry SUMNER for about four months; I went for a swim about 3 p.m. with Andy SMITH and [the] deceased to a hole in the Tambo River, near Murphy's paddock; a number of lads arrived there about an hour later; all there present were swimming; [the] deceased was in about two hours: Harry SUMNER, Andy SMITH and myself had left the water and were dressing, when one of the boys named Charlie KING called out to me to go and help Phil KING, as he was getting done for; I ran round and swam across to Phillip KING and pushed him on to the sunken sandbank; I tried to get to Phillip KING again but the current was too strong, and as I was getting weak I swam with the current to a log on the Eastern side of the river; I did not see [the] deceased until I got to the log, when I saw his head go down as I turned round; I did not hear him call out and I did not see him alive again; [the] deceased told me he was subject to cramp in the toes; I was about 12 yards from [the] deceased when he went down; I was too exhausted to make any effort to save [the] deceased; Andrew SMITH went into the water, but I do not think he dived after him; [the] deceased was only a yard from the sandbank when he went down; the water at that part is about 12 ft. deep; I consider [the] deceased to have been a fair swimmer; during the afternoon [the] deceased several times put his head under water and pretended to be in danger; I believe [the] deceased exhausted himself in endeavouring to swim to Phillip KING against the current.

Andrew SMITH, carpenter, of Bruthen, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, adding, however, that had he not thought that [the] deceased was joking when he called out "I am drowning" he would have went to his aid at once. As it was, he jumped into the water and swam around several times, but did not dive as he had never done so.

Charles DAVIDSON and Constable HOWARD also gave formal evidence.

The Coroner found "That Henry R. (sic) SUMNER came to his death at Bruthen, on 30th. day of December 1906, from drowning by misadventure."

By way of a rider, the Coroner said he should like to impress on parents generally the great risk in permitting children to bathe in unattended and dangerous holes in the river.

Occupation:
Davidson's Bruthen Inn

Inquest:
Dr. BOND, JP acted as coroner and found that Henry SUMNER came to his death at Bruthen, on the 30th. day of 1906 from drowning by misadventure.

Buried:
Funeral arranged by brother-in-law Frederick Forbes HERD (1872-1944).