Boat Tragedy at The Bridge of Earn
Preface
While camping at Aberfeldy the boys of the 1st Dundee Boy Scouts read about the tragedy that had occured at Bridge of Earn claiming the lives of two fellow scouts from the 3rd Dundee Boy Scouts the day before.
They despatched one of their number on his bicycle to pass on condolences to Mr. Latimer, the troops scoutmaster, a journey of about 40 miles.
Here are two contemporary newspaper accounts, one from the Edinburgh newspaper, The Scotsman and the second from The Glasgow Herald. If they had read the later they might have realised that by the time their messenger got there the troop would have been on their way home. Perhaps he caught up with them and continued on to Dundee?
One of the reports states that the Bridge of Earn camp was on the north side of the river however it seems more likely that they were on the south side, Hilton Farm, where the fire occured, being on the north side of the river which they had to cross.
Boat Tragedy at The Bridge of Earn
Two Dundee Scouts Drowned
A DROWNING accident of a distressing character took place near Perth last night, and resulted in two Boy Scouts, belonging to No. 3 Company, Dundee, losing their lives. At present the company are in camp on the bank of the river Earn, and about three o'clock yesterday afternoon the alarm was given that a field of corn had caught fire on the opposite side of the river. A number of Scouts immediately made for the district by way of the railway bridge, while a Scoutmaster and four other Scouts proceeded to cross the river in a small boat, using in place of oars a rope which was attached to poles on each side of the bank. Before their arrival the other Scouts had succeeded in extinguishing the outbreak, and the five who had crossed the river again entered the boat for the purpose of returning to camp.
When standing on the other side, however, the incoming tide started the boat from under the rope, with the result that the whole five were thrown into the river. Scoutmaster Lorimer, who resides at 18 Overgate, Dundee, being an expert swimmer, seized hold of two of the boys. William Cameron (18), a message boy, who resided with his widowed mother at 87 King Street, Dundee, and Alexander Brown (13) residing at Baldovan Terrace, Dundee, but whose parents are at present on holiday in Bridge of Earn. The other two lads were:- John Fairweather Henderson, clerk, Dundee, and John MacArthur, billposter, 36 Bingham Terrace, Dundee. Henderson, who had never lost hold of the rope, succeeded in pulling himself ashore, while MacArthur swam ashore. Lorimer was able to right the boat, which had capsized, and succeeded in getting Cameron into it. Unfortunately, a minute later the craft sank, and Cameron was again thrown into the river, which was about 15 feet deep. Lorimer sustained a severe knock on the head from the boat, and was stunned, with the result that he was unable to save the young lad Brown. Cameron sank, and was not again seen to rise. Meanwhile Scout MacArthur, who had got ashore, had divested himself of his clothing and again entered the water. He was unable to find either of the two boys, whose bodies were recovered about an hour and a half later.
Mr Herbert Pullar, who resides close by and is Commissioner for the Boy Scouts' movement in Perthshire, was early on the scene, and lent valuable assistance with the rescue work. The body of one of the lads was conveyed to Dundee in the evening, while that of the other lad was taken to Bridge of Earn, where his parents reside.
Scoutmaster Lorimer, who lies in a critical condition, was removed to a neighbouring farm, and at a late hour last night had not been informed of the sad tragedy.
[Extract, by kind permission, from 'The Scotsman', dated Wednesday 26 July 1911]
Boat Capsizes On The Earn
Two Dundee Boy Scouts Drowned
A distressing boating accident, by which two Boy Scouts attached to the Dundee 3rd Troop lost their lives, while several others had narrow escapes, occurred at the Bridge of Earn yesterday afternoon. The troop arrived in that vicinity on Saturday and is encamped on the north side of the Earn, not far from the village.
In the afternoon news arrived at the camp that fire had broken out at Hilton Farm, situated a little distance away, on the opposite side of the river. With true scout enterprise a party volunteered to cross the river to assist in quelling the flames. A small iron- built boat was requisitioned and into it leaped William Cameron, (18), message boy, son of Mrs Cameron, widow, 87 King Street, Dundee; James Strachan Brown, (13), 39 Baldovin Terrace, Dundee; Scoutmaster Lorimer, Overgate, Dundee; John Henderson, clerk, Harbour Buildings, Dundee; and John McArthur, bill-poster, 36 Bangham Terrace, Dundee. They crossed the river in safety, helped to quench the fire, which was not serious and were returning when the accident occurred.
The boat was being taken across the river by means of a rope which stretched from bank to bank at a point about 800 yards north of Eastfield Farm. There was a strong flood tide running at the time, the depth of the water being fully 15 feet, and when the boat was in midstream it capsized, the occupants being thrown into the water. Scoutmaster Lorimer, who is a strong swimmer and has saved many lives, laid hold of Cameron, whom he lifted into the boat, which however again overturned. Cameron then sank, and was seen no more. Brown managed to catch Lorimer, and was clinging to his neck when unfortunately the boat struck them, and Brown losing his hold also disappeared. Henderson and McArthur, the latter being a King's Scout, managed to reach the bank. Lorimer was ultimately dragged to the bank in an exhausted condition and was conveyed to Hilton Farm, where he lies in a serious condition.
The bodies of the two lads were afterwards recovered by dragging about 100 yards from the scene of the accident. Mr Herbert Pullar, Scoutmaster, Perthshire assisted in the search. Owing to the accident the camp is to be stuck to-day.
['The Glasgow Herald', Wednesday, 26 July 1911.]