From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 23 January, 1836. Price 7d.

FATAL ACCIDENT

On Tuesday, the sloop "Sovereign," William Pratt, of Shoreham, brought up in Dover Roads, on her passage to London, and the master, accompanied by his brother, Thomas Pratt, (mate of the vessel,) and a seaman, came on shore to procure some necessaries. On their leaving the harbour to return, it was nearly low water; and in passing the bar, a heavy sea struck the boat, which was instantly upset. The seaman, named John Hartefold, managed to get on the shoal of the bar, where he was preserved until the boats could get off, but the swell was so heavy as to prevent their reaching the spot where the other had sunk, without both difficulty and danger. After some time the master was got out of the water, an conveyed to the "Dover Castle tap," apparently lifeless; but medical attendance, and the requisite assistance being promptly given, he was restored. His brother, the mate, was unhappily drowned; the persons in the boats being unable to find him until about half an hour after the accident, when the body was washed ashore. It was immediately taken to the Customs Station, and every means used by three medical gentlemen to restore animation; but it seemed to have received some very serious blows, and all was in vain. The deceased was in his 32nd year, and had been married within ten days before. An inquest was held on Wednesday, and a verdict of accidental death returned. On the following day the body was respectably interred in St. Martin's old burying ground.