Mystery surrounded death of two sailors found drowned in river

Shortly after noon on the fourth Saturday of May 1857 Mr. William Paley, cotton manufacturer of Preston, along with James Cartmell, who he had employed in the management of his boat, and Ensign George H. Bowles stationed at Fulwood Barracks set sail upon the River Ribble.

- with Keith Johnson

They were aboard the small sailing vessel named Gypsy and their destination was Lytham.

They arrived in Lytham around four o'clock that afternoon and spent a few pleasant hours in the company of other sailing enthusiasts. At eight o'clock that evening Mr. Paley suggested that rather than sail back to Preston they should return by the railway. Mr. Bowles at first fell in with the suggestion, but afterwards decided to return in the boat with Cartmel, leaving Mr. Paley to catch the train home.

Mr. Paley heard nothing of his two sailing companions until Sunday evening when he was informed that the body of Cartmel had been found on the sands at Naze Point, by a man named Rowland Gornall. The boat having been found a short distance up the river Douglas, which flows into the river Ribble opposite Freckleton. It was sunk and embedded in sand.