William's birth record is in the name CHRIMES
From The Manchester Times of 7 December 1889: "A DANGEROUS TUNNEL ON THE ROCHDALE CANAL - An inquest was held on Wednesday at the Coroner's Court, Manchester, on the body of William Crimes, 15 years of age, late of Holloway Cottages, Runcorn. At about a quarter past six on Tuesday night the deceased, his sister, and brother-in-law were in a boat belonging to Mr. Cooper, Runcorn, and were passing through the Deansgate (Manchester) tunnel on the Rochdale Canal. When some way through, the deceased, contrary to his sister's orders, began to pole the boat along. The boat got jammed, and when trying to push off with his hands the deceased overbalanced himself and fell into the water. He shouted for a rope to be thrown to him, but while his sister was looking for him the light in the boat was blown out, and the deceased, after calling for assistance for some time, sank. The body was recovered some time afterwards and taken to the mortuary. The deceased's brother-in-law, a man named Yarnall, said that the tunnel was an exceedingly dangerous one owing to its being badly lighted. He had often complained to the toll collectors of the want of light, but he had been told to do the best he could for himself. He had fallen in the water himself several times owing to the darkness, and so had others whom he knew. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death", and recommended that the tunnel in question be lighted, as they were of the opinion that the boy's life would probably have been saved had there been a light in the place." |
