Notwithstanding the awfulness

William Barnes, butcher, of Stanwix, went to bathe in the river Eden, near the Sorceries, where he amused himself for a considerable time by swimming. He was at last observed to fall upon his back in the water, and never rose more. Several persons, on being apprised of the accident, immediately went into the water, with the hopes of recovering the body; two of whom dived from opposite shores, and, meeting together in the middle of the water, and each supposing he had got the drowned man, they seized each other, and rose to the surface of the water, fast locked in each other‘s arms, to the diversion of the spectators, who, notwithstanding the awfulness of the occasion, could not forbear laughing at their grotesque appearance. The body was found next morning. The deceased had two brothers, who were also both drowned.