From the Greenwich and Deptford Chronicle and the Woolwich Gazette, Saturday, 17 July, 1869.

Another Disturbing Death At Woolwich.

It is our painful duty this week to record many sad and distressing cases, and not the least amongst them is the untimely death of a young man named William Valencia Saunders, who left his home at 5 o'clock on Monday morning to commence the duties of the week, and shortly afterwards was found a corpse. This young man was but in the spring tide of life, and yet has left a wife still younger to mourn over her early widowhood, and to bring up two small children as yet too young to comprehend the sad, sad loneliness of orphanage.

An inquest was held on Wednesday afternoon at the "Britannia" public house, Henry Street, Woolwich, on the body of William Valencia Saunders, who was accidentally drowned.

John Saunders, draftsman, 10, Oak Street, Woolwich, brother to the deceased, identified the body. He was 24 years of age, married, and a Stoker, living at 38, Henry Street.

Robert Wickham, Waterman, 5, Elizabeth Place, High Street, Woolwich, said he put the deceased on shore on Sunday night, and gave him the keys to enable him to go to work on Monday morning. He saw nothing more of him. On Monday morning he noticed the boat had been unlocked and the sculls loosened, deceased, dinner being on the boat, but he himself was missing.

John Skinner, 57, Church Hill, Woolwich, said he was night watchman on Woolwich Pier. At 5 o'clock in the morning he saw the deceased take his victuals to the boat. He was of opinion that deceased slipped into the river whilst reaching from the raft to the chain to undo the latter. Witness did not hear a splash or cry of alarm. Diseased was perfectly sober when he saw him.

Henry Evans, under waterman, 5, Rodney Street, Woolwich, said he received information of the deceased being drowned. He and his brother dragged the place, and witnessed found him in the 10 feet of water opposite the "Ship and Half Moon Tavern."

The brother was recalled, and said deceased belonged to the Erin Watermans' Steam Packet Company's boat. He left home at 20 minutes to 5 in the morning. He was sober, steady man.

The coroner said that there was no reason to suppose the deceased had committed suicide.

The jury returned an open verdict of "Found Drowned."