Above painting circa 1852.

Above photo, 1937.

Above photo circa 1950 showing the premises as the Union Cafe.

Morning Advertiser 05 July 1849.

Fatal accident at the Greenwich Amateur Regatta.

Yesterday an inquest was held by Mr Carttar, at the "Union" Public House, East Greenwich, to investigate the circumstances attending the death of John Thomas Salisbury, aged 30, who was drowned while contesting a sculler match for a silver cup, on Monday last. James Giles, landlord of the "Dover Castle," Church Street, Greenwich, stated that he had the management of regatta. The prize was to be contested for by 6 young men of Greenwich (not Waterman) in 5 heats. The deceased, C. Thornton, and J Perkins, were rowing a heat in out-rigger boats, from the Dreadnaught to East Greenwich and back. When returning, and just below the pier at East Greenwich, Thornton ran his boat against a pile, and before he could extricate himself, the deceased, who was close behind, ran his boat over that of Thornton, who immediately keeled over, and deceased rolled into the river. The boats had failed two or three times previously, but all was clear until Thornton ran foul of the pile, who had a narrow escape himself, and was saved by holding onto the pile. Perkins boat was 30 yards ahead at the time of the collision. The police Galley was put off from the shore with the drags and several men, but it was nearly 20 minutes after the accident that the body of the deceased was found. Must have been breathless from previous exertion, and under such circumstances suffocation would speedily ensue. Captain Smith, R.N., and surveyor in vessels, called the attention of the Coroner and jury to the great danger there was in young men other than skilled watermen from using boats for such a purpose of the kind by which the deceased had lost his life, viz, wager outrigger boats, it being well known that the slightest want of skill, &c., cause them to capsize. Such boats should not be used in cases like the present, and he hoped the jury would add such a sentiment in giving their verdict. The jury considered deceased met his death by pure accident, and concurred in opinion with Captain Smith.

Verdict, "Accidental death."