Cornwall Gazette Saturday 22nd April 1871
Falmouth – Fatal Accident
On Wednesday morning, James Barker, aged 40, one of the managing pilots on board No. 3 pilot cutter, belonging to the port of Falmouth, was accidentally drowned outside the harbour. It is said that he was in the act of reefing the sail, when the boom swerved and knocked him overboard. He leaves a wife and four children.
Cornwall Gazette Saturday 29th April 1871
Fatal Accident
On Wednesday the crew of No. 3 pilot cutter, “Vie”, were engaged in taking down a reef in the mainsail, the cutter being about eight miles south of the Lizard, when the sheet blew from its hold and the boom swung out, taking James Barker, the sailing-master, who was assisting at the work, over the side with it. The poor fellow, with the violent motion of the boom, was unable to hold on, and quickly dropped into the water and sunk. Mr Barker, who was a nephew of the owner of the cutter, was about 35 years old, and leaves a wife and four young children.
