Posted by Jeri on July 23, 2000 at 08:46:31:
In Reply to: They had on too many clothes posted by Schoolmafter chris on July 23, 2000 at 00:22:25:
: The following is just a logical guess on my part:
: The British officer did not jump because he considered it cowardly, but more importantly he felt he must stay behind to protect the ladies.
: The ladies did not jump because they would likely have drowned with all the clothes they were wearing. Remember, women wore WAY more clothes than women of today and even more than their contemporary male counterparts. Here is a list of everyday womens' wear, starting from the outside and working in: Long skirt of cotton or linen, waistjacket of linen. Two or three petticoats, 1 pair of bloomers, 1 pair of stockings. On top: whalebone corset (sometimes called a stay), and a cotton or linen dickie (sort of a linen tank top/bra garment, but it was more intended to prevent the corset from rubbing against and irritating the breasts) The stay was laced tight enough to make heavy breathing difficult. As if all those clothes were not restrictive enough, imagine them soaking wet, while being swept down a raging river, you'd be pulled straight to the bottom. I would not wish to try it.
Let's not forget that they also had an injured Britsh soldier with them. Duncan would been honour bound to stay to protect him as well as the ladies.....Jeri