A PURSER DROWNED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 155, 1 July 1907, Page 5

A PURSER DROWNED.

The steamer Upolu returned 1 to Syd* , ney on June 22, from a cruise among the islands, with news of the death of the purser, Mr. A. Bell. While the vessel was off the Island of Savo, in the Solomon Group, early in the morning of June 6. having left the island of Gaf vuto the day before, a cry was heard from the water. The weather was,*ato at the time, but very dark. Captain Menmuir, who was on deck; immediately ordered the engines to be reversed,: lifebuoys were thrown overboard, and a boat in charge of the chief officer waa quickly launched. A search was made for over an hour, but though' cries were again heard, and one of the lifebuoys picked up, the drowning.man could not be found. The boat then returned to the ship, where the disappearance of Mr. Bell had been discovered. Further, search till daylight was made without

success. . _^ Mr. Bell was a, native of Tiverton, .uer yon, England. He was 45 years of age, single, and had been occupied m the island trade for some years. He was at different times connected wit* Messrs. Henderson and Pacific Islands Company, and the Pacific Plantations, limited-