MOANA TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 103, 25 January 1919, Page 9

MOANA TRAGEDY

OPENING OF THE INQUEST.. The Minister of Marine (Hon. T. M. Wilford) having ordered ail inquest to. be held in respect to the sudden, deaths of Dr. Grimm and Miss Isbister on board the s.s. Moana while that vessel was on a .yoyage from San Francisco to Wellington, Mr. W. G". Rid-, dell, S.M., opened the inquiry at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. The inquiry was ordered under clause 237 of the Shipping and Seamen's Act, which reads: "When- any loss of life occurs on any ship, not being caused by any casualty to the ship, ,the Minister _ may, if he thinks fit, cause an inquiry to be, held . by any coroner exercising jurisdiction at thb port or place at which such loss of life is reported," etc. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, of the Crown Law Office, appeared for the Marine Department, and said he could only call one witness then, but would be prepared to go on with the matter the next day. ,

Alfred John Richardson, owner of a cigar store and barber's shop at Tracy, California, who was a passenger on the Moana from San, Francisco to Wellington, gave evidence. He said the vessel left Sail Francisco on December 28 at 5 p.m.' Miss Ingsay M. Isbister was a passenger on'the boat, and witness knew Dr. Grimm as the ship's doctor. On January 1 his attention was called to Miss Isbister, who was lying on her back on the floor in the dining saloon. Witness was talking to the chief steward when the second steward came in and said, "Quick, the doctor and a lady passenger are very ill." ■" The chief steward immediately went into the dining saloon, while witness went the opposite way and met the second steward and asked him if he could be of any assistance. He was invited into the dining saloon, and saw Miss Isbister lying on the floor. He knelt down beside her and noticed that .she was frothing at the mouth. Witness felt her pulse, which was very slow; her heart beats, too, were very slow. At his. suggestion. the lady was removed to the upper deck, where artificial respiration was tried and an emetic of mustard and water was administered. Presently Dr. Grimm was brought on deck in a state of collapse, and an emetic was administered, but neither the emetic nor the efforts at respiration were, successful, and both died. Miss.lsbister died in about ten 1 minutes, and Dr. Grimm died just before her. Witness said that when he knelt down alongside of Miss Isbister lie smelt something which he thought was oxalic acid. He had had. experience of the acid, which was used for cleaning wood, copper, and brass. He did not now think it was oxalic, acid. Witness was of opinion that everything, possible was done for the victims. At this stage the talcing of further evidence was adjourned until 9.45 a.m. to-day.