INQUESTS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2765, 28 December 1871, Page 2

INQUESTS.

THE ACC lIJ ENT IN THE BAY. The inquest upon the bodies of W. and J. Drew, A. Prietor, J. Bruce, and P. and W. Scrymgeour, who were drowned on Monday last in the bay, was hold before Dr Hockcn and a special'jury at the White Horse Hotel, George street, this afternoon. The jury first proceeded to the hue residences of those of the deceased whose bodies have been recovered, and having viewedmet at the above hotel. Alexander Burt said the deceased John Bruce had been in his employment about 18 mouths. He was not accustomed to handle boats, and knew nothing about them. He was a native of Edinburgh, and had a mother living. Mr George Prietor said deceased, A. Prietor, was his son, and was nearly 21 years of age, and was in the employ of Mr Burt as a plumber. He did not know his son intended to go on a boating excursion. Witness had always been averse to the use of the sail in the harbor. He considered his knowledge of boating very slight. John Drew, in evidence, stated the deceased William Drew was his son, and 26 years of age, and a painter by trade, He was not aware that his son was going out that day, and he did not think his son knew anything about the management of boats. His other son James, was a watchmaker, and he also thought he was not at all acquainted with the management of boats. His age was 21. James Scrymgeour stated that William Scrymgeour was his brother, and was 24 years of age. He was a brass-finisher in the employ of Mr Burt. He was not aware until afterwards that his brother Lad gone for a sail. He did not think he w. s accustomed to the handling of a boat. The age of his brother John was 22 years. He was a plumber. Mark Webb, licensed boatman, said the two Messrs Scrymgeours, Mr Drew, and Mr L’rictor, came to him down at the wharf to engage a boat. He had four boats at the steps at the time. He asked the j ouug men which boat they would take, and ihey chose the Golden City sailing boat. He tried to p rsuade them to take another boat, with smaller sails, or a four-oared rowing boat. They would not listen to that, but said they wanted a larger boat. They had to go to Pelichet Bay to take in three others. Witness said if they took that boat the sails had better be made smaller, and he reefed the sails for them; the sails remained the same when towed up by the Maori. Mr Prietor ajid Scrymgeour had the same boat (jevefal times before. Witness knew they were amateur sailors, and that made him reef the sail, which he cautioned them not to loose out. He saw them sail as far as Pelichet Bay. Immediately the man came with the information, he took a four-oared boat and went to the spot. He called upon Mr Macamlrew, and asked him if he knew anything about the accident. Mr Macaudrew sent him to Mr Edwards, who told him the distance from the shore the boat had sunk. Mr Edwards said he did not think any one was saved. He buoyed the spot that night, and went down yesterday morning and commenced dragging rquud about the buoy ; and in a short time the police, who were also there, raised one of the bodies, and witness drew up Mr Prietor, and also saw the bodies of two others brought up. The bodies were got on shore until the steamer oame which brought them up to town. At the place where the boat overset there was nine feet at low water. He could not give an opinion as to how the boat capsized. The boat would carry a ton in rough water. He could only imagine the accident happening through a jib in the sail, and the parties being too far aft. He understood that the young men -were going to call at Bain’s, down the river, Thomas Lacey, labourer, said he saw the boat come in at Pelichet Bay Jetty on Christmas afternoon, between two and three o'clock, and two or three persons who were at the end of the jetty got into the boat. They lowered the sails when they came near baths, and set them again. After leaving the jetty they had tp take out the oars to get clear of the yachts lying there. Louis Edwards, farmer, North-east Harbor, said he was standing on the beach at Macandrew’s Bay on Christmas afternoon. He saw the boat coming down from Dunedin, passing the red beacon with several passengers in her. He considered them to be a good stone-cast from him. He watched them for several minutes standing ip and out. '1 he last time they stood ip the sail jibbed, and the boat Wept straight down! The boat never capsized." Three of the men stuck to the boat, and some struck out for shore. It was nearly high tide. Two of the men that were swimming came close into shore. He did not think anybody saw the accident but himself. He obtained Mr Christy’s boat as soon as he could, but it had to be launched, asd it was some time before he could get to the spot. Andrew Christy said he heard Mr Edwards cajl out to him for assistance, apd on going forward saw the masts o| tlqo boat, and seven hats floating about. On launching the boat with Mr Edwards ho saw two men floating, but before he could reach them they had sank. He saw the boat going past Macaudrow’s Jetty, and it appeared to be sailing all right. He thought the depth of the water where the boat went cloivu to be ten or twelve feet. M. Sullivan, constable at Port Chalmers, whp had been engaged in draggjqg foji the bodies, said about half pa-1 seven ‘ this morning he found the body of John Scrymgeour, and on searching it found various articles, among others a silver watch; which had stopped at twenty minutes to four. The bodies were all found within a radius of a hundred yards. Sergeant Coneys, who soached several of the bodies, produced the various articles found on deceased, which were identified and given up to the relatives. The Coroner, in Bumming up, add the evidence was now before the jury. He did not think there was blame to be attached to any ope. The question was whether some proviso ought uPp tq be arched tq thp Ipttipg of boats, though tye considered it almost impossible to bind young men over

21 1 years of agoito any particular line of conduct. if they would have a sail. The constable atPort Chalmers, upon being called, said at that port there was an ordinance that a man was not allowed to let out his boat without some experienced person going with it. He could not say the rule was always observed. A verdict of accidentally drowning was returned, but at the same time the jury expressed an opinion that considering the dangerous navigation of the bay in small boats, greater care ought to be taken in letting such out, and an experienced person ought to accompany the same. SUICIDE AT THE PEMNSULA. An inquest was held to-day at the Hospital, before Dr Hocken, coroner, and a special jury, upon the body of a man named Jack, who was found banging by his neck in a cow shed at Sandymount farm, at the Peninsula, on Tuesday morning la-t. Patrick Fagan was the first witnessed called, and stated that he recognised deceased as being a labourer known by the name of Jack. He last saw him alive on Monday about two o'clock in the afternoon. Five years ago he knew deceased when working in the stable of the Carriers’ Arms Hotel, Princes street. He was then reckoned to bo a little silly in his mind. Deceased came to his premises last Sunday, when he told witness that he had recently come from the Wool shed district, and had been on a station. Ho appeared to be quite sober, but tired. As witness came home from church on Monday, he found deceased up a ladder in front of his house, and on calling to him, deceased stated he wished to get the flag down, as it was that which all the row had been about. Witness thought deceased’s conduct was very strange, and told him to get down and go away, which he did, and witness saw no more of him. GeorgeDryden, farm laborer, Saudymount, Peninsula, said ; On Tuesday last, about seven o’clock, he went into the cow-shed, when he found deceased hanging by a rope to one of the joists of the shed. He immediately called his father, who at once gave information to the police. The body was quite cold. Eleanor Riddle, living near Saudymount, put in written evidence, in winch she stated that on Monday last deceased came into her house, alone, and asked for a drink. He was quite sober, and he partook of so ne tea. She asked him where he came from, and he replied Dumbaiton, and that he had been three yea is in the Colonies. Me also said, they were after him. She asked who, and he replied, “The police; ho had pulled the bells, and tiny wmuld kill him.” Witness said she hoped they would not take him in her house, when lie went away, saying, “ Good bye. and thank yon.” Patrick Coneys, constable, said: On the afternoon of the 23th he went down to Saudymount farm, and found the body of the deceased hanging by a rope from the cross-beams of the cow-shed. Ho was quite dead, and appeared to be a' out Jo years of age, and live feet live inches high. On searching dcceiS; d he found nothing upon him except a box containing a few matches. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence, that the deceased hung himself while in an unsound st de of mind.