INQUEST AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1926, 27 April 1880, Page 3

INQUEST AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

An inquest wag held at Sutherland’o Hotel on Saturday afternoon, before R. B. Willie, Esq., coroner, and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr A. Cameron was chosen foreman, on the body of John Hamren, a Swede, who was drowned in lake Ellesmere on Tuesday, April 13th. Charles Johnson deposed—l am a native of Holland, and a fisherman residin'? at Taumutu. Deceased was a Swede by birth. He came from Port Chalmers to the Ashburton, where he had been residing for a time, and from thence up here. We had been working together as mates for eight days only when the deceased was drowned. He had no money when he came up and very few clothes. He knew very little about sailing a boat. On Tuesday, the 13th inst., we went out fishing together, and after lifting three [nets found the wind was too strong to do any more. I proposed that we should make for the timber yard ; so we reefed the sails and started. He ceased was at the helm. I told him not to belay the main sheet. I went forward to make the anchor fast, and told him to put about on starboard tack; in place of which he put her on the port tack, when a squall struck her, and he having belayed the sheet she immediately went over. The mast stuck in the mud. We righted her, and got in and took down the mast. A few chains further on the heavy sea again capsized her. We again got into her, and after drifting for about three-quarters of an hour another heavy sea struck her and she went over again, I crawled to the keel this time and thought my mate wag behind me. Finding that he was was not there, I again righted the boat to see if he was underneath, but I saw nothing more of him. I imagine he must have taken cramp, as before we capsized the third time he complained of feeling very numbed from the cold. He could not swim. There were about five feet of water where we last went over. Having drifted on to a hard bottom I anchored the boat and walked on shore near the mouth of the Halswell. After walking about two miles I arrived at a farm house, stated the circumstances, and asked for shelter, but was refused. 1 afterwards got shelter in a stable near the Tai Tapu, an old man there giving me a change of clothes. From thence I went to Leeston to give information, but the policeman being away, went on to Southbridgo and stated the facts to Constable Hole. Antonio Meyaldo and Constable Hole gave evidence of having found the body, in company with last witness, on the 23rd instant, about a quarter of a mile from the mouth of the Halswell. The jury returned a verdict “ That the deceased, John Hamren, was accidentally drowned through the upsetting of a boat during a squall on Lake Ellesmere while out fishing on April 13th.