THE LATE FLOOD.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 27, 1 August 1863, Page 5

THE LATE FLOOD.

INQUEST ON THE BODIES.

An inquest was held on the 25th ult. on the body of William Burke, drowned in the flood on the 9th at the Arrow township Michael Connor, miner, said that about eight or nine a. m. on the 9th July, the deceased, I, and Pat. Hanly were on the other side of the river. We got flooded out of our tent, so we thought to make our escape. Pat. Hanly and myself escaped; deceased went into the tent twice. We got him out once: he went in again. I was then proceeding down to save our sluice boxes. I heard a cry from the opposite bank that a man was going into the tent. I turned back and saw it was the deceased, William Burke I vent into the tent after him. He was up to his arm pits in water then. I caught hold of him by the left hand to pull him out, but he would not come; he disappeared then, being carried away by the water; he was taken away from me by the force of the water. I returned back to the other man; we stopped on the bank until we were taken across by parties who came from the other side for us I next saw the deceased in the lock-up at the camp last night, and recognised him as Wm. Burke.

By the Foreman—The dam gave way between three and four a. m. on the 9th. We received refreshment over between eight and nine a. m.; a bottle of spirits was sent over, we did not drink it all. I do not think he was intoxicated. Only one bottle of whisky and two bottles of coffee were sent over. We had no knife to cut the tent, we had to tear it. There was 4| ozs. of gold in the tent belonging to the man who employed deceased. I can t say whether this was the reason he went in at the time; the dam threatened to give way; we crossed to the township for provisions and returned. It was half-an-hour after deceased was carried away when we were rescued. It was not possible at the time deceased was taken off for any parties to get over the river to give assistance.

Detective Barrett said —Yesterrlay about ten a. m. a man named Maclean reported at the camp that he had found a body in the river. I immediately proceeded to the junction of the Arrow and Kawarau and found the body on the beach on the further side about twenty yards from the Junction. There was no clothes on body of deceased except trousers and flannel shirt, no shoes or hat. I seareh< <1 the body and found in the trousers pocket three shillings and a ring. Dr. Douglas —I am a duly qualified surgeon residing at the Arrow I examined the body of deceased, on account of the swelling an J the blue and red appearance of the arms and hands, and the congested appearance of the face. There being no other marks to cause death, I consider his death has arisen from immersion in water.

An inquest was held on Wednesday, 29th July, before R. Beetham, Esq., on the bodies of three men who were crushed by a landslip during the late floods. After duly empanelling the jury, they proceeded to view the bodv. The first witness called was

David Fleming, miner, Shotover, near Moke Creek I knew the three deceased —two of them are my mates, the other man's name was John Lynch. On the night of the 25th we were all in the hut; I looked out to see if there was any danger from the flood I then heard a noise lik« thunder and had just time to get out when the slip occurred and the hut fell on top of me. In ten minutes I had extricated myself from the debris. J. Lynch, deceased, was near me. I could not see him, it was so dark. He spoke to me a few minutes before the slip; had only time to save myself. By a Juror—There were some persons about, but they could do nothing. Thos. Fahey, miner, about one mile and a-half above Moke Creek—On the night of the 25th inst. I was in my hut with my mates and others; we were not in bed. Went outside the hut but saw no danger from flood or slips. One oi my mates came out to look about. At this time there were five men in the hut—three in bed. Took my coat off the two men who had lain down. Another man was also asleep. I called on them all by name to get up as I felt some danger. The instant I got outside the door I felt the ground slip under me and I ran up hill to where the two men were standing. It was very dark indeed. Did not find out till long after that the hut and two trees alongside had been uprooted and carried away. Called for assistance, and some men showed a light, which we made for, and found the ground slipping on all sides. In the morning we began digging for the deceased. I recognize the deceased men at the camp as those of T. Lynch, M. Egan, and Thos. Noonan. Dr. Pelley, sworn —I have examined the bodies of three men now lying at the police camp. The bodies of J. Lynch, and M. Egan present no marks of external violence, but the usual symptoms of death by suffocation. Similar appearances present themselves on the body of Thomas Lynch, who appears to have struggled violently before death ensued, and has also a contusion on right side The Jury after a short deliberation delivered their verdict as follows:—That the deceased—M. Egan, Thos. Lynch, and Thos. Noonan died from suffocation occasioned by a land slip on the night of the 25th July, at Moke Creek, Shotover.