SHIPPING ACCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 19, 28 October 1879, Page 2

SHIPPING ACCIDENT.

ONE MAN DROWNED. The sight of the flags half*inaßt high on the ves3?la in the Manawatu rivev is, we tire thankful to say, -seldom seen, but we regret to state that the sad symbol of death was visible at the mast of ihe favourite steamer Storm - bird on her arrival in port early on Saturday morning last. From enquiries made at the vessel, our reporter gathered that tli3 steamer left Wellington at 3 p.m. on Friday, with the weather beautifully fine, and the sea as smooth as glass. When about two miles down the harbor, abreast of Halswell (Magazine) Point, the chief officer, Mr Stanbury, and a seaman named Patsey Long, were engaged in " ringing " the anchor on the starboard bow. Both were standing on the rail, when, owing to the rope surging, the two men were overbalanced, and were shot over the side of the steamer with great force. The mate rose about four yards away from the side of the vessel, near the stern, and was seen by the man at the wheel, who threw a line to him, which he did not catch. The man Long held on to the chain attached to the anchor for some seconds, and was dragged along some distance head and shoulders out of the water, but was soon forced to let go his hold* Immediately on hearing the alarm Captain Doile stopped the vessel (which was going at full speed) and put the engines " full speed astern." He then gave orders to have the boat lowered, which was done— to the credit of all concerned —in about the space of three minutes' time. While this was being accomplished, Mr Stanbury, who is a good swimmer, swam up to Long, who unfortunately could not swim, with a view to assisting him. As he approached 1 ong, the latter, who was throwing his arms wildly about, said " I'm done, I'm dono." j tanbury said, " Cheer up ; the boat will be here in a minute." Long then made a desporate grasp at Stanbury, who, seeing the distressed state of the deceased, avoided it. When the mate turned round again, Long had disappeared, and was never seen afterwards. Shortly after this, the boat arrived and picked up Stanbuiy. Capiain Doile. after seeing that any further search was fruitless, reluctantly 'put his vessel's head for the wharf aud reported the matter at W^llingto^^ and then resumed his trip^^j^^^fe port Mr Stanbury asserts^^H^^ the probabilities aie that if Cong had grasped him, he would have taken him down with him, as he afterwards found that his watch^^ with half of the gold chain to - which it was attached, had disappeared, the other half of the chain i%emairan^ in the waistcoat. His opinion is, that when Long grasped at him, he must have seized hold of the chain, and retained it in his death>grisp, and he believes that when the man's body is found (if it should be) his watch will be found in the man's hand. Mr Stanbury is bruised a little in the left arm ; beyond that, and the loss of his watch — a seven guinea one -he sustained no other harm. Whilst Stanbury was olad in full clothes, coat,' &c, the drowned man had only his pants and shirt on, with boots, it being a very warm day, and the steamer having just left the wharf. Long had been in the Storm bird for 9 months, and was about 27 years old. He was a native of St. John's, New Brunswick, and was noted for his steady habits,unassuming manner, and attention to his work From an cxaminatiuu which G&p^^ tain Doile made of the deceased's effects on the steamer on Saturday, he discovered tliat the only relative Long appeared to possess was a sister at St. John's, with whom it seemed he was in thehabitot corresponding regularly. It is also probable that he mainly supported his sister, as, although a very steady, saving man, his Post Office Bank Book showed that he had only £15 in the bank. We may add that this is the first man Captain Doile has lost by accident of any kind during his many years' trading in New Zealand.