“ERROR OF JUDGMENT.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2334, 24 September 1921, Page 2

“ERROR OF JUDGMENT.”

THE BOAT ACCIDENT AT NEW * PLYMOUTH. RESULT OF THE INQUEST. New Plymouth, Sept. 22.', The inquest on the victims of the drowning accident lasted till late to-night. Deceased were W. D. Lindsay and J. W. Landers (of the crew of the Easterner), J. Piper and T. A. Butler (of Wellington, passengers on the steamer).

Captain O’Brien, master of the vessel, said that he selected the boat for the party, and examined it thoroughly. He also attended to the equipment of the boat. There were at least three oars, if not four. There were five life-preservers, and the boat, in bis estimation, was thoroughly seaworthy when it left the ship. He personally saw to this. When the boat went away under sail the wind was blowing west-nor’-west. Such a breeze was a fair one for a boat going ashore.

THE SOLE SURVIVOR. Roy L. Deskin, third officer of the Easterner, and sole survivor from the boat, said that after proceeding part of the journey he could see. that there was going to be trouble. He decided it would not be safe to proceed, and told the others that they were going to put back to the ship. He put the rudder hard over. It stuck, and would not move, and lie ordered the others to get out the oars. They got one oar out, this being handled by Landers, and he (old Landers to back-water. They did not get the other oar out. The boat was then struck by two seas, the second swamping it and turning it over. When witness got his head above water, Landers, Lindsay, and Piper were on the bottom of the upturned boat, ten feet away. Witness struck out for the boat. They ■.cere drifting inshore all the time. When witness was close to the boat lie heard Butler behind him, and went hack. He found a lifebelt, which he gave to Butler, and towed him to the boat. They got back and climbed on the bottom of the boat, the other three being still there. He put the lifebelt on Butler, and just got it tied on when a sea washed him away. He old Butler to hang on to the belt and try and tie it on. Witness than put a line round Piper. Next they saw Butler about 20 or 30 feet away inslioi’e. He was face down. Witness swam out and got to Butler, turning him on his back mi the boat. Witness then got on the boat, when a wave took Butler away. At this time they were in the breakwaters, and that was the last they saw of Butler. He then altered the line on Piper to allow him to free himself in case the boat was turned over. Another sea csiyic along and washed witness away. When he saw the boat again the. others were still there. He could not get back to it, so he started lo swim ashore, picking up an oar and a lifebelt. He could not hold the oar, however, and he could not fasten the lifebelt on. He drifted in, and some people waded out and assisted him ashore. Regarding the working of the rudder, the witness’ opinion was that the effect of the sea forced it up, causing the cleek.s to jamb. It only needed to shift slightly for this to happen. CORONER’S FINDING.

“It seems,” said the Coroner, “that in allowing the boat to leave I be steamer at that time the captain committed an error of judgment.” The Coroner found that the boat was well found and capably manned, and his verdict was one of accidental drowning.