THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE HAWEA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 311, 6 April 1878, Page 9

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE HAWEA.

coroner’s inquest. An inquest Avas held at the Hospital on Wednesday, before J. C. CraAvford, Esq., and a jury of Avliom Mr. W. Clark Avas foreman, touching the death of Mr. John Stephenson, late mate of the Hawea. Mr. Fitz Gerald appeared to Avatch the case on behalf of the Union Steam Ship Company. The jury having A’iewed the body, the folloAving'evidence avrs taken : Dr. Diver deposed : I was called on board the Halve a on Monday evening. I srav’ the deceased in the captain’s cabin of that vessel, supported by two gentlemen. His head'avrs covered Avith blood. I examined him'and found him nearly insensible, the eye-balls being almost insensible to the touch. There Avas a large Avound on the top of the head betAveen five and six inches long. The scalp Avas partially detached. There appeared to be some crepitation of the bones. I avrs not quite sure as to this, and as the ship was rolling about, and the Avind Avas blowing very bard at the time, I was afraid of doing injury by pursuing the examination, seeing that the man’s pupils Avere dilated. I dressed the Avound, and had him taken immediately to the Hospital for treatment. By Mr. Fitz Gerald : It appeared that all Avas done up to that time that could have been done. The vessel had put back immediately, and as there Avas no doctor on board, all that could be done by the captain Avas to, put back and send for medical assistance, Avhich Avas done. The case required delicate and careful treatment immediately. Had the vessel not been rolling about I should have probed the wound and made a more careful examination ; but I Avas afraid of doing harm to the man. Had the vessel not been rolling I should hare made further examination, and if on probing the wound I had found that there Avas any bone pressing on the brain I Avould have removed it. The deceased was in a very bad state, and should have had immediate and most careful surgical attendance. The accident Avas caused apparently by a blow from someblunt instrument. The Avound was a jagged one. I directed the men avlio removed him to the Hospital how to place him in the cab. By a Juror : I thi k it avrs between eight and nine o’clock in the evening Avhen I avrs sent for. I consider when the man arrived at the Hospital he should have been carefully examined to see the amount of damage Avhich had been sustained by him, and to take any steps that might be necessary. Dr. Johnston deposed : I am in charge of the Wellington Hospital. I did not see the deceased until after his death. I did not hear of the case until I visited the Hospital in the usual course on Monday morning, Avhen I Avas informed that a man had been brought in the night before in a dying state from injuries to the head. I then Avent to the deaclhouse to see the body. The skull was fractured, and there Avas a lacerated wound on the scalp. The fracture was evidently a mortal injury. There has been no post mortem examination; there avrs no necessity, it being evident that the injury avrs fatal. By a Juror : I had received no message about the case, aud was unaware of it until next morning. I consider I ought to. h"ave been sent for. It has been usual in serious

caaes to send for me or Dr. Bradford. Ido not think from the appearances that any treatment could have been of use. Jacob Monteith deposed : I am assistant to Dr. Johnston. I have been here eight or nine years, having been previously dispenser to my father. The deceased was brought to the Hospital in a cab on Monday evening about 8 o’clock. The wardsman told me the man appeared to be dying, and that he had been sent to the Hospital by Dr. Diver. I had him carefully attended to and put to bed. I saw that the man was dying. I thought it useless to send for Dr. Johnston or Dr. Bradford, as I was informed that the wound had been dressed by Dr. Diver, and that the man was dying. I did all I considered necessary, and had the man strictly watched during the night. I told the sailors who brought him up that I hoped to see them next morning. The deceased died about 7 o’clock next morning. By a Juror : My only reason for not calling for Dr. Johnston or Dr. Bradford was that I knew the man to be in a dying state, and that Dr. Diver had attended to the case. By a Jtiror : It would have removed all responsibility from me if I had sent for Dr. Johnston or Dr. Bradford. Mr. Crawford pointed out that there was no evidence before the jury as to the accident on board the Hawea, and therefore he presumed it would be necessary to adjourn until the vessel returned here, which he was informed would be on Tuesday. The inquest was accordingly adjourned until Tuesday next at 2 o’clock.