FATAL ACCIDENT AT PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 283, 15 November 1862, Page 5

FATAL ACCIDENT AT PORT CHALMERS.

A very melancholy accident occurred on Thursday evening, on board the barque Time and Truth, now lying at Port Chalmers. Alongside the vessel the steamers City of Hobart and Gothenburg, were moored for the purpose of receiving thuir coal supply, and on. that evening some of the firemen and coil trimmers Lelonging to the City oi Hobart went to visit acquaintances onboard the other steamer. Among the number was George Morgan, a coal trimmer. He was tiie last to leave his friends on board the Gothenburg, and, in crossing over the deck of the Time and Truth, he ninst have fallen down the open hatchway, as at six o'clock next morning he was iound dying beside the kelson almost on the point of death. Immediately on the circumstance becoming known, Captain Darby proceeded- ashore for Dr. Urquhart, | who was at once in attendance, but the patient was by that time beyond all human skill, and he died without at all reviving in about an hour and a half afreshe was first found The deceased was a man about thirty-two years of age, having a wife and threo children in Victoria, and this, was the first trip which, he had made in the City of Hobart, which he had joined at Melbourne. He was a strictly temperate man. and one who was well esteemed by his companions.

INQUEST ON THE BODT. Yesterday forenoon a Coroner's inquest was held by Henry Ho worth, Esq., in the Port Chalmers Hotel, on the body of George Morgan, who was killed at the Port on the previous day. Geo. Burton, fireman on board the Gothenburg-, deposed that he knew the deceased; . The deceased was a coal trimmer on board the City of Ifobart. He came to the fireman's room of the Gothenburg, about half-past 9 o'clock, on Thursday, night, and witness remained with him five minutes, and then left. Witness did not see him again till next morning, when he saw him speechless, on board the City of Hobart. Deceased was quite sober when witness left him on board the Gothenburg. - David Hannah, chief officer of the Time and Truth, was on duty on the same morning, about six o'clock, when he saw a pea jacket on the bilges on top of the coals. Afterwards he saw deceased lying in the hold, aud had him brought on deck. Did not hear deceased speak. The Time and Truth was lying between the Gothenburg and the City of Hobart"; mid the hatches were open all night, as it was expected they would have to. coal the Gothenburg during the night. There was plenty of room for a per son to pass from the one steamer to the other. A man kept watch on deck on board the Time and Truth.

Henry Hord, fireman, on board the Gothenburg, corroborated the testimony of the first witness.

Dr Urquhart gave evidence as to the state in which he found the deceased yesterday morning. He had since made a post mortem examination, when he found that a sufficient number of vessels had been ruptured to cause oppression of the brain, which was the cause of death.

After hearing the evidence the jury found the following verdict—"That the deceased. George Morgan, was acidentally killed by falling down the hatchway of the Time and Truth.