Henui Drowning Fatality.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 8 December 1903, Page 2

Henui Drowning Fatality.

THE INQUEST. Mr Stanford, District Coroner, hela an inimeston Monday, at the Courthouse, touching the death of Thomas Garter, drowned at Te Henui on Sunday. The following composed the iurv :—F. P. Corklll (foreman), J. Irvln, H. I. W. Hiurlo, J. J. Marker, J. Oliver, and 0, Sole. Sergeant Haddrell conducted the case and called T. A. Rowan, who stated th*t he knew deceased, and with him and O. Hopkins went out from the Henui on Sunday about 9 a.m. in a boat of W. Nichols'. Hopkins was steering the boat which was about 10ft long. There was a fair sea on, but simtll boats had been out in the morning. They crossed one or two waves, and one broke right in tke boat. They were all thrown Into the water. Hopkins called out to them to leave the boat and get ashore. proceeding to; do so himself. Wiiness and deceased heM on, as they wisiied to save the boat. The water was almost waist deep where tnejt capsized, but there was a strong back wash, and deceased and witness were washed out. They the* tried to get ashore. Carter was swimming, and presently witness saw him struggling. Witness then found himaetf in difficulty, and weJ eventually rescued by two men, Rot* We and Kialchert, who came out In another boat. When witness saw deceased go under, he lost heart and sejik twice himself, though he gained, courage when on rising, the second time, ho saw the rescuing boat coming. This boat capsized fn coming ashore, but the two men in her pulled witness out.

Geo. Hopkins also- gave evidence. Hejvad difficulty in getting asiiorc. owing to the under curivnt Had the others followed witness" they might have got ashore In satety. The boat came ashore about tan minutes after the accident The rescuing boat was a flat-bottomed «ne, not so good as the ottwr, which was a first-class ship's dmgihy. Witness was steering., with an oar The rescuers' brmt was overturned • with a ' shooter."

Evidence was also given by Edwarn Kalchert a* to the Vescuet When he saw the first boat capsize ho did not anticipate danger, as he f ° ** the '""n walk out WhejH, w-itness' boat capsized, he and Hobbie had to swim for it. and pull Rownn out between them Wm. Nichols described the accid™t and h»M fa wont 8t JT got the second boat to cornS flown. m he was afwud co »»« safety of Hopkins. Witness Zd oft« teen out in the boat, and considered tit^w 0 foremarl : Kalchert was mand Roobie took some risk in eolnZ out as th ß y did to the rescue * Constalrfe McHae gave eviAmc .- to finding the 1 5 p„f and removing it. There marks about the body ""* no , This was all the evidence and th. f-uld bring uXIL £u£°sZ I -mane Society. ~£» "£ also expressed that many of l">ats , n use on the TarXki LS? wei* unsafe. •'"ronaKi beach The jury also decided ♦„ „ 'W' synnmthy with the m n ,il XPreßß family ofViwwd i„? J L othr and hftb^^VnV uttln * fhe Coroner said no denihV ih- ' Pitwfon would bo wted bv y "•»««•