FATALITY AT SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1920, Page 2

FATALITY AT SEA.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS MADE. CONDITION OF SHIP'S GEAR.' STATEMENTS NOT SUPPORTED. An inquiry took place at the New Plymouth Courthouse yesterday concerning the death of Eric C. Janson, a Russian sailor who disappeared overboard from the barquentine Ysabel on .the afternoon of ]3th May, while on the voyage between 'Frisco and New Plymouth. The Coroner (Mr. T. A.B.Bailey) presided-, and Mr. R. D. B. Ayre (Collector of Customs) conducted proceedings pn behalf of the Marine Department. The first witness was the master of the vessel, Alec Davies, who said that on the afternoon of May 13 Janson was engaged in working on the jibboom, and in some maner fell into the water, but nobody actually saw the fall. Witness immediately ordered the man at the wheel to put his helm down. Witness saw a form in the water and immediately threw a buoy to him, which he plainly saw Janson get hold o'f. A boat was lowered in quick time and went away in charge of the second mate, with three men and a boy, They were away for two hours searching in the vicinity, but there was no sign of the deceased. When it became too dark to see any further, the chip was again put on its course and the voyage continued, An inspection of where Janson was working revealed paint marks on the boom, as if a hand had slipped. Olaf Ellertsen, A.8., a member of the crew, who was working close to Janaori, said he heard a bump and a scrape from »tie paint-pot and a splash in the water, and gave the alarm: "Man overboard!" He saw the captain come out of his cabin and throw a lifebuoy overboard, but there was no line on the buoy. The order was given to lower the lifeboat, but in his estimation it was not done as quickly as it might have been if the tackle had been in order. A boy had to be sent up to overhaul it. The chain on to the martingale (near where Janson Worked) was all rusty. About three weeks after the one on the other aide carried away without anyone having stepped on it. The mate was told about the first chain last trip by one of the sailors. Janson was told to paint as far down as he could reach, and this necessitated stepping on the chain. He did not think <£he work was necessary, considering the ship was running about six knots an hour. Captain Davies took exception to the remark of the witness that the ship was going at six knots. At no time was the vosesl going more than four knots during that twenty-four hours. It was further elicited that Ellertsen told the captain on the day of leaving the ship that he had some friction with the chief mate. Frank B. Ames, mate on the Ysabel on the last voyage, said he thought the lifeboat tackle was in as good order as could be expected on a boat of the Isabel's class. He thought the chain was. sound.

Henry George L. Nov, marine surveyor, said that under instructions from Wellington lie was making a survey of tie ship for a two months' certificate. The survey was not yot completed. Concerning the loss of Janson' overboard, he had so far found nothing irregular. He had examined the chain in court, and found it in reasonably good order. The finding was that Janson, while engaged in painting and overhauling the gear of the jibboom and bowsprit, fell overboard and was drowned, and that the bodv had not been recovered j further, that the cause of the accident was the breaking of one of the chain stays from the martingale to one of the bows, there being no evidence as to how the chain broke, it being found on examination afterwards that the chain was reasonably sound and well-fitted to bear a much heavier weight. It was also recorded t'>at everything possible was done to rescue Janson.