The Whangamata Calamity

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1063, 10 August 1904, Page 3

The Whangamata Calamity

Coroner's Ifiqust

Verdict of Accidental Drowning

A oohokkr's inquiry was held yesterday in connection with the lamcntablo boating catastrophe at Wliangamata on Saturday night last, which resultod in the drowning of three peoplo-two men, Alfred Carter and Eugeno Milohell, and tho nine yoar old son of Mr John Sainsbury, proprietor of tho Whangamatit Hotel. Carter was a residonto! Waihi for sorno years. Ho was a prominent member of tho Waihi Cricket Club, and was well-known in this district.

Patrick Coonoy, being sworn, deposed : I nra a resident of Whangatuala, and aui employed by Mr John Sainsbury, as labourer and barman, I remomber Sat urday, tho Oth inst. Tho deceased Mitchell oamo to tho hotel from To Whariki, which is about twelve uiilcs from here, This was about 10:10 a.m. I served Mitohcll and Carter with one drink each. I had another drink with both of them about half or thrco quarters of an hour afurwards, Another drink followed, making three drinks I had with Mitchell and Cutter that morning, Mitchell and Oartor took Mr bainsbury's boat to go fishing at about 2.80 p.m. I saw Lawrenco Sainsbury leavo hero with the two men, but I did not seo him got into theboat, On Sunday morning Mr Sainsbury and myself saw the boat (through the glass) on tho bank down tho river, I launched another boat and Nont down and towed tho boat which had been occupied by tho deceased, up to the house, The boat was anchored, and everything appeared to bo in first-class order, 1 have seen the bodioi, and recognise them ns Alfred Carter, a carpenter and pattern maker, and Eugeno Mitchell, a gumdigger, and Lawrence Sainsbury, son of Mr. John Sainsbury, my employer, I served Carter and Mitchell with three drinks, and know by I ho book that they had two other drinks, making live iu all. Mr, Sainsbury came to me iu the morning and said Carter and Mitchell wanted some whiskey and beer to take with tlietu in tho boat. Mitchell took two bottles of draught beer, which ho drjw himself from tho cask, and Mr Saiiulury gave them a broken bottle of whisky, it might have been half a bottle, moro or less. When tho men left tho hotel thoy woro perfectly sober, Whon I found tho boat on the Sunday morning, it was anchored on the other side of tho channel, and I think it quito possible they (taught thoy wcro on iliis side. If this woro so they would walk into tho deep channel, which is a very dangerous place at that point. Mitchell and Carter had dinner in tho kitchen. Thero would be about four hours from tho tinio I served Mitchell and Carter with drinks until they left in tho boat.

Roddick McCorquodale said: I am a resident of Whangamata, and agent for tho Northern Steamship Company. I ro« member Sunday, tho 7th, inst I hoard that Mitchell, Carter and Salisbury's boy wore misssing, I saw Sainsbury's boat on the other side of tho channel, at daylight on Monday morning. 1 began to search and found tho bodies of Mitcholl and Carter. Tho ootlies wero in tho water; they had evidently been drowned, I think thay must havo got out of the boat and walked into the deep water, Thero would be about 10 feet of water in the channel, when the tide was oat. There is a steep bank on tho oilier sido of the ohannel, whero the boat lay. It was quite possible for tho men to havo been uncertain on which sido of tho channel they were, I havo had similar doubt mysoll as to which side I was on in tho night timo, After taking the bodies of Mitchell and Carter ashoro wo wont back to look for the boy Bninsbury, and found his body about 50 or GO yards distant from where wo found the other bodies. I think ho was diowneil with tho others, I was out fishing in my own boa! on Saturday afternoon, and paw Salisbury's boat oft the island, with the deceased in it. Tlioy appeared lo bo illright, although I did not take particular notice of them. 1 saw decenscd'a boat goiug down the ohannel on Saturday afternoon ; they appeared to be managing it all right. James McCorquodalo deposed: I reside »t AVhangamata, I lme,v tho three deceased. I saw them last alivo about 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon- I spoke lo thorn. Thoir boat towed niino down tho ohannel, Mitchell had charge of tho boat they wero sailing. Tho two men Mitcholl and Carter appeared to bo quite sober, They told'mo they wore going out lo tho islands to catch Isli, I am quito suro they were perfootly sober. I was close to them, holding on to the gunwlialo of thoir boat. I saw the boat off tho island lator on, but did not Bee thorn alivo again, I saw their boat whero it was anchored on. Sunday morning. Everything was in order in tho boat.

John Sninabury said: lam hotcikcepcr at'Wbangam&ta. I remember tiatiirdixy, the 6th inst. On Saturday last Mitchell came to mo mid wanted me to shift him during tho coming week, I lent liiin ton shillings. Ho said ho would go out fishing. Ho aeltod mo for two bottles of beer and a bottlo ol whisky. I only gave him a half bottlo of whisky. I said that would bo enough for him. This was llio last I knew o( them, until I saw my boat, on llio Sunday morning, I left the light in tho window on Saturday night in orjer to bo a guide for theiu. Whoa the boat was renchod on Sunday morning it was properly anchored, ropo properly coiled, and five rock cod wtro in tho boat. Everything was in order in the boat. I did not know my son was with them until aftorwards, it tho evening, he told his brother lie would go Halting. I recogniso tho three bodies as those ol my son Lawrence, aged nine y flaw, also Alfred Carter, who had b?on working a3 ut carpenter for one wool;, aid Eugene Mitchell, a gmiidiggcr and fiiheruian, and a man well able to talco chargo of a bout. I think deceased must have follnwod the biind channel which hundreds have done beforo; Ihoro is a drop ■of moro than seven feet. Tluiy evidently thought they wcro on this side, and could walk home, but being in the dark thoy could not Bee their danger. I am ijuitc certain Mitchell was perfectly saber. I did not seoCarter after breakfast Mitchcil and Carter wore on the best ol terms with each other, and both very lotul of my son Lawronco. I consider tho disaster was accidental. Samuel Flavello deposed: J am a constable in charge of tho WaiteUnn police station, 1 was iniorn:ed on my arrival at Whangamata that two men and alwy had been drowned, Tlie bodies had bejn recovered. I examined the bodies There wero no marks of violence on them, and there was every appearanco of death by drowning. I searched tho clothing of dccoased and found thesmu of throe shillings and sixpence on Mitchell. There was nothing on Carter, Neither of tlioin hud any jewellery, I identified tho body of Alfred Carter, formerly ot Vaihi. THE VERDICT The jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning.