FATAL OCCURRENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2973, 4 August 1891, Page 2

FATAL OCCURRENCE.

SUFFOCATED ON A STEAMER. Us Friday night last Tn lliukai Patene, a native, who was employed as a tomporary hand on board the river steamer Fieetrador, was suffocated in the forecastle of the steamer, while she w is lying at Nganiawahia. It appears that Patene, with another native named To Okcroa, also employed on the steamer, were in the habit of sleeping in the forecastle of the steamer, and as they were not up on Saturday morning, about half-past eight Captain Call, master of the steamer, went to call them. He saw the two natives thero. but could not get any answer from them. Call then called Mr ,lames Black, who was in the otlice, to come down, which he did, but neither of them thought the natives were deai), but only sulking, as he had had some words with Patene on the previous evening about a rise of wages. Together with Black he went up to the workshop and sent two of the hands down to rouse the natives. It. was then found that the men were insensible, and they wero got up on to the deck as soon as possible, and every means used to revive them. Te Okeroa came round under the treatment, but Patene appeared quite dead. Dr. Murch was immediately telegraphed for, and arrived about a quarter past oleven, and during the interval Mr Kay tried to resuscitate the deceased, who was quite warm, but without any effect. On his arrival, Dr. Murch used all the methods of resuscitation, but without avail, although the body was quite warm when he arrived. Te Okeroa was conveyed to the Waikato District Hospital by train on Saturday afternoon, and is now on a fair way towards recovery. Te Okeroa, the survivor, who is at present in the Waikato Hospital, was interviewed by our representative yesterday. He said that Patene and he cooked their tea in the galley on a fire in an oilcan, and then went to bed in the forecastle about six o'clock. As they felt cold they took the oil can with tlie fire in it in with them, and closed tho door of the forecastle; there was no other ventilation. Thev went off to sleep, and he remembered nothing more until he got to the Hamilton West railway station on his way to tho Hospitil. lie was in no pain, and he said that his head was quits clear, but he felt weak. Te Okeroa is a young man, about nineteen years of age, and appeared to be strong and robust. It appears that just above Te Okeroa's head where he was lying down there was a small hole through the wall, and it, is thought that the small amount of air ho obtained from this source kept him from suffering the same fate as his comrade. The house in which the natives slept was 14ft by 12ft by 6ft high, and at the inquest Dr. Murch said it was sufficiently large for their sleeping accommodation, provided there was no Are in it. Three men generally slept in the room, but the other did not happen to be on board on Friday night. Some of the natives round Ngaruiwahia, who perhaps do not rc.ogniso the danger of sleeping in a room with a fire without proper ventilation, fancy that the death of Patene was caused by his eating tinned meat, as when Te Okeroa was coming round he vomited a lot of this up, and they, no doubt, had made their toa from the tinned meat. An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at the Delta Hotel, before Mr'W. N, S jarancke, coroner, Mr C. V. Dickeson being foreman of tho jury. Kvidei.ce very similar to the foregoing account was given, and the onquiry was, at the request of the jury, adjourned until Saturday next to allow of tho evidence of Te Oluroa being taken.