FELL OFF A TUG.

CLAUSON'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH. AN OPEN VERDICT. The drowning of the seaman Charles Clauson, who fell off the tugboat Young Bungaree. on Wednesday afternoon, in the Auckland Harbour, was further inquired into this morning at the Morgue by Mr K. C. Gutten. S.M. Sergt. Murray represented the police. Captain Fleming watched the case on behalf of the Marine Department, and Mr Hall Skelton appeared for the relatives of tlie deceased and also of William Hindley, who fell off the tug at the same time, and whose body has not yet been recovered.

Bosetta M. E. M. Devenay, wife of the caretaker on the Union Company's hulk No. I, said she lived on board. On Wednesday afternoon last she was watching the Alexander Craig being towed up the harbour by the Young Bungaree. The tug was on the other side of the Alexander Craig. Witness had a clear view of the hulk, but could not distinguish anyone on board the tug. W*en the tng was about 500 or 600 yards away from Hulk No. 1 witness sa.w a splash in the water and two feet in the air. Then she saw two men struggling in the water. One man sank, and the other was picked up.

Willjam Thompson, enginediiver on Hulk No. I, deposed to hearing someone on the Alexander Craig call out, "Man overboardt" Witness and Chris Olsen went to the rescue in a launch. Clauson was picked up. There was no sign of any other man. Clauson was taken straight to the Queen Street wharf, the time occupied being about ten minutes from when they picked him up. Every effort was made to restore Clauson, and a doctor was secured when the wharf was reached. Witness was of opinion that the man was dead when picked up. The Coroner found "That deceased died on the 6th of August, 1913, at Auckland, the cause of death being drowning. The deceased fell overboard off the tug-boat Young Bungaree into the Auckland Harbour, but there is no evidence to show how he fell in."