FATAL OCCURRENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 83, 9 April 1891, Page 2

FATAL OCCURRENCE.

POISONED BY HONEY AND DROWNED.

On Thursday last (says the Dargaville paper) whilst the s.s. Tangihua was lying at Batley Wharf, two of the crew wen(_ ashore and obtained some wild honey, which they brought on board with them, and o* which all hands partook. The following morning soon after breakfast, one of the crew (a native) came to the galley for some hob water in a cup, and when in the act of leaving with it, he began to tremble and roll his eyes about and fell backwards overboard. Fortunately the engineer and a native were close to the spot and they seized him the moment he came near the surface. He was then quite unconscious, so wibh the assistance of Capt. Wabers bhey removed his clothing, gave him some hot painkiller and wrapped him in blankets. The cook (Harry Short), who had also eaten freely of the honey, ..marked to the engineer thab his dream was now coming brue, for he said he dreamed that all hands had gone mad. The engineer laughed and said no doubb we were all a little off somebimes. After bhis Harry said to the engineer he wished bhe mail boat would come, and on being asked why, he said, " This " (meaning the native going overboard) " is only the beginning of it. I would clear out, although this is Good Friday." The engineer said he supposed all these sort of things occurred to show how uncertain life is, Tout thinking Harry rather superstitious he added, " There is nothing in anyone having a fit." Whilst all hands were sitting ab dinner the captain told Harry to throw all tho remaining honey over the side and to rinse out the billy. Soon after this, the engineer having gone below and the deck hand on to the raft, Harry went to throw the honey away as directed, the captain passing him to go aft whilst he was in the acb of doing so. The captain returned forward again in about two or three minutes, and not seeing Harry, looked down below and then over the side, where he saw Harry's cap floating in the water. He immediately gave an alarm, boats were gob oub and every Eearch made, bub all of no avail. The capbain bhen wired to the police and gave information to all the settlers around to look oub for the body. The native who went overboard has since recovered, but has not the slightest knowledge of being overboard or anything else about ib. Capt. Waters was himself very unwell, also the engineer and mate, a native alone escaping.

The victim of the above occurrence was Henry James Short, who, with his two brothers, had been resident on the upper part of tho Wairoa River for the last fourteen years. He was only 20 years and six months old, and was usually of a cheerful, light-hearted temperament. He bad been a member ot the Ancient Order of Foresters' Lodge, Northern Wairoa, jußt over six months, so that his nearest of kin, his mother, will be entitled to a burial allowance of £10 from the funds of the Lodge. The brethren of tbe Lodge will attend the funeral in regalia, bub up to the time of our going to press the body had not been found.