TRAGEDY AT SEA

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20550, 19 May 1932, Page 15

TRAGEDY AT SEA

OFFICER FOUND HANGED. (FROM OW/ ovx correspondent.) LONDON, April 15. When the Federal ship Huntingdon was eleven days out from New Zealand, a tragedy occurred which deeply affectod officers and crew. On Suhdrry., March 13th, at 6 the captain and soraq ~pf'his officers sat down to tea. Mr Maurice Walter, the third officer, who should have been there, was missing. At 6.15 the captain instructed a steward to call Mr Walter. Tho steward reported that ho could not find him. The chief officer then left the table and ascertained that Mr Walter was last seen going down to the upper 'tween deck bunker. This bunker was used for coal when the ship was a coal burner. Now that oil is used tho space is employed for the carriage of wool. It was Mr Walter's duty to inspect the wool daily. Tho capt-ain and other officers then went down to the bunker, and were shocked to find Mr Walter hanging by the neck from a noose of rope which had been attached to a timber rafter placed between the wool and the bulkhead. He wad dead. Ho was buried at sea. Tho captain makes the following statement in his log: "The tragedy came as a tremendous shock to myself and the officers, and in fact to tho entire crew, as Mr Walter had always proved himself a true and'loyal officer. Ho was well liked bv all, and his untimely end is deeply regretted. Wo are all at a loss to understand the reason for such a drastic action." Mr Walter, who was 24 years of age, joined the Federal Company on November 26th,_ 1&28, as fourth officer. He had been a cadet with the Blue Funnel Line. His homo was at Maryport, Cumberland. An enquiry. was held by the Landing Superintsndent of the Mercantile Marine Office, and he has sent his report to the Board of Trade. , The report is of a private nature.