DROWNED OFF S.S. MAORI.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 468, 29 March 1909, Page 6

DROWNED OFF S.S. MAORI.

9 BANK CLERK'S TRAGIC END. A sad fatality occurred whilst the s.s. Maori, from Lyttelton, was steaming up tho harbour preparatory to berthing yesterday morning. About 10 o'clock, when the vessel was abreast of Pipitea Point, several passongers reported that they had seen a man fall overboard from the top promenade deck. A lifebuoy was thrown, in the direction which they indicated, arid the steamer was stopped. An omergoncy boat was then lowered, but it got adrift. According to one of tho officers, this was due to tho vibration caused by the vessel being stopped so suddenly. The boat was, ho added, used only somo days previously. It is alleged by somo of tho passengers the mishap in lowering tho boat was occasioned through a rope snapping. Some time later tho chief officer's boat was successfully unshipped. Her crew consisted of Third Officer GovsEy (in command), Brodclins, A.8.; Freoth, A.8.; and Wilson, a steward. Twenty minutes after the matter had been reported tliis boat picked up a body which proved to bo that of a passenger named James Fleming. It was found floating face downwards. Steps wore" at once taken-to restore respiration, and the courso of the boat was directed to the watermen's steps. _ A privately owned launch,- which was crossing the harbour, presently took the boat in tew, and when this was done, all members of tho crew wero available to assist in the attempt .to restero animation, but without result; and upon 'arrival at the steps, Dr. Henry, who had. been summoned,. found that life was estinct. ; Deceased Fleming, who was employed as a clerk in the Bank of New Zealand, was on transfer from Waimate to Wellington. He joined tho Maori at Lyttolton at 11.30 on Saturday night, taking out a saloon passage. When he went on board, upon being asked whether he had any luggage, he replied in the negative, and was shown to his cabin. Hβ did not take breakfast yesterday morning, and prior to tho occurrence, ho seems to havo been last' seen by Mr. A. Ritchie, a fellow-passenger. Both Mr. Ilitchie and deceased occupied berths on the upper deck. Whilst Mr. Ritchie paid a brief visit to his cabin deceased disappeared. 'When it was scon that a mishap had occurred, two boats wero dispatched from the Amokura, which is lying off tho Esplanade. The boys were under tho charge of Instructors H. TJptonand E. Martin and Chief Officer Bundle. The life-buoy and the' boat which had got adrift were recovered by them. ■ ' An inquest will bo hold by Dr. M'Arthur at 4.30 o'clock this'afternoon. Deceased, who wa-s a singlo man, was a brother of Mr. Hopo Fleming, of Hereford Street, Christchurch. A passenger on-tho Maori, speaking to "a • Dominion reporter, said that the efforts made to reach the apparently drowning man were not so efficient or smart as could have been wished. The first attempt to launch a boat failed, as something went wrong. After somo delay, another boat was launched. This boat picked up the man about twenty minute's from the timo he fell into iho water, but tho boats which had coma out from other vessels had by that time reached the spot.