DROWNED IN THE HARBOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 91, 11 January 1919, Page 9

DROWNED IN THE HARBOUR

BOY FALLS FROM WHARF MAN-O'-WARSMAN'S ATTEMPT AT RESCUE ■ ' PRAISE FROM THE CORONER -. . c The circumstances of the, death of a boy ; named John Stevens,' six years of age, who' was drowned -at the 1 Bdilway Wharf about 6 o'clock on Thursday evening, were investigated by the Coroner, Mr. W- G. Biddell, S.M., yesterday.. Sergeant O'Hara, watched the proceedings on ;behalf of'the police.-:: David Stevens,. father of the deceased, stated that in company with the. latter and two other sons, he was fishing at the Railway Wharf. Two other , boys,' Ivan Brough and Frederick M'Donald, were "nearby, .and. .irere, playing about.; The deceased was siting 'some ten. yards away, from who heard a sudden splash.. Witness asked his .son David '"What's that?" The boy David replied, "'lfs nothing," thinking it was a sack .that had fallen into the water. The next instant he saw that it was his son John in the water, and he instantly- clambered .'down a stringer to the boy's aid.' Witness tried to keep himself afloat'and draw his son towards - him, but found .that the weight of his boots prevented him from swimming. He' raised' cries for assistance,- and a man-o'-Waraman named Moorhouse, a. gunner' on the Ulimaroa, came along, jumped in, and recovered the', boy from the water. Artificial ; respiration waß:,tried, but, without success, and Dr. <Touhg.'' who wo's summoned, pronounced life extinct. . David Stevens, twelve years of age, a - brother of the deceased, stated that he last saw deceased playing.; with another brother, Sydney. The boy Brough : and-M'Donald. were fishing ; close by. He did not see either of the .boys near tin; deceased.. but after the . latter fell into the water he saw the bther'.two boys Tun away. Witness called out for help., and a' 6ailor came along,. together with a number of other .people,, and the sailor jumped into the water with ■on to rescue'.witness's brother. _

. Albert .'Edward Moorhouse, .gunner, on the Ulimaroa, and he hastened to the Railway Wharf . after. hearing l ' cries for help. When he first heard a-mail snouting he took no notice, but immediately afterwards he saw that something waß wrong. He noticed the deceased's father olu.ging .to a stringer, and the boy. floating about three feet under the water. As soon as he' saw the boy he jumped in and got • him out. . An, interval of five minutes may have elapsed between. 1 the time he first heard a man call out'and the time he jumped in to rescue the boy. ■Ivan Brough, eleven years: of age, who resides with his,,parents at 9 Penrose Avenue, Newtown, said the'.boy M'Donald was fishing. About six o'clock Mr, Stevens and his three boys' came along. While Mr. Stevens whs fishing the other boys occasionally played about. When the ferry steamer Cobar came in witness and' his mate left the. Eailway Wharf. He did not. know how the deceased fel; into the .water.' '■ He had previously seen' him playing with a rope. The Coroner: Didn't'you tell someone that M'Donald pushed' him : into the water?—" No." • Didn't you tell anyone this?— N0... Sergeant O'Hara: Didn't you toll me that last night?—" Yes I told you, but no one else." , J .■■■ "Why did you tell me those lies? asked the sergeant.. "Why didn't you tell me the truth, last night?" '

The witness in ado no reply "He told me a great story last , night ■ that this boy 'Monkey' (M'Donald) pushed the deceased-in," said Sergeant O'Hjra. "This morning, in company with /Honker.' he denied tlmt that was true." The. Coroner (to. the witness): .You didn't sea M'Donald push him in?— "No." r „ •You were not quarrelling ' No. ~ ."It seems a strange thing," observed ' Mr. Eiddell. . ~ , j, ; • Fred..M'Donald,. 11,; .rears ~old, who lives with his parents at. 44 Hill Street, and who said his father was a fireman on the Pateena, said he did not see tho deceased fall into the water.- The deceased and his brother were standing seven or eight yards away from their father, and were watching Brough and witness climbing a crane.. As soon as the Cobar caine in, Brough suggested going over to 6eo her, and witness agreed Witness and Broiigli ran from the .wharf in order to get to the Cobar. before she berthed. Prior to that the .deceased and hia brothors were playing. "Witness denied interfering with the deceased, who, he said, was a nice little, boy. Brough did not accuse him of pushing tho deceased into the water, and he. did. not hear 'him tell Sergeant 0 Hara .that ho (witness) pushed the hoy over. _ . Constable Cleverley gave evidence as to practising artificial respiration, and to taking the body of the. deceased to the ' Coroner characterised the evidence as to h6w the boy got into the water as being obscure. "And it has been made more obscure by the statements-of the boy Brough,'.'added Mr. Kiddell. "I am satisfied, after the examination of all the witnesses, that the statement made by • Brough is mere fabrication. I. am not at all satisfied that the boy was pushed

into the water. To begin with, the statement made by Brough was not xnade in the presence of M'Donald, wlio did not have an opportunity of denying it as ho should have had. It is really not evidence against M'Donald. When the mattor was put to M'Donald he denied it strenuously, and gave a quite satisfactory explanation. His attitude all .round would not lead anyone to suppose that he had pushed the'deceased into the water." Beferring to'the action of Gunner Moorhouse in jumping iiito the water to tcscue the deceased, 31r. Eiddell said: "He acted in a way in which we all expect members of the British Navy to act in the circumstances. Ho must he complimented on the way he did act. He did his'best to save the hoy."

A verdict was returned that deceased was drowned through accidentally falling into the harbour from the Railway