CORONER'S INQUEST.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4913, 13 May 1887, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

The inquest on the bodies of Captain Setter, Archibald Waddell, and George Bain was held at the Railway Hotel at 11.30 o'clock this morning , . Mr R. Duncan was chosen foreman of the jury. ■

Mr Cresswell, instructed by Mr Lascelles, appeared in the interests of the Union Steam Shipping Company. Louis Martin deposed he had been engineer on the steamer Boojum. He had seen the bodies the subject of the inquest. Recognised them as those of Captain Setter, A. Waddell, and G. Bain. Had known the deceased persons for several years. Recollected the 11th of this month. On that day ho got up steam on the Boojum by orders of the captain. It was for the purpose of going out to the Northumberland, which was in distress. It would bo between eleven and twelve o'clock when they left the wharf. At that time bosides himself there were on board the Boojum Captain Setter, George Kilvington (deckhand), Archibald Waddell, and George Bain. The crew originally were Setter, Kilvington, and himself; the others were volunteers. Had moderate weather when they left the wharf. Had no great difficulty in reaching the ship. Was most of his time in the engine-roam; the others were all on deck. When they reached tho vessel Captain Setter asked the captain of the Northumberland -what he could do for him. Did not hear the reply. After that they were dodging round and about tho ship to see what they could do for him. Everything was then working well, the engines being in good order, while they were cruising round the bad weather increased. Passed round the ship several times between the sea and the shore. They were going down to pick up a boat alongside the Northumberland. The boat had been lowered by tho Northumberland at the starboard quarter. They were tien to seaward. They were waiting on the b at, and he came up from below when a heavy sea struck the vessel; the vessel capsized, and he found himself underneath the Boojum. The S3a struck the boat either on tho forequarter or beam; could not say which. To the bost of his knowledge they wero all on deck at the time. When the'boat capsized, after he had got out from underneath the vessel, ho saw a body, which proved . to bo that of Captain Setter. Did not see either of the other three. Captain Setter was alive when he saw him, and was floundering about. Swam away from tho Boojum, and reached a piece of wreckage, the Boojum was then bottom up. When he reached the wreckage, got on top of it, and looked back for Captain Setter, and saw him then with his head downwards, motionless, and apparently dead.- Did not see anything of the other throe men. Sang out to the boat that was lying close to the boat that was lying close to the Northumberland, and they come along and picked him up, and took him on .board tho steamer Fairy, and they came inside to the wharf. Captain Setter was steering the vessol at the time, and worked the. machinery himself from the deck.. Captain Setter was a man of temperate habits, and perfectly sober that day. At the time the sea struck the Boojum, they weronot in the , surf, but within the break of the sea. Could not say if the other vessels Trent in hearer to shore that the place were the Boojum capsized. Could not form any opinion. as to whether they were ipo close in shore when they capsized. The Boojum after capsizing drifted on to the, bowe of the Northumberland, There were several life J buoys on the Boojum. . To Mr .Cresswell: Had been an engineer at sea for nine years. Believed the Northumberland was in distress when they went put. Thought that the Boojum was seaworthy enough to render assistance. Did not think that there was any risk in going out. At the time theyvwent out" it was pretty fine weather. Thought the Boojum was of 13 tons. Did not know the? tonage of the other boats that went out that day. The Boojum had everything in good order, and wm well formed. a pure accident that.the-B.oflJlunii'papsiiiedV and on ba4 eeaniaaship. J Bai4 wa,g $9

extra man engaged. Saw Mr Waddoll go on board.

Witness continued. Nothing possibly could have been done to have averted the sea from striking the vessel. . William Anderson deposed he was an able seaman on board the Northumberland. RecoJleoted several small steamers coming ont on the 1 lth. The vessels steamed right round the ship. There was a very heavy sea on at the time. Several seas como on board the ship. Lowered a boat and mado it fast to the ship. Did not know the Boojum, but saw one of the steamers which had come to their help, capsize, but afterwards saw the Boojum bottom up. She was then to tho seaward of the Northumberland. Saw three men in the water. Tho Captain of the Northumberland cried out for them to go for the man on the wreckage. Took six more men on b"oard the boat, and then cruised around for the men in the wator. Tho man" they picked up was the engineer. Could render no assistance to the others in the water.

Geerg-e Gifford deposed he recollected being on tho Fetane Beach early yesterday morning, and a body was washed on the beach. Recognised the body as that of Captain Setter.

Sergeant Cullcn gave evidence to the effect that he saw a body -washed ashore yesterday, and it was recognised as that of Archibald Waddell.

Constable Pardy deposed he saw a body taken from the sea yesterday, and it was recognised as that of George Bain. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death, caused by drowning in trying to render assistance to tho ship Northumberland." The men had lost their lives like true British sailors, in endeavoring to save the lives of others.