DROWNED IN THE HARBOR.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 101, 2 May 1881, Page 3

DROWNED IN THE HARBOR.

On Faturday night the body of a man named Richard Kirwan was seen by George Barnes floating in the sea at the end of Har-bor-street. Barnes obtained assistance and got out the body, which was taken to the Commercial Hotel. Drs. Harding and Diver were soon in attendance, and endeavored to restore animation, but without avail. Deceased was a native of Waterford, Ireland, and had come out in the Pareora to join his daughter at Greymouth. Tho body was subsequently removed to tho Morgue An inquest was held on the body at 11 o'olook this morning, before Dr. Johnston, Coroner, and a jury of 12. The facts elicited in evidence were these: — Deceased was a passenger by the Pareora, which arrived from London on Friday last; he was staying on board till he could be transhipped to Greymouth, where he intended joining his son and daughter. On Saturday evening he bf.cf.me intoxicated, and his cousin, Robert Kirwan, who was also a passenger by the same ship, thought it advisable to fasten him in his cabin. By gome means not made clear the deceased got out of the oabin and came ashore, and was not again seen alive by his cousin. About twenty minutes to ten o'olook the name evening an expressman named George Barnes saw deceased going down Harborstreet, and, shortly after, heard a splash in the water. He gave the frlarm, and a number of peoplo rushed to the retaining wall to see what was the matter. Mr. David Eankin, tailor, jumpedj umped in and caught hold of deceased, whom he was able to see by the aid of a lighted match. Barnes and another man then jumped in, and the deceased was got out and left for two or three minutes on the breastwork, and was then conveyed to the Commercial Hotel, where Drs. Harding and Diver tried in vain toreeuscitate deceased. Deceased was a widower, 48 years of age, an,d a farmer by occupation. The jury re. turned a verdict of accidental death, but in a rider palled the attention of the authorities tq tho dangerous condition of the unfenced portion ol the breastwork adjoining 1 Harborstreet.