DOLPHIN TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 5

DOLPHIN TRAGEDY

BRASELL’S BODY RECOVERED. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 15. The body of Frederick James Brasell, who lost his life when the fishihg launch, Dolphin, was struck by a. shot from the shore battery in Lyttelton Harbour on Thursday, was recovered last night, after the Dolphin had been raised by the. Lyttelton Harbour Board’s pile driving pontoon. The inquest was opened this morning before Mr F. F. Reid, S-M., and was adjourned after evidence of identification had been given. The Coroner ordered a post-mortem examination to he made.

The successful raising of the big launch was the culmination of many hours of patient work under trying conditions by a band' of volunteer helpers consisting of fishermen and shipwright workers. Wire hawsers were taken from the Dolphin to the pontoons’s winch and the launch was raised to the surface, after which the tug, “Lyttelton II„” towed the pontoon and launch to the inner harbour.

The pontoon was warped into the entrance to, the patent slip and late in the evening, at low tide, the Dolphin, resting on the bottom, was sufficiently clear of the water’ to enable the body of Mr Brasell to be recovered. It was found in the wheelhouse, at the entrance to the engine-room, and a superficial examination disclosed that the shot had passed through the left leg at the knee and the body had been struck by fragments. An examination of the launch showed that the shot had entered the hull on the starboard side, below the water line, near the bow, and had been deflected upwards, probably by striking the engine. It had passed cut, on the port side, above the water line, after passing through the wheelhouse. i “WILFUL NEGLIGENCE.”

Expressing the opinion that, the sinking of the trawler, Dolphin, was due to wilful negligence on the pari of those in charge of the defence battery, fishermen, yesterday, passed a resolution of protest which will be forwarded to the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones). Mr F. P. Walsh, general secretary of the New’ Zealand Seamen’s Federation, who attended the meeting, paid <l special visit from Wellington. Represented at the meeting were Lyttelton, Kaikoura, Akaroa and Timaru fishermen. The meeting also passed a resolution pointing out to the authorities that the inspection vessel, instead of being stationed off Little Port Cooper, in accordance with the instruction issued to fishermen by the Defence Department, is actually stationed two or three miles on the port end. of the harbour, near where the Dolphin was sunk. Mr Walsh was directed by the meeting to ask the Minister of De fence to make the fullest inquiry into the tragedy. In a statement made after the meeting. Mr Walsh said' that those present were confident that the Government would do all it possibly could to assist fishermen in having the whole ot the evidence considered and published. Fishermen in all parts of Canterbury had sent telegrams of protest to the Minister against what they considered wilful negligence, and demanding a full inquiry into the tragedy, continued Mr Walsh. They had also passed resolutions of sympathy with the Brasell family. Mr Walsh attended a. further meeting of protest convened by Taumutu fishermen.