A STEWARD'S DEATH

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10490, 15 October 1926, Page 6

A STEWARD'S DEATH

ALLEGED NEGLECT ON LINER. SHIP'S DOCTOR. GIVES | EVIDENCE. j WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. 1 The inquest regarding the death ot 1 the steward Denniston, of pneumonia on board the lonic when two days out from Colon, was continued before Mr. AY. G. Riddell, S.AL, to-day. When the inquiry opened on September 27 allegations were made that the. deceased had been neglected by the ship’s doctor. The Rev. Harold, of Canterbury, gave evidence to-day of seeing the deceased the day before his death on . one or two occasions. The deceased, made no complaints and told-witness that he had a very fine doctor who was doing everything he could for him.

To Air. O'Donnovan - the witness said he never visited Denniston when he was in the-“glory hole.” .

D;\ Brennan said lie first saw Denniston on August 25 in his own bunk. Denniston said lie thought lie had an attack of malaria coming on. Witness gave him some pellets, and ordered him to stay in bed. He did not think it necessary to send him to hospital. When he visited him the next day the man seemed a little better. The following day he found Denniston had been taken on deck by two stewards. He had given them no authority to place the patient there. When lie saw the patient he had him removed to hospital, where he remained until he died. Witness visited him in hospital every day. He discovered Denniston had pneumonia on August 28 or 29, and made a minimum of two visits a day, giving modern treatment for the complaint. AA’itness conferred with Dr. AA r ells, both visiting the patient on September 5. AA’itness was of opinion that the action of the other stewards in taking the deceased on deck on two occasions was very harmful. On one occasion witness found an empty jug in the hospital. Denniston told him it had Contained ice water, which Barnsley had brought up. An unlimitecl quantity of this was harmful. There were seven port holes in the “glory hole,” and these could be opened except in. very bad weather.