NEW BRIGHTON DROWNING FATALITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 3

NEW BRIGHTON DROWNING FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. The inquest touching the death of Samuel Lawley- Bull, who was drowned on tho .Estuary on Feb. 21, was held at the New Brighton . Hotel - on Saturday afternoon, before the Coroner, Mr R. Beetham, and a jury consisting of Messrs A. W. Owles, F. Haynes, F. Bodger, W. Morgan, E. Bennett and W. Moor. Mr A. W. Owles was chosen foreman of the jury. Sergeant Lyons conducted the inquest. Benjamin Bull, the father of the deceased, stated that on last Saturday afternoon he was out boating with his two sons, one of whom was the deceased, and the deceased's- son. They had been to Sumner, and on the return journey were running before the wind when the boom jibed and a squall struck the boat at the same time, causing it to capsize. All were thrown out. The deceased had some difficulty in saving the life of his son, and in his efforts to do so became exhausted. The witness and his other son tried to support the deceased and drag him oh to the boat, but were unable 'to do so. There was a stiff sea running at the time. The boat was in sound condition, and had previously been sailed over the same course.

George Leonard Bull, the brother, of the deceased, who was also in the boat, jgenerally corroborated the evidence of his father. Walter John Walker, resident near the Estuary, deposed that on Friday morning,, about half-past eleven, he found the body of deceased lying on the mud flats, opposite*! Rush Island. It Was laying face downwards, about two miles from where the accident occurred. He immediately summoned ConstaWe M'Glonej who is stationed at New Brighton, and assisted the constable to bring the body to the hotel premises. .-The jury returned a verdict, to. the effect that the deceased was accidentally drowned. on Feb. 2 by ithe upsetting of a "boat.