Suicide at Sea.

Manawatu Herald, 18 May 1893, Page 2

Suicide at Sea.

On the arrival of the s.s. Wakatipu from Sydney on Monday morning it was reported that early in the voyage a passenger named Charles Abernethy committed suicide by jumping overboard. The purser's report says : — 11 At 11.85 p.m. on the 9fch inst., about 50 miles from Sydney Heads, a steerage passenger named Charles Abernethy jumped overboard and was lost. The ship was stopped, patent lifebuoys were thrown over, and a boat in charge of the second officer was speedily to the rescue. The lifebuoys were picked up, but there was not sign of the. unfortunate man. After waiting about for an hour and a half the ship proceeded on her journey. The weather at the time was light N.E# winds with moderate easterly swell. The unfortunate man's wife was also a passenger, and says he had all his money on him, leaving her destitute. A subscription was made on board on her behalf by the passengers, officers, and crew, and a considerable amount was collected." Deceased was about 40 years of age, an engine-fitter by trade, and a native of Perth, Scotland. For some time he has been employed on vessels in the Australian coastal i trade, but being lately out of a billet he was coming to New Zealand in quest of work. His wife was in conversation with him on deck just before he took the fatal jump, and noticed nothing unusual in his behaviour. After accompanying her to her cabin and then engaging in conversation with fellow passengers, he was seen to step over the forward railing and deliberately jump into the water. Deceased leaves no children. — Post, '