FATAL ACCIDENT-THREE MEN DROWNED.

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2222, 13 September 1864, Page 5

FATAL ACCIDENT-THREE MEN DROWNED.

INQUEST ON TWO OF THE BODIES. Soms discharged seamen attempted to cross the harbour at Monganui on the evening of -Saturday, the 3rd instant, and in doing so, their boat capsized ; the whole were thrown into the water, and three were drowned. The following is the evidence given at the inquest. We may state that the whole of the men were perfectly sober at the time of the accident. Francis Loftus, being sworn, states : I was born in New 2'ealand. The name of the deceased is Alexander Rait. He was an Englishman. On Saturday last in the evening about dusk, I, Richard Jones, Robert Jones, John Holland, Edmund Moody, and John W. Rose, all got into a boat at the Custom-house to go over to Captain Butler’s side. We got more than half way over when the boat sunk. I swam ashore. I passed Rose, who was drowned. He called out to come to him, but I was afraid to do so, having heavy clothes. I got ■on shore and went for a boat and picked up Richard Jones and John Holland. I never saw anything of the three that were drowned. The boat turned over, she was pretty full of water. There was no baler in the boat. The deceased came from Hobart Town, in the Cherokee, whaler, about nine months ago. He landed here about two months ago. John Holland, sworn, states : On Saturday evening last I left near the Custom-house with six other men to go to Captain Butler’s side. The deceased was one of the men. The boat leaked on one side, and got nearly half full of water. I, and Edmund Moody were pulling. The men kept moving to keep oat of the water, when she suddenly made two or three rolls and went over. I stuck to to the boat, so did E. Moody and Richard Jont'P. The boat rolled about much, and I think it struck Moody on the head. I saw him go down once. The other four men I saw swimming towards the shore. The tide was coming in and the boat floated. We ultimately got footing on the pippie bank. The first witness, Loftus, come with a boat and took me and Richard Jones in. I saw nothing of deceased after the boat was upset. There were no thwarts in the boat. One man sat on each side, two in the stern, one in the bow. Moody stood up and was pushing the oar from him. I also was pushing with an oar, and sitting upon a man’s knee. By the Foreman : If the men had kept still* and Moody had pulled properly, we shonM have got over safe. We drifted farther than the point we wished to land at. By a Juror : There was no dispute before going s&to the boat. Robert Jones, sworn, said: lam one of the taea who was in the boat at the time of the accident. I struck out for the shore, as I passed deceased, I gave him a paddle I had picked up. I got ashore with difficulty, and on getting footing I was pulled out by Loftus. I was seised with the cramp. I saw nothing of deceased after, nor did I see anything of the other men drowned. I have heard John Holland’s evidence, and it is quite correct, as far as I know. By a juror : I heard Holland call out to Moody to pull. But he did not reply. I could not see if he was pulling. I sat on lb® stern of the boat. I don’t think we eoald have kept the water out with a baler. I knew nothing of the state of the boat. JUehard J ones sworn, said : I was in the boat at the time of the accident. I kept to "the boat with John Holland and Moody. I saw nothing of the men that were drowned. I cannot swim. I went down several times. Igotholdof the boat till Loftus took me in the boat he brought. 1 did not notice when Moody left the boat. Joseph Reilly, of the police, sworn : Captain Butler’s man came to me about 7, p.m., on Saturday last. On hearing of the accident I went round the harbour, calling out and endeavouring to discover where the missing men were. I found the deceased at 2, p.m., on Sunday, on the pippie bank, about 150 yards from where the accident happened. I had him brought to where he now lies. Loftus, Messrs. Crossley and Waddingham were with me when we found the body. There were no marks of violence on him. Verdict, “ accidentally drowned.” SECOND INQUEST. On Tuesday, the Coroner again sat, to enquire into the death of Moody, a coloured man, who was found on Monday evening, Joseph Reilly, of the police, sworn, stated : the body of the deceased was found about ten yards from where Rait’s was found. I lodged him where he is now. He was found about half-past 3, p.m., yesterday. He was one of the men capsized in the boat on Saturday last. Ho came here about twomonths ago from the Bay of Islands, and is supposed to be a native of Virginia, America. John Holland swore, stated : I have seen the body of the deceased. It is the body of Edmund Moody, about 24 years of age, a native of Virginia, America. He was a slave belonging to Harrison Cox, and came out in the barque Plover , Captain Macey. He arrived at the Bay of Islands in May last. The evidence givenjy ester day, on the inquest held on the body of Rait has been read to me. I have nothing further to add. Verdict as in the former case.