LATE FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.—CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1518, 6 October 1868, Page 7

LATE FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.—CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yhstbbdat at 2 o'clook, on inquest was held at the Odd Fellows' Arms hotel, Ohanccry-street, before m M Philaon, Esq., W.D., Coroner, and a jury of thirteen of who-n Charles Thomas Saxton was chosen foreman, to enquire into the circumstances eonnectcd with the death of Frederick Renner, „ho was drowned off Bangitoto during the gale on Thur.-v'.'iv Inst. , . , The jury proceeded to view the body, after which ths following evidence was taken :— John Beaton sworn, deposed: I am a fisherman jeeiding at Bangitoto. On Friday morning last, about daybreak, I was in bed at ray house on Bangitoto, and" WBS awakened by a peal of thunder j heard a voice several times calling for help. With the assistance of my daughter launched my boat. Saw a man about 200 yards from the shore holding on by something; could not make out what. - reached the a few minutes, whom l recognised as a boatman named Johnson. On getting to him he excl limed, the boy (meaning deceased) is gone. Enquired what he meant. He repliod, the boy and himself were in the forecastle; they had been fishing. He said he found the boat filling with water which first awoke him. He then endeavoured to rouse the bov, but the bo*t filled immediately, and he was obliged to swim to save himself; he lost sight of the boat, and could not tell what had become of the boy. He was graatly exhausted when rescued, and could not have survived much longer. I brought him ashore in my boat. Had not discovered dtgeeased at this time, iibsut an hour after went with Johnson to the sunken boat. Fetched her ashore. Having baled her out found the body of deceased in the forecastle; he had been dead for at least throe hours; he was in a Bleeping attitude; tho eyes were closed. When removed from the boat froth issued from his mouth; sent the body by another boat ;o Auckland same evening; Jplinion accompanied tho body ; have seen the boy before but had r.o accquaintance with him ; the storm was the greatest 1 have known for years; it wns sufficient to swamp any boat; the boat was a safe one, not leaky ; no blame could be attached to Johnson ; the sailb were all perfectly safe. . To the Foreman: The boat was m perpendicular position owing to the shifting of the ballast; tho boy •pas an excellent swimmer; and could easily have reached the shore had he been at liberty. John Johnson sworn, deposed : I am a fisherman ; residing in Albert-street, Auckland: on Thursday last about 12 o'clock left Auckland to fish in company with Frcd.'Kenner (deceased) in an open boat Called the ' Favourite there was a deck formed in the forecastle so as to form a sleeping place for two; the boat waa thirty six feet long by about six feet broad ; sailed from the wharf; had about 5 cwt. of pig iron as ballast, which was placed in the centre ; sailed down the harbour to tho Tamaki, with the intention of fishing there ; the wind was south west, and the water was then smooth. About 2 o'clock we arrived and remained at anchor till sunset; the ■wind then veered round to north east; about 7 o'clock the sea having risen considerably, crossed over by sail under the lee of Bangitoto ; anchored there, about ten o'clock and put out our nets ; about 3 o'clock on Friday morning, lifted them again, and made all preparation to return to Auckland ; about this time we observed a thunder iquall rising"; told I deceased to go into the forecastle and have a sleep until the storm passed over; went myself also ; saw the deceased fall asleep immediately; about 20 minutes after, felt the boat capsize over ; and the Water coming into the forecastle ; roused the boy and , told -him to come out quickly as the boat ■was sinking; managed to get out myself; could not ■ see if the boy made any effort to escapt; when 7. got ' out of the forecastle, I found atyself in the water ; laid hold of an oar that was floating; "saw the bows of the boat sticking up out of the water at about ten yards distance, and let go the oar and made for the boat, and endeavoured to feel in the forecastle for the boy; not finding him, I pulled out a blanket; held on by the bows of the boat, and " cooed " for assistance ; at the expiration ot about an hour and ahalf «a« Beaton's 'ao«tj coming towards me ; was much exhausted ; could not have held out much longer; could not stand when I got ashore; not Meing the boy on shore, concluded he was drowned ; this was the first time he was with me ; deceased was well acquainted with the management of a boat; X account for toe accident in this way: The wind wsb N.N.E., and the boat was swung upon the wind ; squalls came suddenly from the N.W., taking the boat on the broadside ; which caused her to fill with water; the ballast shifted to the stern, causing the boat to stand upright, going down stern foremost; the water was from. 4to 5 fathoms deep ; the squaU passed rapidly over, and the sea went down immediately ; the thing was purely accidental; had no drink on board but water, and was perfectly sober ; am a teaman, and have been going out similarly for nearly four years; have been out in all ki ads of weather, but never met with any accident before. By the Jury: The boy was exhf usted which caused him to sleep soundly ; he had been out the night before, and was very tired ; there were four round shot, and a quantity of pis iron, as ballast.

A Juror remarked that the round shot should have heen securely l&3hed, and he was of opinion an amount of carelossneia 'was Bhown by not having thii done.

Henry Benner, deposed: lam a shipwright residing in "Victoria Quadrant; am fathor of deceased, "who was nearly 17 years of age; be had no trade; hare frequently had him with me boating. He did not stop at my house. On Thuriday last he came tip'to my house and had breakfast with me, and he told me he intended to go with a party mullet-fishing. Heard of his death on Saturday ia3t at the Thames. Came home and found the body of deceased at my house.

Jeremiah Carrigan, of the water police, deposed to having ree'eWed the, body of deceased on Friday evening, and conveyed it to the dead house. He further states that he believed deceased to have been asleep when the accident took place, as hie appearance indicated. It was certainly a matter of blame the ballast was not secured. Still, even had th« ballast bean secured, a high wind would have caused the accident.

This concluded the evidence, end the jury returned aa their verdict that deceased came by his death by accidental drowning, and added as a rider, that in future all boats should have their ballast secured.