THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE TRIUMPH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7160, 28 October 1884, Page 6

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE TRIUMPH.

CORONER'S INQUEST. A cobos:er's inquest was held yesterday afternoon, at the Wynyard Arms, before Dr." Philson, coroner, and jury (of whom Mr. Winifred Higgins was chosen foreman), to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Alice Wharton, who accidentally fell down the ventilating hatch of the forecastle, and received injuries thereby which caused her death. Margaret Sharp deposed that she was the •wife of Thomas Sharp, cook, residing in Grey-street. Had seen the body of deceased that day, and identified it; having known deceased for five years. On Saturday witness went with deceased on board the Triumph to a picnic. . About half-past one o'clock deceased wanted to go to a lavatory, and as they went they saw a place on one side for ladies, and another for gentlemen.- They tried both sides, and found them occupied, and they waited for awhile, without success. Went to the fore part of vessel, and passed down some steps -through an open door. Deceased was foremost, and said that she could find no place, and could wait no longer. She then made ior the corner, and as Bhe went fell through & hole in the floor. Witness could not see where deceased went. Heard no sound •whatever. Witness could see nothing, and then gave the alarm.. Some men went down and got deceased hoisted up, but she was then dead. Witness had no liquor before going on board, but while there shared a bottle of stout with two other women and deceased, making four in all. Did not drink anything besides the stout, and deceased had nothing either. When they went into the place first spoken of they were, sober. They got the bottle of stout from a man belonging to the vessel.

George Wood deposed that he was a seaman belonging to the Triumph. Deposed to hearing the • alarm of a woman having fallen the ventilating hatch of the forecastle. He went dotvn the hatchway, fastened a rope to her body, and got her hoisted on deck, but she was then dead. The hatchway was about 4 feet by 3 feet, and is only used by the sailors. No one except the men had any business in the forecastle. The hatchway required often to be opened for necessary purposes. He did not see any drunken person on "board. The Triumph's forecastle •was well lighted, and the open hatchway was easily seen, and had an iron bar across it, Robert WhaTton deposed that he was a fireman on board the s.s. Triumph, and lived in Abercrombie-street. Deceased was his wife. She was -45 years of age, and was in good health at the time of the accident. Deceased was not addicted to drink, and was sober when going on board. When off IRanuitoto reef she came to speak to him while he was at his work, and she was not then under the influence of liquor. There were 700 passengers on board, all orderly and sober. When deceased came to'him she said they were all getting, beer, but that she could not get any. Deceased asked him" to. procure some for her, but he refused. Between one and two p.m. a man came to him and said bis wife had fallen down the forepeak. He went forward immediately, and saw she was dead, on the body being hoisted up. The hole through which deceased fell is flush with the deck, has no combing, and was without a hatch. Twenty minutes previous to the accident he saw a number of females in the forecastle.

Alfred Durham deposed that he was a seaman belonging to the Triumph. He assisted the witness George Wood in getting the body of deceased out of the hold. There was a combing of 3 inches round the hatch. There was also a covering for it, bnt it was not on at the time he went into the forecastle. It had been kept open more than nsaal of late, during the repairs of the ship. It was not considered dangerous to leave it open. The only female he saw in the forecastle was his own wife, whom he took into it to show where the sailors slept. His wife remarked the hole. There was plenty of light for any one to see it. Witness by instructions from "Mr- Moore, covered the hatch on the previous evening.

Rudolf Prohl deposed that he was engaged on board the Triumph as assistant steward. Had known the deceased for eight years. The. excursionists were supplied with plenty of food, beer, ale, and aerated waters, but no wine or spirits. About half-past one o'clock deceased came to him to procure some beer. He refused to serve her, seeing that she had enough already. She was not intoxicated exactly, but in a jolly state. Half-an-hour afterwards, he was informed that a woman had fallen into the hold. On enquiry, ascertained that was the same woman who had asked him for drink, andabnsed him for not giving it to her. There were several on hoard who were more or less under the influence of liquor when they came on board. None of these were supplied with drink on board. Deceased was quite capable of taking care of herself when he last saw her, but as there were eight waiters, it was possible she might have got liquor from others. Mr. Eraser gave instructions to stop giving liquor,and issue only lemonade, &c. E. McKeown deposed that he was in charge of the stewards at the Triumph picnic. Mr. Eraser had given strict instructions to issue no liquor to persons who had any sign of being under its influence. On seeing the body ot deceased he recognised it as that of a woman whom he had seen abasing one of the waiters because he would not serve her with drink. She was then in liquor. It was possible for her to get liquor from others without his personal knowledge. When the accident took place he went into the forecastle, and saw an empty beer bottle there. He did not take particular notice as to whether it was of the same brand as issued that day.

Constable McDonnell deposed to being on board the Triumph on SaturJay. On being informed of the accident, and on going forward to the forecastle, he found some seamen, Mr. Fraser, Mr. McKellar, and others assisting in getting the body of deceased out of the hold. On being brought up life was extinct. The skull appeared to be fractured, if not the neck broken. There was no doctor on board. The hatch down which deceased fell was 4x3. It had a combing, but the -cover was off, and lying two or three feet off. Deceased fell about 15 feet, striking her head on the iron keelson below. The forecastle was well lighted, and no one with any sense should ever have fallen down. Shortly after leaving the wharf two persons began to quarrel,-and he then discovered that some persons had come on board the worse of liquor. Mr. Fraser, junior, and Mr. Fra-er, senior, at once gave strict instructions to stop the further issue of any beer, and after the accident the bunting was hauled down, The band ceased playing, and Mr. Fraser directed that speech-making or cheering should be stopped on account of the sad affair.

Thomas Smith (who asked for permission to give evidence) deposed that he was a painter living in Abercrombie-street. Had .known deceased for two months. He was one of the workmen, on board the Triumph, having worked on her as a painter for four -days. He was at the picnic on Saturday, and. saw deceased half an hour before her death. She was then perfectly sober. Did not Bee her again till he siw the body removed from the ship at the wharf. On Friday morning one of the painters fell down the same hatch, the cause of the accident, but was got up, and suffered little injury. There were three port lights, but the bunks overhung, and any person going down would have to stand a few minutes before dis--covering clearly how things stood in the .apartment. After a brief deliberation, the jury re--tarned a verdict of "accidental death, and that no blame was attachable to anyone."