DROWNING OF FOUR MEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17894, 23 September 1921, Page 5

DROWNING OF FOUR MEN.

NEW PLYMOUTH FATALITY.

EVIDENCE' AT ' INQUEST./

CAPTAIN cross-examined: [bx telegraph—fbebs association, j NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. The story of the drowning accident afNew Plymouth on Sunday was retold to-day at the inquest regarding the circumstances of the deaths of the four men who were drowned. The inquest lasted until late to-night. The deceased were: Wm. D. Lindsay and J. W. Lander, of the crew of the steamer Easterner; J. Piper and T. A. Butler (Wellington), passengers on the steamer. Several counsel were engaged. One asked that- all the witnesses be ordered out of Court for the reason that possibly there might be a claim later against the ship for negligence. Captain O'Brien, master of the vessel, said he selected the boat for the party, and examined the boat thoroughly. He aJso attended to the equipment of the boat. There were at least three oars, if not four. There were five life preservers, e in bis estimation was t-hor-oaghly seaworthy when it left the ship. " hen the boat went awav under sail the wmd was blowing west-r.or'west. Such a breeze was a fair one for a boat eoinc ashore. Equipment of the Boat.

Counsel put several questions regarding the number of oars with which the boat was equipped, and ultimately drew the following answer from witness: " Well, let us get.it down on the records. When the boat left the ship she had six oars, but three were put back on board the ship, because they were not necessary." Counsel: You could have told us that, before.

Witness: I have nothing that I want to hide. I heard afterwards that Deskin put the oars back. Counsel: When was the rudder altered ! Witness: I never knew the addition was on the rudder till after the accident. Counsel: So this very thorough examination of yours did not include the rudder ? Witness: AH I can say to you is that when I looked the boat over I did not preclude the rudder. Counsel: Did you examine the rudder T Witness: Yes. The Coroner : When ? Witness: Before she left the ship. Th& addition to the rudder was put on after I gave permission for tht boat to leave. In fact, I suggested it, but I never saw it. I said to Deskin, "You had better look out for your rudder." He replied, "I will put a piece on." Counsel: Do you consider you had taken on yourself the responsibility of letting this boat go? Witness: Yes. Steamer in Calm Water. Counsel: What steps did you take in regard to letting the boat go?" Witness: In my judgment it was quite safe for the boat to go ashore. The vessel was lying in a comparative calm. Roy L. Deskin, third officer of the Easterner and sole survivor, said after proceeding part of the journey be could see there was going to be trouble. He decided it was not safe to proceed , and told the others they were going to put back to the ship. He ~>ut the rudder hard over. It stuck, and would not move and he ordered the others to get out the oars. They got one oar out, this beingi handled by Landars, and he told Landers to back water. They did not get the other oar out. The boat was then struck, by two seas, the second swamping it and turning it over. Efforts to Save Sutler. When witness got his head above water Landers, Lindsay and Piper were on the bottom of the upturned beat 10ft. away. Witness struck out for the boat. They were drifting inshore all tho tirae. When witness was close to the boat he heard Butler behind and went back. He found' a lifebelt which he gave to Butler and towed him to the boat.. They got back and climbed on the bottom of the boat, 1 the other three being still there. He put the lifebelt on Butler and just got it tied on when a sea washed him away.' He told Butler to hang on to the belt and try to _ tie it on. Witness then 1 put a line round Piper. Th© next they saw Butler about 20ft. or 30fti; away inshore. He was face down. Witness swam out and got Butler, turning him on his back on the boat.

In the Breakers. Witness .then got on the boat when 3. wave took Butler away. At this time they were in the breakers, and that was the last they saw of Butler. He then altered the line on Piper to allow him to free himself in case the boat was turned over. Another sea. came along and washed witness away. When he saw the boat the others were still there. He could not get back to it, so he started to swim ashore, picking up an oar and a lifebelt. He could not hold the oar, however, and he could not fasten the lifebelt on. He drifted in, and some people waded out and assisted him asliore. *

Regarding the working of the rudder his opinion was that the effect of the sea forced it up, causing it to jamb. It only needed to shift slightly for this to happen. "It seems," said the coroner, " that in allowing the boat to leave the steamer at that time, the captain committed =n error of judgment." The coroner found the boat well found and capably mstnned and his verdict was accidental drowning.