"NOT ENOUGH MEN."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18631, 12 February 1924, Page 8

"NOT ENOUGH MEN."

LAUNCH TRAGEDY INQUIRY. NO BOAT FROM COBAR. PASSENGERS' AID DECLINED [BY TELEGRAPH., —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The official inquiry into the harbour tragedy of Friday night, was begun today, when an inquest concerning the death of Mary Burden McArthur, one of the two victims (whose body was; recovered) was opened before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., coroner. „ Edgar Percy Bailey, a stoker on H.M.S. Chatham., who was a member of tho launch party, stated that after passing round the Hinemoa, the party cruised about in the launch Mavis. When they saw the ferry steamer Cobar, the launch was travelling at right angles to the Cobar's course. The steamer was too near for the launch to pass in front of her, or to go astern and the launch-, was turned to go in the same direction as the Cobar. No look-out for other vessels was kept as far as he knew, as none were expected. All that was watched for was the red light of the boat harbour. Mr. Williams was at the - wheel and in turning he attempted to get right away from the Cobar. The steamer aid not seem to bo very well lighted up, and if those on board saw the launch they made no attempt to give ( way to them. The women screamed in an attempt to attract attention and some of the men whistled. The Cobar gave them a glancing blow on the starboard quarter. This swung the launch more into the Cobar, and the ferry boat hit her the second time on the bow. : The Magistrate: Were the four people thrown overboard when the first bump occurred ? , , Witness: Miss Day jumped overboard I am sure of that. The others fell overboard. Continuing, witness said that he went in the dinghy and picked up Miss Day. Stoker Sharrock then joined him and they went to look for the other two girls. The people on the Cobar.. were asked to keep a look-out, and t/hey first saw the deceased, whom witness and his oompanion "pulled out of the water and hanaed aboard the Cobar. "While we were cruising round I called out to the captain of the Cobar," said witness, "and asked for a boat, as ours was half-fuil of water. The captain said he had not enough men, having only two deck hands. Passengers volunteered to take the boat., but the captain said it was against the rules of the ferry company." Other witnesses gave oorroborative evidence. It was stated that there was no liquor on the launch. The inquiry was adjourned for a week.