SUPPOSED DROWNING CASE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 938, 21 February 1890, Page 20

SUPPOSED DROWNING CASE.

A MAN MISSING FROM THE STEAMER ROTORUA.

It was reported early on Wednesday, Upon the arrival of the s.s. Rotorua in this port from Lyttelton, that one of the saloon passengers Avas missing and could not be accounted for, the supposition being that he must have jumped or fallen overboard. Tbe case is as follows :—lt appears that a tall man, nearly 6ft in height, of slight build, aged about 35, wearing a light-coloured moustache, joined the vessel at Lyttelton. The Rotorua left that port about 10 p.m., and toward midnight one of the stewards met the passenger, who gave his name as Wright, walking by himself on the deck. The steward asked him if he had secured a berth. The man said no, and the steward took him below and gave him one. Afterward the steward noticed that he was lying down, but not undressed, on the bed. About half-past 2 another passenger, who preferred staying up on deck, fell asleep on one of the seats near the skylight, and was suddenly awakened by the man Wright bending over him and muttering to him. Wright pulied what he said was a telegram out of his pocket, and a-equestad the passenger to send a message to iiis friends in Melbourne. Then Wright’s speech became incoherent. He afterward took hold of the passenger and attempted to shake him. The passenger got up and informed the chief officer of the occurrence. That gentleman sent the look-out-man to see what was wrong. He Avent toward the skylight and saAv Wright sitting down apparently in a brown study. He said to him, “Good evening,” but got no reply. Ho addressed him two or three times, but still received no reply. The lookout man reported what he had seen. Shortly afterward the second officer sent the lookout man to see Wright again. He went, and in a few minutes returned saying that Wright had left his seat. This was about 3 o’clock in the morning. As the man had observed nothing strange in Wright’s appearance, except that he seemed very much absorbed in himself, it was thought when he was not found on the seat that he had probably retired to ki3 cabin below. A search was made there, but the man was not found. A pair of boots and a hat were found in the cabin, probably, belonging to Wright. A careful search was made throughout the vessel prior to her arrival in port, but nothing more was found or known of the missing man, nor was any luggage found belonging to him, and so far what has become of him is a mystery.