THE EAST ISLAND ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 49

THE EAST ISLAND ACCIDENT.

CAPTAIN BOLLONS’S REPORT. Captain Ballons, of the Government steamer Hinemoa, has furnished a report to the Marine Deparement on the recent accident to one of the ship’s boats at East Island. He arrived, lie states, off tlm landing at East Cape Islet at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3(.'th, and, finding the sea 100 heavy to permit landing, and the anchorage in the passage being unsafe, he steamed to Kawakawa, and brought up. At 10 a.m. tho next day. the sea, moderating, he proceeded to East Cape, but the landing was still unworkable, and the sea in the passage too heavy to a.’ow' anchoring; so he was compelled to lef.urn to Kawakawa. At G a.m. on the Thursday he proceeded again to the islet, but could not work, as the sea was still bad. The anchorage, however, was safe; so he brought up off ihc landing, jvilh the c xoectation of landing at half-ebb. At 4 p.m., finding there was no chance of landing, he shifted into deeper water for the night. On Indsiy, at 10 a.m., lie signalled to the rivvo v-kmg if landing was possible, and got replies that, although difficult, it was ail light. He was at the masthead several times during the day, watching the sea at the landing. At 3.35 p in., the tide being nearly half-ebb, and tho weather moderating, lie told Mr Brown, the chief mate, to ’over the boat and have a look at tho landing, instructing him that, should be .find it was had, lie was to return to the ship immediately, and not run any risk. About 3.55 p.m. Mr Brown left the ship, taking the second mate and four men in the beat, the letters and four or five parcels being the only cargo token. The last instructions Captain Bollons gave as the boat pulled round tho bows wore, “Should tho landing he workable, wait for a good smooth chance before pulling in.” He then watched the boat through his glasses. After pulling close to the rocks, ho saw her get before the sea and head for lie landing. When within about four boats’ lengebs of the rocks outside the boat harbour, the boat ran broadside on, and lie knew she must fill. He immediately levered the other boat and pulled as near as possible to where the accident occurred. Seeing no trace of ‘.he men in the water, and the boat lying on the beach full of water. and not being able to land without smashing his own boat, he brought her as near as possible to the soutli end of the islet, and inquired of the hands if tho boat’s crew was safe. He got a reply that two were saved, and seeing that nothing more could be done, and as darkness was coming on, he returned to the ship. Mr Brown, the.chief mate, was, says Captain Bollons, thoroughly well acquainted with the boat harbour, having worked it im all weathers with deeply-laden boats.

THE INQUEST . AUCKLAND. "Wednesday. An inquest was held this morning before Mr Baker, coroner, touching the drowning on the 2nd inst. of Win. Brown, late chief officer of the Government steamer Hinemoa. Captain Bollons was the first witness called. He detailed the circumstances of the accident, as already published, and similar evidence was given by F. A. Hardy, the second officer. George Gaston, who worked on the island, deposed to seeing the accident. He tried to help deceased to land. He also stated lie found two of the bodies on Sunday, the 4th inst., and that of Brown on the following Wednesday. All were buried in one grave, but Brown’s body was afterwards disinterred and brought up to Auckland by the Hinemoa. In reply to a juror. Captain Bollons stated that the two remaining bodies were left on the island, at the direction of the Commissioner of Police. A juror: Could a safer landing be made on the island? Captain Bollons said probably another could lie blasted out at the south end, which could be used when the present one was too rough; but for all-round, weather a better landing could not be obtained on the island. The jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death accidentally. The jury added a rider to the effect that they considered the Government should improve the harbour, and that the other two bodies should be disinterred and buried in a proper cemetery.