DROWNED IN THE HARBOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7852, 14 July 1911, Page 9

DROWNED IN THE HARBOUR

FATE OF AN IMMIGRANT. THE DEATH OF ROBERT HUMPHRIES. At tlio Morgue yesterday morning Dr A. McArthur, district coroner, held an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert ‘Humphries, an immigrant by tile Corinthic, who was drowned iu the harbour on iuesday night. Humphries was a married man, 34 years of age, and expected Ins wile and" mother to arrive by tho Arawa m New Zealand next mouth. A native oi Manchester, the deceased had served in tlio City Firo Brigrdo of that city, and had also been in the Manchester Regiment, having enlisted at the age- of eighteen. t ... The evidence of James Haltou, a fellow passenger of deceased’s, showed that they went ashore after the arrival ot tlio steamer between 5.39 and p.m., ana had a x>int of beer each at the Pier Jfotoi, remaining at tixat place until after 8 o’clock. The deceased was quite sober then. They returned to the Corinlinc, and witness did not see deceased jHtcr that, but ho went ashore after 10 o clock to look for him. Witness was uncussossful in his search, but before ho got back to tho ship he heard that Humphries had been drowned. The deceased—who had been under tho influence of liquor at Hobart—was going to Taumarunui tlio following morning, having a brother, C. Humphries, at Manunui. William Keenan corroborated tho previous witness's statement as to deceased a sobriety when ho left Hie Pier Hotel. Nicholas Capitanakis, sailor on the Feliciana, deposed to passing tlio gate of the Ferry Wharf about 10 o’clock on Tuesday evening and hearing tho noise of a man in the water, about two or three yards from the breastwork in front of the Customhouse. Tho head of the man was above water and his hands were moving. Witness and Iris mate went to tho ferry steamer Admiral, called out to a seaman sleeping aboard, and told him about a man being in tho water. They helped to swing the boat out and went to the assistance of the drowning man. When they got to him his head was under water, but still floating. They got the man and put him on the Mnritai, when the police came along and the doctor. Artificial respiration was tried before tlio doctor came along. The witness was asked if he was not tempted to jump into the water when lie heard tho" drowning man, but ho replied that ho might have been drowned himself. On being interrogated as to whether ho could swim the witness replied; ‘‘Yes, I can swim all right, but I might have been pulled down by him.'’ The Coroner: Did you look for any lifesaving apparatus? Witness: No; the ferry boat was so near. Dr Pigeon said ho was summoned to the wharf by telephone at .10 o'clock. When ho arrived he found Dr PentreatJi of the Otaki endeavouring hy artificial respiration to restore life. Witness attributed the causo of death to shock brought about by fright and immersion in the cold water. John Hallestrn, seaman on tho Admiral, said that someone threw a heaving line to Humphries, but he seemed too far gone to take hold of it. There was no sign of life in the man. when they got him out of the waiter. THE VERDICT. After evidence bad been given by Constable Tait the coroner found that the deceased met his death by drowning in Wellington harbour, but that there was no cviaenco to show how he got into tho water. He could not say that there was any blame attachable to the Greek sailors for nett jumping* in to the rescue of the drowning man. It was entirely a matter for a man's own judgment, selfpreservation being the first law,'. PROPER PROVISION. Mr Archibald Munro,. assistant secretary to the Wellington Harbour Board ana wharfinger, who had been watching the proceedings, stated that there were life-saving appliances on tho wharf ’within 150 feet of where the accident had occurred, right in front of the Customhouse. The wharf was well lighted. He was satisfied that the board could not be held responsible for tho fact .that deceased could not see the water.

The coroner said that in his opinion there was every provision made by the Harbour Board for life-saving purposes.