TRAGEDY ON THE TAHITI

NZ Truth, Issue 852, 18 March 1922, Page 6

TRAGEDY ON THE TAHITI

An Extraordinary Situation

TWO OF THE CREW SUFFOCATED AT 'FRISCO.

Why Was the News Suppressed 7

A sensational item of news anent which the New Zealand dailies have preserved a significant silence, a silence which, however, this paper understands is not - intentional, is the fact that a few weeks ago at 'Frisco, two members of the crew of the Union Steam Ship Co.'s Tahiti were overcome by fumes m the hold of that vessel, their bodies being subsequently recovered when it was too late to restore animation. Why the cables have not reported the sad fatality, and why the U.S.S. Co., who are m full possession of the facts, have not made them 'known to the newspapers, "Truth" does not know. However, here are the facts for* the first time m New Zealand.

The Tahiti left here last month on her run to 'Frisco. She returns to Wellington at the end of next week, but minus two of the ship's company. According to the information given to "Truth" from, the relatives of one of the deceased seamen and by the Seamen's Union (which information originally came from the Union Co.), when the Tahiti arrived m 'Frisco on this trip she underwent the usual fumigation. The fumigation was carried out with,' cyanide; and when the customary certificate was given by the health authorities at 'Frisco that the vessel y :._■ " WAS FREE FROM ' FUMES (the U.S.S. Co. state this certificate, was actually given), two men, Leo P. Fauchelle, an able seaman, and the ship's carpenter (John Newton) were ordered below ,intb the ship's hold. They were overcome by the fumes of the cyanide and died before they could be taken back to the fresh air. An attempt made at rescue by the chief officer and three > sailors failed. The officer, we are 'told, was all (but overcome by the fumes himself.

An inquest was held subsequently at 'Frisco, at which (the Union Co. states) a verdict was returned

EXONERATING THE COMPANY from , all blame m view of the certificate of the Health officials.

These are all the facts of the actual occurrence that "Truth" knows at present, and no doubt' the full story will be available when the Tahiti returns to port next week. When the facts were communicated by cable to the Union Co., the latter informed the father of Fauchelle of the death of his son. Very few details, we are told, were, given by the company to the parent, whose anxiety to know more of the actual facts is naturally very keen. The father does not know even if his son has been buried m 'Frisco or whether the body is being brought back to New Zealand.'

[ The father of the unfortunate boy is well known m Nelson, where he carries on a grocery business at Riwaka. The deceased boy was 20 years of age and was a bright and promising lad. He was born and educated m Nelson, and made his first footing on the sea m the Amokura. In 19i6 he won a medal on that training ship for being the most efficient lad on board. He had just returned from a round trip on the Waitamata when he joined the Tahiti. His first trip on that vessel - was HIS LAST. Deceased was a nephew of Mr. C. Drummond, of 117 Constable Street, "Wellington. ' The other victim of the tragedy (Newton) leaves a widow m Sydney. The question of compensation from"

the Union Co. will, of course, come up when the full facts are known- It appears that the widow of the deceased ship's carpenter, being domiciled, m Sydney, will not be entitled to compensation, as there is no reciprocity on' compensation matters between New Zealand and New South Wales. , The father of the boy Fauchelle is, of course, m a different position. The whole matter, as well as the point as to why the* accident has been "kept dark" so far, will no doubt be fully investigated when the Tahiti arrives/in port here. Mr. Aitken, general manager of the U.S.S. Company, was interviewed on Friday morning on the matter, when he stated that the facts of the affair as put before him] by a "Truth" rep. were substantially correct. He added that having notified the relatives of deceased and the officials of the Seamen's Union, he saw no necessity whatever to hand the facts to the press for publication. '_. In reply to the complaints of the relatives as to the meagre details of the tragedy supplied to them, Mr. Aitken stated that all available facts were given to them as-, soon as possible-

The /S'African strike has had a most disastrous effect on trade. Any strike has, for that matter. When the great god of employerdom — Greed — starts to run amok, the effect on the community Is the same as though famine and pestilence were stalking abroad.