DROWNING AT THE WHARF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10621, 13 October 1896, Page 4

DROWNING AT THE WHARF.

An inquest on the body of Ernest Williams, a cook on the s.s. Flora, who was drowned at the Dunsriin whaif on S-turday night, was held at tho Wharf Hotel yenterday before Mr B. H. Caret-, coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr A. Falconer wss chosen foreman.

Thomas Bowden, assistant pantryman on the Flora, said that deceased had been second cook on board that vessal. He was a native of Ballarat, and was 28 or 29 years. of age, Witness had known him for a couple of jears, bub had only been a shipmate of his for three weeks. Witness last saw him alive at half-past 10 on Saturday morning on board the ship. On Saturday night about half-pasb 11 witness waa prepariiig to go to bed, and he heard a noise as if someone lying on the deck h»d moved. .He immediately ran up on deck tb see the cause of the uoine, and on the way up he heard a splash. He looked over the utera of the ship but could sea no one in tha water. It was very dark, but ho feltcooscious there was something there. He climbed out on the lines that held' the ship fast to the wharf. The nisSsroom steward -handed him a lifebuoy, which, he dropped as near as he could judge to where the? per-oa had fallen. He cried out, "Who's there," but got no. reply. He -,then swung himself on to the wharf, and ran to the steps with the messroom steward. Tbey brought the waterms-ti's boat from there to.the stern of. the Flora. They had a. light, but could not see or feel anybody, with the oars. As no or.c.'seemed to know where grappling irons were, he called the lamp trimmer, who procured grappling irons. They went into the boat again, and after feeling a few minutes they brought up the body, which they immediately identified as that of Ernvst William.. They brought the body back to the steps, and they carried it to the Wharf Hotel. The police and doctor wero sent for, and in the meantime everything that could be done to restore animation was done, but there were uo signs of life. Deceased had been 15 or 16 minutes in the water, and was fully dressed, with the exception of his hat, which was found on tbe deck. Tbe gangway wsb amidships. To the Jury: Witness could not gay if deceased could swim.

Charles Riggs Laing, living in : London street, said that he knew deceased very welL •He was a single man. Witness met deceased about 3 o'clock, when he had just left the ship. They were together until 6, and witness met him" again about 7 o'clock the same evening. They parted again it 10 mioutes to 10, near the Grand Hotel. Decea-sed taid he waa going on board the Flora. He had two drinks during the ovening, and was perfectly sober when h« left witness. Witness had known him for two or three yearj. His eyesight, so far as witness knew, was very good. Previous to leaving witness, deceased made an appointment with him for the following afternoon. _ ■ Constable Latimer . gave evidence that Dr Martin came down to the hotel and examined tha body, and found life to be extinct. There was a slight abrasion of the forehead over the . right eye. '■'■.■■ To the Forem-m: The abrasion might have . been caused by the grappling irons. It was very elight. A verdict was returned " That deceased was found drowned, but there was no evidence to show how he got into the water."