TRAWLER TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23940, 16 October 1939, Page 6

TRAWLER TRAGEDY

RAISING OF THE DOLPHIN VESSEL TOWED TO PORT VICTIM’S BODY RECOVERED (Per United -Press Association; CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 15. The body of Frederick James Brasell, who lost his life when the fishing launch Dolphin was struck by a shot from a shore battery in Lyttelton Harbour on Thursday, was recovered last night after the Dolphin had been raised by the Harbour Board’s pile-driving pontoon. An inquest was opened this morning before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M., and was adjourned after evidence of identification had been given. The Coroner ordered a post mortem examination to be made. The successful raising of the big launch was the culmination of many hours of patient work under trying conditions by a band of volunteer helpers consisting of fishermen and i shipwright workers. Wire hawsers were taken from the Dolphin to a pontoon by a winch, and the launch was raised to the surface, after which the tug Lyttelton II towed the pontoon and the launch to the inner harbour. Difficulties of Task The work was begun on Saturday morning by three launches, one of them in charge of Mr George Brasell, son of Mr F. J. Brasell. Wire hawsers were drawn along the sea bottom until they caught round the Dolphin. A pontoon was taken out in the afternoon and the hawsers from the pontoon’s lifting gear were shackled on to those round the Dolphin. The winch began to -tufn slowly and the Dolphin’s mainmast appeared. The lifting was stopped at that stage to permit an examination of the position of the hawsers. While this was being done, one of the hawsers came away with a run, and the Dolphin began to drop to the bottom. The winchman, however, applied the brake in time. Slpw hauling followed until one sling slipped off the Dolphin. Fortunately, the other sling held, and that which had slipped was replaced. Every ounce of steam was now put into the winch, and the top of the Dolphin’s wheelhouse appeared. She was lashed to the pontoon in that position and the three launches began to tow the pontoon and its burden to the inner harbour. Progress was so slow that the tug took over and the vessels entered the Moles at 7 p.m. The pontoon was beached, and at low tide Mr Brasell’s body was found in the wheelhouse. Passage of Shell An examination of the launch showed that the shot had entered on the starboard side below the water line near the bow, and had been deflected upwards, probably by striking the engine. It passed out on the port side above the water line after passing through the wheelhouse. MEETING OF FISHERMEN WILFUL NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED hPES United Press association; CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 14. ' Expressing the opinion that the sinking of the trawler was due to wilful negligence on the part of those in charge of the Defence Battery, fishermen at a meeting in Lyttelton to-day passed a resolution of protest, which will be forwarded to the Minister of Defence. Mr F. Jones. The meeting was held in committee, but a statement was issued subsequently by Mr F. P. Walsh, general secretary of the Seamen’s Federation., who paid a special visit from Wellington. Represented at the meeting were the Lyttelton, Kaikoura. Akaroa and Timaru fishermen. The meeting passed a resolution pointing out to the authorities that the inspection vessel, instead of being stationed off Little Port Cooper in accordance with the instructions issued to fishermen by the Defence Department, was actually stationed two or three miles on the port end of the harbour near where the Dolphin was sunk. Mr Walsh was directed by the meeting to ask the Minister of Defence to make the fullest inquiry into che tragedy. Mr Walsh said that those present were confident the Government would do all it possibly could to assist the fishermen in having the whole of the evidence considered and published. He added that fishermen in all parts of Canterbury had sent telegrams of protest to the Minister against what they considered wilful negligence-, and demanding a full inquiry into the tragedy. The Kaikoura fishermen discussed the sinking of the Dolphin yesterday, and the following telegram was received by the Lyttelton meeting this morning;—“We protest in the strongest terms against the shooting tragedy at Lyttelton, and propose that all voluntary help to the naval and other authorities be withdrawn until all danger of further shooting is removed to the satisfaction of the fishermen.”