SAD DROWNING ACCIDENT

Otago Witness, Issue 2550, 28 January 1903, Page 22

SAD DROWNING ACCIDENT

A sad drowning accident occurred just aftei 11 p.m. on Wednesday at the iimei cid of the tongue wharf, a- woman named Mrs Annie Wrigley Coulter, foreoabin stewardess on the s.s. Victoria, losing her life. It appears that the unfortunate woman had been visiting some friends in Mornington, and upon her return to the boat was escorted by Mr William Brown, of Campbell street. Mornington. The two went down Rattray street, following the wharves round to the fence at the tongue wharf, intending to enter the gate there, but went some distance past. Mrs Coulter remarked that they were too far down, and, after a few minutes, they found the gate and proceeded along the wharf towards the vessel, which was lying on the inner side of the pier. Both Mrs Coulter and Mr Brown were shortsighted, and the wharf was very dark, so that unknowingly they were very close to the edge. Mr Brown states that Mrs Coulter seemed to suddenly strike her foot againsUthe stringer on the wharf edge and then fall headlong into the water. He at once raised the alarm, aud the ship’s boat, with the second officer (Mr Ryal) and third officer (Mr Bates), was promptly lowered. The two officers could see no sign of Mie Coulter, aiid some minutes elapsed before they, discovered her,. about .20ft in beneath the wharf. She was at once pulled into the boat, and then, raised on to. the wharf. Dr James Martin arrived a few minutes later and, assisted-- by willing hands, he commenced the process for resuscitation. Mrs Coulter, however, had been some 20 minutes in the water, and though the attempts to restore animation were continued for over an hour they were in vain, and a few minutes before 1 o’clock Dr Martin pronounced life extinct, the "body being then removed on board the vessel. At one time it was thought life could be restored, but later it was. seen that Hie woman was past all hope.

Mrs Coulter was a widow, between 45 and 50 years of age, aud belonged to Melbourne. As far as could be ascertained last night she had no family. She was formerly a stewardess on board the s.b. Westralia, and had been in the employ of the HuddartParker Company for about three years; The Victoria only arrived at the wharf on Wednesday, and was to leave at 10 o’clock next morning. An inquest was held on Thursday afternoon before the coroner, Mr C. C. Graham, anli a jury,. After Mr Brown, Dr Martin and Scrgean* Higgins had given evidence, the jury returned a verdict “That the deceased met her death accidently by drowning, no blame being attachable to anyone,” and the jury added r rider to the effect; ‘ That the attention of the authorities should be called to the necessity for the wharves being better lighted, and that other means, such as chains or rones, hou'.d be provided in order to prevent similar accidents in the future.”