THE DROWNING TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 5

THE DROWNING TRAGEDY

THE NEW PLYMOUTH TRAGEDY. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 19. The body ot Ladders, third engineer of the Easterner, was found this morning; but. those of Butler <tnd Piper are still missing. A later message says that the body oi Piper came ashore at about 0.45 p.m. Only .Butler’s is now missing. The Easterner arrived on Saturday, but did not berth owing to heavy seas. The harbourmaster went out in a launch on Sun-

day morning, having a rough trip, aiul arranged to bring the steamer in this morning. lie also sent out the launch at o o’clock on Saturday evening, when it was still very rough and unsafe for a small boat. When the accident occurred it was nearly low water, and there was a nasty breaking sea in the entrance to the harbour. The occupants of the boat were probably trying to avoid this and to reach sheltered water, when they were carried into the breakers# beyond the shelter of the breakwater. The boat seemed to ride two big breakers, and was then overwhelmed by a third. Tor nearly half an hour the onlookers could the struggle, but were powerless to render any help; nor could any boat hone to live in the breakers. Every preparation, was made to succour any survivors who might reach the shore. Three doctors and a nurse wore quickly on the spot, but all efforts to resuscitate Lindsay were fruitless. The inquest on the victims of the boating fatality tv as opened by Mr 11. W .

Bundle. B.M. Captain O’Brien, of the Easterner, said he refused to put Butler and Piper ashore on Saturday on account of the rough seas, but at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday the ship was in comparatively smooth water; lie therefore ordered the boat out, with Deskin, the most competent man, in charge. He anticipated no danger in landing. The boat was thoroughly equipped with lifebelts.

and Captain Smith, the pilot on the boat, ! when asked, agreed that it was quite sale. I He thought a safe landing had been made j on the beach, until the harbourmaster sent I a message at 6 o’clock of the accident : ; otherwise he would have sent a boat to ' assist. Ihe inquiry was adjourned ti.l Tr 11 i v $clay aftornpon. September 20. j The body of Butler, the fourth victim of j the boating accident, was recovered this j morning near the railway station, about a ; mile and a-half from the scene of the accident. INQUEST OX THE VICTIMS. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 22. j The story of the drowning accident at j New Plymouth on Sunday was retold to- ! day at an inquest regarding the circumstances of the deaths of the four men as the result of the capsize of a boat while en route to the shore from the American steamer Easterner (anchored in the stream). 'I he inquest lasted till late to-night. The deceased were William D. Lindsay and V. W. Lander (of the crew of the Easterner), J. Piper and, T. Butler (Wellington), pas-s-tigers on the steamer. Several counsel were engaged. One asked that all witnesses bo ordered out of court for the reason that there might possibly be a claim later against the ship for n ■ digence. Captain O’Btien, the master of the vessel, said he selected ilio boat for the party and examined it i' boron gibe. He said ho also attended to the equipment of the boat. There were at least three oars, if not four. 1 h here were five life pr. servers, and the boat, in his estimation, was thoroughly seaworthy when it left the ship. He personally saw to this. When the boat went \ away under sail the wind was blowing west by nor’-west. Such a breeze was a fair one for a beat going ashore. Counsel put several questions regarding the number of oars with which ihe boat was equipped, and ultimately drew the following answer from witness: Wo'l. let us get it down on the records. "When the boat left the ship she had six oars, but Deskin put three back on board the ship because thev were not necessary. You could, have told us that before?— 1 T have nothing that I want to hide. I heard afterwards that Deskin nut tHe oars back. Y hen was the rudder altered?—l never knew the add'tion was on the rudder till after the accident. So this very thorough examination of yours did not. include the rudder?—All I can say to you is {hat when I looked the boat over I do not preclude the rudder. D’d you examine the rudder?—Yes. The Coroner: When?—Before she left tlie ship. r I he addition to the rudder was put on after I gave permission for the boat to leave. In fact. I suggested it. but I never saw it. I said to Deskin. “ You bad better look out for your rudder.” lie replied : ” I will "-o a piece on.” Do you consider you had taken on yourself the responsibility of letting this boat go?—Yes. / * What steps did you take in regard to letting the boat go?—ln my judgment it was quite safe for the boat to go ashore. The vessel was lying in comparative calm Do you admit now that your judgment is wrong?—lt is very natural that mv judgment is wrong. Bov L. Deskin, third officer of ihe easterner, and the sole survivor, said r-nf after proceeding part of the journey he could see there was going to be trouble, and he decided that it was not safe to proceed. He told the others they were going to put back to the snip, and lie put the rudder hard over. It stuck, and would not move, and lie o; dered the others to get out an oar. They cot one oar out. this being handled bv Landers, and he told Landers to back water. They did not get the other oar out. The boat was then struck by two seas, the second swamping it and turning it over. When witness got his head above water Landers, Lindsay, and Piper were on Ihe bottom of the upturned boat. 10ft away. Witness struck our for the boat. They were drifting in shore ail the time. When witness was close to the boat ho heard Butler behind, and went back. He found a lifebelt which he gave, to Butler and towed him to t!)e boat. They got back and climbed on to the bottom of the boat, the other three being still there, lie put'the lifebelt on Butler, and just got it tied on, when a sea. washed him away. ITo told Butler to hang on to the belt, and try to tie it on. Witness then put a line round Piper. Next they saw Puller about 20 or 30 feet away inshore, he v.as face down. Witness swam out and got Butler, turning him on his back on the boat. Witness "then got on the boat, when a wave took Butler away. At this time they were in the breakers, and that was the last they saw of Butler. Tie then altered tire line on Piper to allow him to free himself, in ease the beat was turned over. Another sea came along and washed witness away. When ho saw the boat the others were still there. He could not get back to it. so he started to swim ashore, picking- up an oar and a lifebelt. He could not hold the oar. however, and he could not fasten the lifebelt on. He drifted in. and some people waded out

and assisted him ashore. Regarding the working of the rudder, his opinion was that the effect of the sea forced it tip. causing tlie decks to jamb. It only needed to shift slightly for this to happen. “It seems,” -aid the coroner, “that in allowing the boat to leave the steamer at that time the captain committed an error of judgment.” The coroner found that the boat was well found and capably manned, and his verdict was accidental drowning.