FATALITY AT PORT CHALMERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 32

FATALITY AT PORT CHALMERS

SEAMAN FALLS INTO DOCK. An inquest was opened by Mr J. R. Bartholomew at Port Chalmers on Tuesday, 25tn, in respect to the death on Monday night of John M’Gilvray, an able seaman on the ovearsea steamer Tainui. The deceased on Monday afternoon had gone on board the steamer Corinna in drydock and attempted to leave the vessel by walking along one of the wooden shores used as a support between the ship's side and the side of the dock. He slipped and fell down into the dock and was so severely injured that he was conveyed to the cottage hospital for treatment, but he died during the night. John Stacey, able seaman on the steamer Tainui, identified the body. Witness said he was in deceased's company between 2 and 8 o'clock on Monday afternoon, and M'Gilvray was then sober. They left tho boat about noon, and after walking about had a glace of beer with three or four others. After 8 o’olook they returned to the docks. M’CKI-

vray went on board the Corinna, walking over a chore to do so. That was the last time witness caw deceased alive. He was positive M'Gilvray was then quite eober. Dr W. H. Borrie said he received a call to the dock shortly before 4 p.m. and found deceased lying in the shelter shed. The ship’s surgeon was with M'Gilvray, who was unconscious and bleeding freely from the left ear. He was removed to the cottage hospital There was a fracture at the back of the skull and at the base of the skull, and also minor bruises on the left shoulder. The deceased died at 10.15 p.m. The cause o.f death was pressure on the brain, caused by hemorrhage, resulting from the injuries to the skull.

Peter James Connolly, hairdresser, at Fort Chalmers, said he was walking round the dock, and seeing some men on the Corinna rushing to the side of the steamer, he went round to that side and saw M'Gilvray on the bottom of the dock. Witness told the dock fireman to ring for Dr Borrie. There about three feet of water in the dock. William John Carpenter, purser on the Tainui, said deceased joined the ship in London on Jarnmry, giving his address as Skye, in Scotland. He was 30 years of age. Constable Oswell said he was called to the dock about 3.15 p.m. and found deceased lying on a seat in the resting shed, Dr Borrie was attending him, and he was removed to the hospital. The inquest was then adjourned to Dunedin, where the evidence of two of the members of the Corinna’e crew was taken. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to a fracture of the skull and haemorrhage, the result o.f accidentally falling while going ashore from the Corinna in drydock at Port Chalmers.