OIL LAUNCH FATALITY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14893, 16 October 1918, Page 3 (Supplement)

OIL LAUNCH FATALITY.

THE DEATH OF CHARLES BAKER

CORONIAL INQUIRY

(From "The Colonist," Sept. 27th.)

A Coronial inquiry was held at the Courthouse yesterday by Mr E. C. Levvey, Coroner, into the circumstances connected with the_ death of a fisherman immed Charles Baker, who lost/his life about. June 22nd last while proceeding from Nelson to Tinui Island, where he lived. Deceased, who was 54 years of age and single, was a native of Donmark, and had resided in the locality for 18 years.

Seniov-Sergeant Barrett represented the police, and Mr AY. Devenish., Collector of Customs, watched proceedings on behaft of the Marine Department.

Charles Leopold Diamanti, licensee of the Pier Hotel, Port Nelson, deposed that he knew deceased, who stayed at his house from June Bth last to the 22nd. He understood he came to -Nelson to procure a magneto for his motor launch." Deceased came in his lau.ncfc., and departed in it for the French Pass. On June 17th deceased was arrested for drunkenness on his launch, but when he left his place at 8.30 a.m. on Juno 22nd he was perfectly sober. He took with him a bottle of ale and some sandwiches. Deceased wanted to take more, liquor with him, but he refused him, and said be would >send what he wanted by the Nikau. As far as he knew he was alone when he left in the launch.

Captain Honry Collins, Harbourmaster at Port Nelson, stated that he knew deceased by sight. On June 22nd he suav deceased taking stores to his launch about 9.40 a.m., and so far a,v hs could see he was sober. He also saw the launch, with deceased onboard, leaving the entrance about 10.30. Keillors launch was accompanying him. It should have taken deceased from seven to eight hours to pet to D'Urville Island. It was a beautifully fine morning, with a smooth sea, when deceased left. A northerly wind seven miles from Nelson would bring up a nasty sea towards D'Urville Island." Deceased's launch was very low in the water, and would fare badly in a heavy sea. When launches ran into a westerly wind live miles from Nelson'they usu.ally returned. The coast-line where the launch was= found (nbout half a mile beyond the north end of the Croixelles) was rugged and exposed to westerly weather. When deceased was going out of the entrance he appeared to bo all rigit nnd was steering a good course down the Bank. There were indications thnt <lay of westerly' weather down the Bay.

jßt the Coroner; There were no harbour signals to warn launch owners of bad weather, but experienced men usually read the signs. '

Constable McGregor deposed that on 'July 2nd he \vent;to the Croixelles and found a wrecked launch on the beach about half a mile beyond the north entrance to the Croixelles harbour. The launch was completely smashed. The engine was lying on the beach. The settlers identified the launch as Baker's. He searched the rocks in the vicinity, but found no trace of the body. The beach had also been searched by settlers without result. Deceased lived alone in a hut on Tinui Island, off D'Urville Island. From the result of inquiries made he ascertained that deceased was a man who took risks. On one occasion his launch was found drifting in Cook Strait with deceased on board asleep. Settlers were not surprised that he had been drowned. He understood that deceased was knocked down by a.tramcar in Wellington about 18 months ago, and Bad never been the same since.

In reply to the Collector of Customs, witness .said that so far as lie* could remember nothing was said about the weather at the time the launch was lost.

The Coroner found that deceased was on a voyage from Nelson to Tinui Island, and was accidentally drowned either through the upsetting of the launch or through falling overboard.