DEATHS ON THE MOANA.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 14976, 25 January 1919, Page 2

DEATHS ON THE MOANA.

AN INQUIRY OPENED.

lUnitkd Association.J

Wellington, Jan. 24. The Minister of lviarino ordered an inquiry into the cause of tho death of Dr Grimm and Miss ilsbister on tiie steamer Moana. Action has been taken under section 237 of the Shipping Act, which provides that in case of loss ov life not due to casualty to the ship! the Coroner shall hold an inquiry, de-j .spite the fact that the body is not viewr able. | An inquest was opened before Mr Riddoll, S.M., to-day. Alfred John Richardson, of California, a passenger, deposed that when I he. saw Miss Isbister lying on the floor jhe knelt down beside her, and noticed that she was frothing at the mouth. Witness felt her pulse, which was very slow. Her heart beats, too, were very slow. Artificial respiration was tried, and an emetic was administered. Presently Dr. Grimm was brought on deck in a state of collapse, and an -emetic was administered, but neither emetic nor respiration was successful, and both died. Miss Isbister died in about ten minutes and Dr. Grimm just before her.. When witness knelt alongside Miss Isbister he smelt something which he thought was oxalic acid. He had had experience of the acid, which was used for cleaning wood, copper and brass. He did not now think it was exalic acid.The taking of further evidence was adjourned till next day.

Concerning the deaths on the Moana, which arrived at Wellington this week, of Miss I. M. Isbister, of Christchurch, and Dr. Grimm, the ship's surgeon, which occurred on the voyage fjyom San Francisco, the captain of the vessel, in answer to questions put by a Dominion reporter, said that" he was satisfied the poisoning was accidental. Miss Isbister and I)r Grimm, with other passengers, were playing deck quoits on January 3, and between yames they had a drink of lemon squash, the two drinks coming from the same bottle. They were taken ill at once. Miss Isbister aied quickly and the doctor succumbed later. The liquid left in the bottle was •analysed later and Svas found to contain prussic acid or cyanide. The poison was of a deadly description, and it is probable that no remedies would have Been of avail. How the poison came to be in the bottle has not been discovered. Some further inquiry will be made.