SALTWATER CREEK FATALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10679, 28 January 1913, Page 4

SALTWATER CREEK FATALITY.

!THE inquest

An inquest was held before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, District Coroner, at 7.30 o'clock last evening at the residence of Mr A. Parkinson, Saltwater Creek. Matthew Gallagher, one of the survivors, stated that he was working at Sefton at present. , On Sunday afternoon ho went on a fishing excursion with the three deceased, and. John Ashby, W. Clark and R. Rapson. The party went - in a boat, belonging to tho deceased Powell, down Saltwater Creek for a distance of two miles. They were fishing until about five o'clock,- being a quarter of 'a mile from the mouth of the creek. Up till that time tho weather was calm and the water perfectly smooth. They saw signs of a south-West gale .coming up, and got. into the boat to make for home. A squall struck the boat when it was about the middle of the stream and the water became rough. The gunwale of the . boat was about six inches above the water and the waves commenced to break over the side. They baled out tho water; but a larger wave swamped the boat and it overturned: The men were thrown into the water, but witness managed to scramble on to the bottom of the boat. Ashby arid Clark swam to the northern bank and got ashore. Rapson, who waa unable to swim, was .about five yards from the boat. He tried hard to roach the, boat, but the tide was against him and lie failed. Witnea's' saw Challis, ' who was a strong swimmer, swimming up and down the stream for about half an hour. Witness shouted to him to get on to the boat, and deceased swam towards it. When within about three yards it he said to witness. "I'm all right, Matt." Witness concluded that Challis was keeping in the water tin order to assist witness if he should be swept off the boat. He was fully clothed. When about fifteen yards from the boat Challis suddenly called out, " Good-bye, Matt," and went down. Witness believed that he had misjudged his strength, and suddenly collapsed. Witness did not see Powell or Parker after the boat overturned. He ultimately drifted ashore on the south bank and at once went for- assistance. After walking for about five miles he met some-young men, who drove him back to Saltwater Creek. All the members of the'party were quite sober. » William Clark also described tl.e accident. When he reached the shove he T looked round., was behind him and Challis was (swimming upstream on his back, apparently taki ig things very auietly. Gallagher called cnt to witness to look out for Ashby. Witness did not see any of the others. They were more than 100 yards from 1 the shore when the accident occurred. A/1 the party were sober. John Asliby, another survivor, corroborated the evidence of previous witnesses. When hie reached the shore ho collapsed, and .when he recovered nl' ho saw was Gallagher clinging_ to the boat. Witness was a poor swimmtr and had A desperate struggle to reach the shore. William M'Millan described the finding of the bodies of the thre'e deiTrised. The Coroner returned a verdict cf accidental drowning.