FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE STEAMSHIP ST. OSYTH

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 6, Issue 506, 25 November 1876, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE STEAMSHIP ST. OSYTH

Dr Youl held an inquest at the Melbourne Hospital on the 10th instant on the body of Edward Philpit, a passenger from England by the steamship St Osyth, who died during the morning. The following report of the inquest is given by the Age: Richard Bridge, seaman on board the steamer, deposed that on the morning oi the 21st ultimo, while standing near the forshateh, he saw the deceased walking along the deck. He struck his feet against the steam-pipe and fell into the coal-hunker, a distance of about ten feet. He was quite unconscious when witness picked him up carried him on deck. The ship’s surgeon treated him until the vessel reached this port, when he was removed to fthe Melbourne Hospital. Sydney Harris, a ellow-passenger of deceased, stated that he knew him to be thirty-five yean of age. Ha was an auctioneer, and had no wife or family on board. He drank to excess occasionally. When the hatches were off the coal banker was dangerous if the ship was rolling. Deceased himself admitted that tne occurrence was purely accidental. Dr Kennedy, resident surgeon at the Melbourne Hospital, deposed that deceased died from fracture of the spine. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, and added a rider expressing their opinion that the occurrence was accidental, and requesting that attention might be called to the dangerous condition of the coal bunker.