CORNER'S INQUESTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 380, 11 December 1866, Page 2

CORNER'S INQUESTS.

An inquest upon the body of Sarah Anne Tifney, who was drowned in the surf on Saturday last, was held yesterday morning at the Harp of Erin Hotel, before the District Coroner, Dr Beswick.

Preliminary forms having been com. plied with, the evidence of Robert Proudfoot was taken, who stated that he resided in Hokitika, and on Saturday morning last was walking along the beach at the back of Revell street, nearly opposite the theatre, when he saw something in the water that looked like a dog. 1113 attention was called to the object by another person, who said it was a woman. Witness then ran up and called for more assistance, but when he returned the object had disappeared. By the Coroner — Could not say it was a w oman, as it looked very like a dog. I waited some time with the crowd that by this time had gathered, expecting the object would be cast on shore. It was, however, not seen again.

John Carr, a storekeeper, next deposed that on Saturday morning, at about seven o'clock, he was called up by the last witness, who stated that a woman had gone into the surf. He immediately proceeded to the spot and saw a head covered with black hair upon the top of a sea. Witness ran down to the water's edge, but by that time it had gone down. By Coroner — I heard no screaming. Believed that the woman Sarah Tifuey was addicted to drink. A few days' previously I observed her the worse for liquor. Her name was Anne Tifney. Knew her at the last Supreme Court sessions when she gave her evidence in a criminal case. She resides aloue and bears the name of a hard-working woman. On the day previous to that of her death I saw her in company with Jessio Gilmore, evidently much intoxicated, as she had some difficulty in walking. I believe Bhe obtained her living as a washerwoman.

By a Juror — She was not a streetwalker.

Peter Smith, being called, deposed that he was a baker. On Saturday morning last, at about seven o'clock, he was walking down the beach when ho observed four or five men standing close to the water. They seemed excited, so witness put his board down and joined them. On enquiry the men iuformed him that a womau was in the water. Witness saw something in a black dress that looked like a woman. The body was apparently lifeless, as no movement save that caused by the action of the water was perceptible in it. The body was drifting north No attempt was made to get it out as the sea was too rough. By the Comer — I did not see her run into the surf 4 I don't think she sunk, but was mereh/ carried out o^ sight by the current.

William Henshaw, a carpenter, bore witness to the general character of the deceased, whom he had known for some timo. She washed his clothes, and on Wednesday last he called at her house for some things. She appeared to be suffering from the effects of drink. Witness remonstrated with her, and her replies induced him to imagine that she was suffering from hallucination. She said that she proposed having a wash in Wardel's race, which ran close to her door. This race, according to witness, was situated in Victoria, near to the place where the deceased formerly lived. Witness then left, and did not see her again in life. He recognised the body as hers. Witness knew her in Victoria,

and remembered that tshe once attempted to commit suicide by jumping down an old shaft. This predisposition to suicide was doubtless caused by excessive drinking, as she wa^ gi\en that way { but when sober bore the character of a very hard-working person William Redrnand was next sworn, arid gave evidence as follows :— He was a tailor by occupation, and on Saturday morning, at about seven o'clock, was walking on the beach, when he saw a woman walk steadily down the beach towards the sea. This was nearly abreast of the back of the Dunedin Hotel. She was clothed in a black dress, but had neither bounet or shawl on. On reaching the edge of the surf, the woman threw "herself forward into the water. Witness then called some other men who were standing near at hand, and all ran to the spot ; but the woman was then far out of reach, having been carried away by the back-draught. She struggled a little, and then became motionless, and afterwards sank out of sight. The body was not in sight m<»re five minutes. No person followed hi r down the beicli. She was six or seven yards from the shore when witness reached the water's edge. Not having seen the body lying at the Campj he was unable to say whether it belonged to her or not. The Coroner directed him to inspect it, which he did, and said that, from the general appearance, he should imagine it was the same.

John Legman, a hotel-keeper at the Three Mile, deposed that he kept the Half way house there. At two o'clock on Saturday afternoon a boy ran in and told him that the body of a woman had just been cast up upon the bench. He proceeded to the place, about 300 yards from his hou^e, and seeing that the body was above high water mark, he did not touch it, but sent word in to the police. The remains now lying at the curap are the same.

Verdict — "That the woman drowned herself while in a state of temporary insanity brought on by excessive drinking."

Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the Empire Hotel, Revell-street, upon the body of William Martin, who was drowned on Friday last through the cap* sizing of the Harbor Master's boat.

Saul M'Carthy, being called, deposed that he was coxswain of the Harbor boat. On Friday morning last he was on the spit, and Captain Turnbuli came down and ordered the boat to put him on b^ard the Challenge as she passed down the river on her way to the Dispatch. This was done, and then we (the boat's crew) were told to hang the boat astern of the Challenge, and accompany her down. Captain Turnbull did not give us any further orders afterwards. When some distance from the bar, witness told the bowman, Wm. Martin, to let go the line, after which the boat was pulled towards the Dispatch, to tun a line from that vessel to the Challenge, so that the towing hawser might be taken from one vessel to the other. This was done without orders from any one, a3 witness thought that the boat's crew were there to assist in every way in their power. A new Manilla line was passed from the Dispatch, and the boat then made for the Challenge, and managed to reach wilhiu heaving distance of her when a line was thrown to her, which was fastened to the foremost thwart ; witness then considered they were perfectly safe,. Whilst they were pulling between the two steamers the current proved much stronger than witness had any idea it would have been. In fact, jvitness gave orders to the aafterr r mastman to stand by and let go the Manilla rope, in case the current should be overpowering. They had not been towed far when the towing-line broke, and witness at once gave orders to let go the other rope and take to the oars. By this time the boat was close to the inner break, as a strong fresh was running through the gutter-way. She rode over two or three seas safely, when a very heavy one rolled up, and the boat ran on it for a little distance, when, through not being able to get the starboard oars out of the water, she sheered, capsized, and turned bottom up. The crew were thrown into the water and witness sunk, and on rising again made for the boat and succeeded in getting hold of the keel. Looking round he then saw M'Cloud, Martin, and Rodgers on the boat. Witness hardly obtained time to get his breath when another sea turned the boat on her keel again, and knocked the men off her. When witness regained the boat he found only Rodgers and M'Cloud there, Martin having disappeared. Again, a heavy sea struck them, washed all hands off, and when they regained tho boat she was bottom up. They were washed off four times altogether, and then the Challenge came down and rescued them. Rodgers and M'Cloud were the first to be hauled up, witness last. He saw nothing of Martin after he was washed away the first time. By the Coroner. — The rope hove to us by the Challenge was small Europe. It might have been an inch or inch and a half rope. It was hove to us for the purpose of bending to the Manilla rope, so that the latter might have been hauled on board the Challenge. They towed with it to get out of danger. The body lying at the Camp belonged to Martin, who, witness believed, was a native of Plymouth.

Thomas Turnbuli was then called, and deposed that he was Harbor Officer of Weatland, aud remembered Friday, the 7th instant. On that morning he proceeded to the North Spit, and seeing there was a probability of the Dispatch being got off the bank, arrauged with Mr Moss, her agent, that due notice should be taken of any signals made on board that vessel requesting the absistance of the Challenge ; also, that the harbor boat should be in attendance to run a hauling line from the Dispatch to the Challenge, should it be found requisite to do so. Immediately the signal was made on board the Dispatch it was repeated at the Signal Station. Witness instructed M'Carthy, tho coxswain, to get the boat ready. They then got into her and shoved off into the river, and he (witness) boarded the Challenge as she passed by, and then the whale boat made fast astern, and was towed down between the spits. Witness then instructed M'Carthy to go on board the Dispatch and get a hauling line. This hauling line was coiled upon the forward port wheel house. The end was handed into the boat, which pulled up in the eddy to cut off the Challenge, when a heavy sea rolled in, struck the Dispatch, and rolled her over to port, sending the coil of line overboard. The boat's crew pulled well up, but the live being foul they could not make good way, anJ the current running out caught the boat and swept her towards the Challenge. One of her crew threw a line to the boat, and Wm. Martin, the bowman, caught and made it fast to the foremost thwart, and as both the Challenge and the whaleboat were fast drifting out in the breakers, the former was compelled to go ahead, and the other line being foul on board the Dispatch, the strain was too heavy for the towline to bear, and it broke. Witness

then BUng out to the boat's crew to cast off the Dispatch's line, which was done. They then commenced to pull in, but when ebout thirty yards from the .starboard quarter of the Challenge, a blind roller came up behind them. Witness saw the coxswain handling his steer oar well, and the boat ran upon the sea for a few seconds, when John Agnew, who was one of the two drowned, let his oar drop in the water, and " caught a crab." This gave the boat a heel to Btarboard, and she appeared to go down by the starboard bow. On seeing the accident Captain Wilson immediately took t!ie wheel, and sent his mate below to get as many heaving lines ready as possible, and then the tug was turned round in the shortest possible time, and headed out fur the four men who were still clinging to the bottom of the boat. The fifth man was not seen by witness after the boat capsized. During the time that the Challenge was steaming towards her she rolled over some three or four times, and another of the men was washed away, leaving only three. Nearly all those on the deck of the Challenge had heaving lines in hand, and MxMoss, of Greymouth, and witness hauled iv Charle3 M'Cloud, whilst Rodgers was rescued by one of the tug's crew, and McCarthy by Kirkpatfick the mate. Witness was not certain whether the latter was really the man, but thought so. By the Coroner —I do not think anyone was to blame, unless the fault could be cast upon the poor fellow drowned who " caught the crab." I do not consider there was any particular danger. I have worked the boat in a heavier sea than the one running that day. The boat was a good boat of her sort, fitted with cork lining. I consider that utider ordinary circumstances she was perfectly safe. If I was going to provide another boat I should have her built according to the lifeboat principle, but on a smaller scale thnn those used at home.

By a juror — I consider that it was quite Safe to send a boat to the Dispatch on Friday morning.

By a second juror — The boat's crew are not supplied with life-belts. I think life-belts would be found too cumbrous to use by a man pulling an eighteen or twenty-foot oar. It was by my instiuctions that the harbor boat went alongside the Dispatch. The boat is a good boat. She has worked the bar for twelve months without accident. Captain Wil6on, of the Challenge, and Messrs Fisher and R. Spence were in attendance, having been subpoenaed aa witnesses (the two latter were on board the Challenee when the accident occurred), but it was not considered needful to call them, and the coroner, after a brief summing up, left the case in the hands of the jury, w ho, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of " Accidental death." The following rider wa3 attached : — " That an efficient lifeboat should at once be provided with life-belts for the crew, and that a dead house should be erected at the camp for the reception of bodies."