INQUESTS.
THE ACCIDENT IN THE BAY.
The inquest upon the bodies of W. and J. Drew, A. Prictor, J. Bruce, and P. and W. Scrymgeour, who were drowned on Monday last in the bay, was held before Dr Hocken and a special jury at the White Horse Hotel, George street, this afternoon. The jury first proceeded to the residences of those of the deceased whose bodies have been recovered, and having viewed met at the above hotel.
Alexander Burt said the deceased John Bruce had been in his employment about 18 months. He was not accustomed to handle boats, and knew nothing about them. He was a native of Edinburgh, and had a mother living.
Mr George Prictor said deceased, A. Prictor, was his son, and was nearly 21 years of age, and was in the employ of Mr Burt as a plumber. He did not know his son intended to go on a boating excursion. Witness had always been averse to the use of the sail in the harbor. He considered his knowledge of boating very slight.
John Drew, in evidence, stated the deceased William Drew was his son, and 26 years of age, and a painter by trade. He was not aware that his son was going out that day, and he did not think his son knew anything about the management of boats. His other son James, was a watchmaker, and he also thought he was not at all acquainted with the management of boats. His age was 21.
James Scrymgeour stated that William Scrymgeour was his brother, and was 24 years of age. He was a brass-finisher in the employ of Mr Burt. He was not aware until afterwards that his brother had gone for a sail. He did not think he was accustomed to the handling of a boat. The age of his brother John was 22 years. He was a plumber.
Mark Webb, licensed boatman, said the two Messrs Scrymgeours, Mr Drew, and Mr Prictor, came to him down at the wharf to engage a boat. He had four boats at the steps at the time. He asked the young men which boat they would take, and they chose the Golden City sailing boat. He tried to persuade them to take another boat, with smaller sails, or a four-oared rowing boat. They would not listen to that, but said they wanted a larger boat. They had to go to Pelichet Bay to take in three others. Witness said if they took that boat the sails had better be made smaller, and he reefed the sails for them; the sails remained the same when towed up by the Maori. Mr Prictor and Scrymgeour had the same boat several times before. Witness knew they were amateur sailors, and that made him reef the sail, which he cautioned them not to loose out. He saw them sail as far as Pelichet Bay. Immediately the man came with the information, he took a four-oared boat and went to the spot. He called upon Mr Macandrew, and asked him if he knew anything about the accident. Mr Macandrew sent him to Mr Edwards, who told him the distance from the shore the boat had sunk. Mr Edwards said he did not think any one was saved. He buoyed the spot that night, and went down yesterday morning and commenced dragging round about the buoy; and in a short time the police, who were also there, raised one of the bodies, and witness drew up Mr Prictor, and also saw the bodies of two others brought up. The bodies were got on shore until the steamer came which brought them up to town. At the place where the boat overset there was nine feet at low water. He could not give an opinion as to how the boat capsized. The boat would carry a ton in rough water. He could only imagine the accident happening through a jib in the sail, and the parties being too far aft. He understood that the young men were going to call at Bain’s, down the river.
Thomas Lacey, labourer, said he saw the boat come in at Pelichet Bay Jetty on Christmas afternoon, between two and three o'clock, and two or three persons who were at the end of the jetty got into the boat. They lowered the sails when they came near baths, and set them again. After leaving the jetty they had to take out the oars to get clear of the yachts lying there.
Louis Edwards, farmer, North-east Harbor, said he was standing on the beach at Macandrew’s Bay on Christmas afternoon. He saw the boat coming down from Dunedin, passing the red beacon with several passengers in her. He considered them to be a good stone-cast from him. He watched them for several minutes standing in and out. The last time they stood in the sail jibbed, and the boat went straight down. The boat never capsized. Three of the men stuck to the boat, and some struck out for shore. It was nearly high tide. Two of the men that were swimming came close into shore. He did not think anybody saw the accident but himself. He obtained Mr Christy’s boat as soon as he could, but it had to be launched, and it was some time before he could get to the spot.
Andrew Christy said he heard Mr Edwards call out to him for assistance, and on going forward saw the masts of the boat, and seven hats floating about. On launching the boat with Mr Edwards he saw two men floating, but before he could reach them they had sank. He saw the boat going past Macandrew’s Jetty, and it appeared to be sailing all right. He thought the depth of the water where the boat went down to be ten or twelve feet.
M. Sullivan, constable at Port Chalmers, who had been engaged in dragging for the bodies, said about half past seven this morning he found the body of John Scrymgeour, and on searching it found various articles, among others a silver watch; which had stopped at twenty minutes to four. The bodies were all found within a radius of a hundred yards.
Sergeant Coneys, who searched several of the bodies, produced the various articles found on deceased, which were identified and given up to the relatives.
The Coroner, in summing up, said the evidence was now before the jury. He did not think there was blame to be attached to any one. The question was whether some proviso ought not to be attached to the letting of boats, though they considered it almost impossible to bind young men over 21 years of age to any particular line of conduct, if they would have a sail.
The constable at Port Chalmers, upon being called, said at that port there was an ordinance that a man was not allowed to let out his boat without some experienced person going with it. He could not say the rule was always observed.
A verdict of accidentally drowning was returned, but at the same time the jury expressed an opinion that considering the dangerous navigation of the bay in small boats, greater care ought to be taken in letting such out, and an experienced person ought to accompany the same. -Evening Star, 28/12/1871.
The funerals of the late Messrs John Bruce, William and James Drew, Peter and Wm. Scrymgeour, and A. Prictor, takes place at 2 o'clock to day. His Worship the Mayor requests the public to observe close holiday from one o'clock in the afternoon, and we hope His Worship's request will be complied with. The members of the Hand and Heart Lodge, M.U.I.O.O.F., are invited to attend the funeral of their late brother Drew. -Otago Daily Times, 29/12/1871.
LATEST.
The bodies of five of the young men drowned by the upsetting of a boat on Monday, were recovered on Wednesday. It may be mentioned that on Tuesday evening Mr Webb lifted one of the bodies to the top of the water, when it broke off the hook and sank again. A buoy was then placed there to mark the spot. The first body was lifted between 11 and 12 o'clock yesterday, by a dredge worked from the boats of Mr Webb and Mr White, of the Peninsula, and was that of Alfred Prictor. Soon after, that of James Drew, the younger of the two brothers lost, was lifted by the Police boat. The drag worked from Messrs Webb's and White's boats was the next to bring up a body, which proved to be that of the youngest Scrymgeour. The Police boat's dredge next raised Bruce's body, and the last body recovered — that of the elder Drew — was lifted at about one o'clock by Messrs Webb and White's boats. As a gale rose shortly afterwards, operations had to be suspended for a time. The space within which the whole of the bodies were recovered was not more than 20 yards square, and was around the buoy laid down on the previous night. On this buoy being lifted and the bottom under it dragged, there was found the body of the elder Drew, in the trousers of which was the hook that came off Mr Webb's drag on the night before. The bodies, as fast as they were lifted, were taken ashore. The eyes were eaten out by crabs, and much blood ran from the sockets, but otherwise the features were easily recognisable. On the Peninsula's downward trip to Port Chalmers, Sub-Inspector Thompson informed the master of the finding of the bodies, and requested him to call for them at Macandrew's Jetty on the steamer coming back, which he did. The bodies were placed on board, and brought to town — the steamer arriving at 6.30 p.m., and having her flag hoisted half-mast high. The police had conveyances in waiting for them, and they were sent to their friend's houses.
Besides the Police and Messrs Webb and White's boats, there were three other four-oared boats dragging at the spot ; and amongst those in them were Mr Davys, of the Water Works Company, Mr T. Burt, and nearly all the employes of the Messrs Burt. The Police boat has been at work night and day since the accident, each set of officers and constables being relieved by another, and they were, if the weather permitted, to take advantage of the moonlight last night and continue the work. Mr Webb has also worked indefatigably, and many of the friends of the deceased young men have taken part in the work.
An inquest was held on Thursday. It may here be remarked that Bruce has no relations here, but has a widowed mother residing in Edinburgh. The bodies that have yet to be got are those of John and Peter Scrymgeour. We have heard from one of their acquaintances that both of them could swim, and from another that one was a particularly good swimmer. The boat sank at about 150 yards from high-water mark, and it was high tide at the time of the accident. Two swimmers— most likely those two brothers — were Seen by Mr Edwards as near as 30 or 40 yards off the shore. They were then swimming across the tidal current, and making for the nearest point. When they left the boat they were not more than ten feet from one another, and all the time they were observed they kept as close as that, or closer, to each other. Mr Edwards lost sight of them in running for the boat, and on again looking at where he had last seen them they had disappeared. It has been supposed that on one coming to the assistance of the other on his getting exhausted, both were drowned. All the movable articles belonging to the boat — the rudder, pump, side seats, and two ash paddles — have been picked up on a point about half-a-mile below where the accident occurred.
The body of the late Mr Peter Scrymgeour was recovered at about half-past seven o'clock on Thursday morning. -Otago Witness, 30/12/1871.
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