George Robinson, second mate of the barque Kinclune, is missing. He left a hotel late on Saturday night to go aboard his vessel, which, was lying at the buoy ready to sail next morning. -Evening Post, 29/4/1889.
A SHIP’S OFFICER MISSING.
A topic of conversation among visitors to the wharves yesterday was the disappearance of Mr Robinson, second mate of the Kinclune. It appears he came ashore on Saturday night and ought to have gone aboard again before morning at all events, as the barque was to have gone to sea yesterday. He did not, however, report himself aboard, and on enquiries being made ashore in the morning it was gathered that he had left one of the hotels at a late hour with the intention of going aboard. The question was, what had become of him? At daylight yesterday morning the night watchman discovered afloat near the wharf one of the Rowing Club’s skiffs, and when this and that were put together, the natural conclusion seemed to be that Robinson had taken the boat —(the shed must have been left open by some member) — in order to reach his at the ship buoys, and by some mischance or carelessness had fallen overboard. As nothing more could be learned of the mate through enquiries in town, the police were communicated with, but their help availed nothing, beyond proving that the missing man was not at certain likely places ashore, and there seemed to be no escape from the conclusion that the man was drowned. It was reported at nightfall, however, that Robinson had turned up, and then it was seen that the connecting him with the boat had been too hasty, as the boat had evidently been used by a fishing party. The report however proved to be without foundation, Robinson had not turned up, and has not yet done so, and the conviction becomes stronger that he is not mislaid ashore, but drowned. One piece of very strong circumstantial evidence in this direction is the fact that he was given a black kitten on Saturday night to take onboard, and that the kitten was found drowned in the harbour this morning. Robinson is stated to have been a very quiet man, and he had on unusual amount of property on board for a man in his position, in the shape of instruments and presents for his people at Home. Captain Chrighton never supposed his second officer had left the ship voluntarily, but was slow to believe that he was probably drowned, and suspected as the alternative that he had been hocussed somewhere. The finding of the little black kitten in the water however, that the missing man was going to take aboard with him, may safely be held to settle all doubts. Captain Chrighton, under the circumstances — he having everything ready for sea — had to promote a competent man to the post of second mate, and left to-day for Home. -South Canterbury Times, 29/4/1889.
Timaru, ApriL30. The police have been dragging the harbour for the body of Robertson, the second mate of the Kinclune, without success. -Otago Daily Times, 1/5/1889.
The body of Mr Robertson, second mate of the barque Kinclune, lost three weeks ago, was found at Oamaru fixed among the timber of the main wharf. -Auckland Star, 20/5/1889.
FOUND DROWNED.
The body of Robinson, second mate of the barque Kinclune, who was missed three weeks ago, was recovered this morning. A lad fishing from the main wharf where the Earlscourt had been berthed saw the body floating a few feet off the wharf, and gave notice to persons working near. When first seen silt was slowly falling off the clothing, and the sleeves of the coat were full of sand, which would indicate that the body had been buried, and had floated only a short time before the lad saw it. The features and hands were intact, and this they could not have been, with so many fish about, had the body not been buried. There was a large wound on the right side of the forehead, apparently inflicted during life, from which it has been inferred that deceased possibly tripped on the wharf rail, and fell on a pile-head and then over the side, or falling off the wharf struck a brace end below. The body was found, it may be added, within a chain or so of where the kitten was picked up which the unfortunate man was taking with him to his ship. A boat was obtained and the corpse towed to the boat steps where the police took charge of it, and had it conveyed on a stretcher to the Royal Hotel to await an inquest. It is needless to say that, three weeks after death, the body is in a very offensive condition from decomposition.
THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Royal Hotel at 3 p.m. before C. A. Wray, Esq. Coroner, and the following jury: Messrs T. L. Harney (foreman), Jones, Connor, Craigie, E. White, and Geoghan.
John Morgan, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, stated he was acquainted with the deceased, George Walter Robinson, who was second mate of the barque Kinclune, which left Timaru for London on the 29th ult. Deceased was last at his house two days before he was missing, with the second mate of the Earlscourt. Never saw deceased take anything but temperance drinks. Had been told by the captain too, that deceased was a temperate man. He was a very quiet man, the reverse of quarrelsome. Recognised the body as that of Robinson, despite the decomposition. Captain Creghton said deceased had gone ashore in his slippers, and the body had slippers on. Deceased was about 29 years of age.
J. Figoni, barman at the Clarendon Hotel, was acquainted with the deceased. Saw him at the hotel on the Saturday, the day the ship was to have gone, between six and seven o’clock. He came to the hotel to say good bye to the landlord, Mr Parmenter, He was all right then, sober. He had been to the hotel several times before. He was a very sober man. Witness had a kitten about the house, and deceased took a fancy to it, and the barmaid gave it to him. Saw him leave the hotel, but did not see that he had the kitten with him. It was the same kitten that was found drowned in the harbour.
Richard Hunt, labourer, stated be was going down the steps at the end of the wharf this morning, and saw the body lying in the water, about 30 yards from the end of the wharf. Helped to get the body ashore. The clothes were full of mud.
S. Parmenter, licensee of the Clarendon hotel, had known deceased since he was a little boy at Home, and deceased therefore made witness’s house his home in Timaru. He was there on the evening of the 27th (Saturday,) and was then in good health and spirits. He was a very quiet and steady man, never took liquor to excess. Ho came in a little before six, and left about half past, to go on board. He gave deceased a kitten, and it was clinging to his shoulder when he left the house. It was dark when deceased left the house. He left alone. Deceased knew Mrs Parmenter’s parents at Home and their last conversation was giving him messages to deliver to them.
C. Gruhn gave evidence of finding a drowned kitten floating at the stern of the Earlscourt, a day or two after the Kinclune left. He carried the kitten to the Clarendon and they said it was the one given to Robinson. The Earlscourt was beside the wharf, the Kinclune was lying at a buoy on the Saturday.
Mr Parmenter was recalled and said the dead kitten was brought to him and he recognised it at once. He had been looking for it on Sunday, expecting it would float at once.
Dr B. B. Hogg, who had made a post mortem examination stated the body was in a very advanced state of decomposition. There was a lacerated and contused wound on the front part of the top of the head, with considerable bruising of the right temporal muscle, but no fracture of the skull. The wound was caused about the time of death as if by contact with some blunt substance. There were other wounds, a lacerated one on the back of the right hand, another a contusion over the left ankle; these were caused after death. The internal organs showed the usual signs of death by drowning. The wound on the head might have been caused by striking something in a fall, he might have fallen off the wharf, been stunned, and then drowned.
Sergeant Livingstone gave evidence of receiving from the master of the Kinclune, on April 28th, a report that the second officer, G. W. Robinson, aged 29, was missing from the previous night. He was said to be a native of Fifeshire, Scotland. The description given of the clothing worn by the missing man tallied with that on the body. Captain Creghton offered a reward for his apprehension for being absent from the ship. The police made every possible enquiry for him, and from his good character, they concluded he had not deserted but must have been drowned. The police dragged for the body without success. The body was found to day. (Contents of pockets, including watch and chain, the watch stopped at 2 minutes past 7 produced ) The coroner made a few remarks on the evidence as to the character of deceased and the probability of his having met with an accident.
The jury returned a verdict of “accidental death, probably caused by drowning.” The funeral takes place tomorrow at 3 p.m. -South Canterbury Times, 18/5/1889.
The funeral of the late second officer of the barque Kinclune, Mr G. W. Robertson, who met his death by drowning in the harbour on April 27th, and whose body was found floating near the main wharf on Saturday, took place yesterday afternoon, and was attended by a very large number of people, the majority being those hailing from the East Coast of Scotland. The unfortunate officer had made many friends during his brief stay in Timaru, and much sympathy is extended to his friends at his sudden death. The service at the grave was read by the Rev. Mr Austin, Congregational minister, and was most impressive. -South Canterbury Times, 20/5/1889.
The 'Timaru Herald' mentions that Mr Robertson, second mate of the barque Kinclune, who was drowned in the harbor, had all but completed a tontine insurance in favor of his sister for L300 on the night of the day he lost his life, but put off the final act of paying the premium. -Evening Star, 23/5/1889.
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