FELL OVERBOARD.
SHIP'S OFFICER DROWNED.
RESIDENT OF AUCKLAND.
(By Telegraph. — Own Correspondent.) TIMARU. Tuesday.
The full story of the drowning of Mr. Roy Douglas Watts (33). of 21, Cow per Street. Devonport. second officer of the freighter Port Waikato, was told when the ship berthed at Timaru.
When the tragedy occurred at 7 a.m., the Port Waikato was about four miles from Timaru. The hold had been cleaned in preparation for loading, and Mr. Watts and two of the crew were engaged in dumping refuse into the sea. A canvas sling had been spread on deck and the rubbish, chiefly straw, dumped in it. The sling was then raised by a derrick and winch and swung over the rail about amidships, the ropes of the sling being cut on one side to allow the rubbish to be tipped. The straw apparently was slow in leaving the sling, and Mr. Watts climbed on to the rail and tried to slash one of the ties, but overbalanced and fell head first into the sea.
A lifebuoy was immediately thrown over the side, and Captain J. H. Holmes, master of the vessel, rang the engines to full speed astern and order a boat to be prepared for lowering. The ship was stopped in a short time and the boat was manned, the crew pulling to the spot where Mr. Watts was lost. He had not reached the lifebuoy, but was floating. He had been in the water about a quarter of an hour. Able Seaman Keen jumped over the boat's side and brought Mr. Watts on board, unconscious.
Artificial respiration was started immediately and was continued for the remainder of the journey, but Mr. Watts did not regain consciousness.
Mr. Watts, who will be buried in Timaru to-morrow, is survived by his wife and a four-year-old son. His mother lives at 45, Rawhiti Road, Onahunga. -Auckland Star, 4/8/1937.
FUNERAL
WATTS. — The Friends of the late Roy Douglas Watts, Second Officer M.V. Port Waikato, are respectfully informed that his Funeral will leave our Private Chapel, 2 Arthur Street, Timaru, This Day (Wednesday), August 4, at 2.30 p.m. for the Timaru Cemetery. (Sewell Bros.) -Timaru Herald, 4/8/1937.
SHIP'S OFFICER DROWNED
ACCIDENT ON PORT WAIKATO
INQUEST CONCLUDED AT TIMARU
"I would like to pay a tribute to the Captain and crew upon the efficiency with which the treatments were carried out," said Dr. R. D. King during the adjourned inquest into the death of Roy Douglas Watts, second officer of the Port Waikato, who fell overboard off Jack's Point shortly after 7 a.m. on August 3. Dr. King added that he considered that nothing further could have been done to keep deceased warm.
Death was due to shock following immersion in cold water as a result of falling overboard while dumping straw, said the Coroner, Mr A. L. Gee, in his verdict.
The inquiry was conducted by Sergeant Black. Watts had been a member of the crew for four years, and was second officer, said Captain J. W. H. Holmes, master of the Port Waikato. Captain Holmes relieved Watts on the bridge, and Watts went below to make arrangements for the dumping of straw. He later saw Watts standing upright on the main rail. As Watts went to cut the stop Captain Holmes saw him wobble, and the donkeyman rush to his assistance. Captain Holmes immediately telegraphed the engine room to stop the ship. When he saw that Watts was clear of the stern, Captain Holmes ordered full speed astern. Meanwhile all hands on deck got the boat out. Within 15 minutes of the time of the accident Watts was pulled into the boat.
To the Coroner, Captain Holmes said that it was not usual for men to stand on the rail. It was a foolish thing to have done, and there was no reason for Watts to have done so. The sea was so smooth that Watts must have been tempted to do so. Watts was a strong swimmer. -Press, 21/8/1937.
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