The adjourned inquest on the body of T. G. T. McDermott Rice, the first of the two unfortunate men whose death by drowning in the Huangpu was reported some days ago, was held by Mr. G. W. King, Corner, at H. M. Police Court last_ Friday.
Mr. R. Fairlie, Chief Officer of the str. Wuchang, said that on the evening of June 26 he was in conversation with Rice on the str. Kiukiang. They went together to the Wuchang, which at the time was working cargo. After they had consulted for some moments on the Wuchang about some cargo, deceased went ashore. Four or_five minutes after he had left, the Chief Engineer told witness that he had heard coolies shouting that a foreigner had fallen into the water. Witness immediately went among the crowd of coolies, but on looking into the water could see no signs of Rice. There was a fast ebb tide running at the time From what witness was able to learn deceased had gone off the Wuchang and returned again through a cargo port, tha entrances to which happened to be level with the pontoon.
Answering the Coroner, Mr. Fairlie considered that the wharf was well lighted at the time. Coolies were working cargo at the forward end of the ship.
Inspector Mellows explained that thera was at least a space of two feet between the edge of the pontoon and the cargo port opening. The ship was too close to the side to permit of the doors of the port being closed.
The No. 1 coolie at work near another port on the Wuchang, said he saw the deceased endeavour to reach the other opening. The pontoon slanted a little and as it had been raining, his foot slipped.
Inspector Mellows then gave evidence as to the finding on June 29 of Rice's body, which was seen from the Police Hulk to be about 300 yd. away from where he fell into the river.
The Coroner returned: a verdict that deceased struck his head violently betiveen the pontoon and the vessel, and was then drowned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.