John Hamilton Neave
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
Drowning Fatality at Devonport
J. H. Neave the Victim
Another drowning fatality occurred off the West Devonport wharf on Saturday night, the victim being John Hamilton Neave, timekeeper at the East Devonport training wall. He boarded at the Formby Hotel, where he had several drinks during the evening, leaving the hotel to go to see a friend on the ss Orowaiti. On the was Neave called Kimberley’s and subsequently was engaged in conversation with a stoker on the steamer Flora, named Hansen from who her parted on the gangway, going towards the steamer Orowaiti with a bottle of beer and a crayfish in his pockets. Intending to have supper with a friend on the Orowaiti.
Neave had not proceeded far when Hansen heard a splash. He at once concluded that Neave had fallen into the river and hurrying to the spot he saw a hat floating, but could not see anything of the man. An alarm was at once raided and after an hour’s dragging by Constable Neilson and Towers and others the body was recovered and conveyed to the Formby Hotel.
An inquest will be held by Coroner Maxwell at the Police Court, at 10.30 this morning.
From papers found upon the deceased it was learned that he was the son of a solicitor in Glasgow and was himself indentured to the solicitor of the Great Caledonian Railway Company. Since being in Tasmania the deceased had been at Waratah and Kelly Basin.
The North West Post 5th November 1901
SAD CASE OF DROWNING AT DEVONPORT
A lamentable occurrence took place late on Saturday night, whereby John Hamilton Neave, employed as timekeeper on the East Devonport training wall, lost his life. The particulars of the sad affair will be found in the evidence at the inquest, which was held yesterday, before Mr. P. C. Maxwell, coroner and the Following jury: - Messrs. J. H. N. Keene (foreman), B. S. Buck, H. Hawson, C W. Lindley, E. Ingledew, W. Thompson and B. cocker. Superintendent Scott conducted the enquiry.
Stewart Pickering deposed that he was engaged at work on the training wall at East Devonport. The body viewed by the jury was that of John Neave, or at least he had known him as such since he came here. The deceased was timekeeper on the work at the training wall and was so employed on Saturday. He saw him on Saturday evening, at Kimberley’s Hotel, West Devonport. It was after 11 o’clock and close on shitting up time. He left before witness. Saw him no more until his body was fetched out of the water. Deceased had had a few drinks, but was capable of looking after him self. Did not know where the deceased was a native of, but understood his people were in Scotland and took him to have been a Scotchman. Should say he was 35 or 36 years of age. To the foreman:- Did not know of deceased having quarreled with anyone on Saturday, except having a friendly growl with Jones, a ganger, at the quarry, on the day named.
George Alexander deposed that the deceased had boarded at his hotel for about 10 weeks – ever since he had been employed on the wall. Saw him on Saturday night between 10 and 11 and on leaving he said that perhaps he would not be home till 12 o’clock and asked him (witness) not to lock the door. Next saw him when he was taken out of the water. He had had some drink and was merry. He was a native of Scotland. Deceased had previously boarded with him at Warratah. – To a juror: Deceased was not so merry as not to know how to take care of himself. – To the Foreman: He was not a man likely to do away with himself.
Charles Johnson deposed that he was laborer on the wharf, he was on the wharf at 11.10 on Saturday night, when he left. On leaving, he went on to the coal hulk and got the dingy to go home to East Devonport. Then heard a splash in the water and stopped pulling. Heard some one singing out “Jack,” and running along the wharf towards the Orowaiti. The watchman called him back and he returned alongside the Flora. Picked up a hat (produced) and stopped on the spot for 10 minutes. Looked for a grappling and went up to Captain Murray’s for one, but without success. Went back and got a long hook and attached another one to it, and assisted the police in grappling and after some 20 minutes they recovered the body and took it to the Formby Hotel. When he heard the splash there were two or three men on the deck of the Flora – To the Foreman: - Heard the splash distinctly. The moon was clouded over, but there were lights on the steamer. A light was lowered and he at once saw a hat. The body was recovered about 20 ft. from the bow of the Flora. The wharf was clear at the time and there was nothing lying about – only the steamer’s lines attached to the piles. – To the Coroner: - There was no lifesaving apparatus on the wharf, barring a long hook and a life buoy.
Superintendent Scott said, unfortunately, one William Anson, who was with the deceased immediately before the accident, had gone away on the Flora.
George Towers, police constable stationed at Devonport, deposed that in consequence of a report made to him and Constable Neilson by William Anson, a stoker on the Flora, to the effect that the timekeeper at the training-wall had fallen overboard, they proceeded to the place. Knew the timekeeper and the body viewed was his. Saw him in the evening, from 9.15 to 9.30, in company with one, Dunne, from the training-wall, in Rooke Street. Neilson, Johnson, Davey, Clayton and himself grappled for the body with all haste. Took about an hour to recover it. Found it between the bow of the Flora and the wharf. The bow of the Flora was from 15 to 20 feet from the wharf. Anson was present all the time. Anson said the deceased had walked down to the wharf with him. He wanted him to have a drink, but he would not. Walked as far as the gangway of the Flora with him and bid him good night, deceased going in the direction of the Orowaiti. Heard a splash about 2 minutes afterwards and gave the alarm. The body was recovered just in the same place as where he heard the splash. Subsequently searched the deceased and found on him five one pound notes, a half sovereign, four half-crowns, two shillings and six pence and a three penny bit, together with some letters and receipts, also an old pocket book, two knives and a watch and chain. The watch had stopped at 11.25, but the watch, he was told, had not been going for some time. The deceased might have tripped over the ropes. Anson was perfectly sober. The Flora had her searchlight turned on and consequently there was not much darkness.
Superintendent Scott produced various papers belonging to the deceased, which had been found at his lodgings, including a deed of apprenticeship binding the deceased to Mr. George Jackson, a writer to the signet of Glasgow.
Dr. J. H. Payne deposed that he had examined the body of the deceased. There was a bruise just below the right eyebrow and another on the right side, at the back of the head, but no other marks or injuries. The external appearances would lead one to suppose the man had met his death by drowning. He had probably been stunned before he reached the water.
The Coroner having briefly summed up and referred to the absence of any proper life-saving apparatus on the wharf at Devonport, whereby, in all probability, valuable lives might be saved, the jury retired to consider their verdict and after considerable deliberation returned with a verdict to the effect that the deceased met his death by drowning, while slightly under the influence of drink, by falling from the West Devonport wharf on Saturday night, November 2. The jury added the following rider:- “The jury regard with deep concern the frequent drowning accidents at Devonport and are of opinion that the authorities should provide proper lifesaving apparatus on the wharves and that chains be placed to connect the bollards along the wharves and also that more lights be placed thereon, particularly where the wharf defects.
The funeral of the ill-fated man (who was generally well liked for his unassuming, gentlemanly manner) will take place to-day, the cortege leaving the Formby Hotel at 3.30, for the Bluff Cemetery.
The Advocate 5th November 1901
FUNERAL
The funeral of the late John Hamilton Neave, will leave the Formby Hotel, at 3.30 p.m. today, for the Bluff Cemetery. H. Weller, Undertaker.
The Advocate 6th November 1901
DEVONPORT
Readers of the “Advocate” will remember the unfortunate death of J. H. Neave, the timekeeper at the East Devonport training wall, who was accidentally drowned off the West Devonport wharf on the evening of November 2. Yesterday the “Advocate” office received a letter from the unfortunate young man’s father, who is the solicitor of the Caledonian Railway Company, Glasgow, asking to be supplied with copies of the “North Western Advocate” having reference to the sad event. These will be forwarded by the first outgoing mail.
The Advocate 1 February 1902