IPSWICH SEAMAN DROWNED IN THE DEBEN.
On Tuesday Walter Brook Eng. Coroner for the Liberty of St. Etheldreda, held an inquest on George Juby, of Ipswich, mariner, aged 31 years, who was drowned at Waldringfield on Thursday last. George Brooks, of Tomline Road, St. Clement’s, skipper of the barge Augusta, stated he had known the deceased some 15 years and had been mate with him for a year and 9 months. Deceased was always a steady and quiet man, and I during the last 9 or 10 months had been a total abstainer. Last Thursday they were on board Augusta, which was lying off Waldringfield, in the river Deben: they got under weigh about 9.30 in the morning. Witness was at the tiller and deceased was weighing the Anchor, and they had sprit-sail, top-sail, and jib set. Witness saw deceased go to the bow to see if the anchor was clear. He did not see deceased fall overboard, but heard Ernest Smith call from the shore that he had fallen overboard. Witness looked over he starboard side and saw deceased rise near the leeboard, and threw him a wooden ladder. He made no attempt to catch it. And sank almost immediately. The barge was hardly moving, there being only a gentle breeze blowing at the time. The jib was not flapping, the jib sheet was to windward, and witness was certain that nothing touched the deceased, causing him to fall over.
Ernest Smith, of Waldringfield, stated that he was standing on the beach at Waldringfield last Thursday morning watching the Augusta get under weigh and saw deceased weighing the Anchor and fall over. No sail was flapping to knock deceased over and nobody was near him. The barge appeared to go over the deceased as he came up the starboard side. The barge was almost stem on to where witness was standing.
Harry Ward, of Waldringfield, deposed to dragging for and finding the body on the edge of the Channel, and P.C.. Charles Green also gave evidence.
The jury returned a verdict of “Death from accidental drowning.”
