Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 26 November 1908, page 7


I STORY OF THE SEA. I

-I

SOUTH SEA EXPEDITION.

SEARCH FOR TREASURE

ORGANISER SHOOTS HIMSELF

BYRON BAY, Wednesday

The Coroner (Mr. W. S. Arnott) hold an Inquiry last night after 7 o'clock into the

death of Charles Mason, who is alleged to have

shot himself with a revolver on the 10th Instant he miles east of Moreton Bay, and 150 miles from the New South Wales border,

and brought ashore from the ketch Wheats shoot at Byron Bay on the evening of the 21st

Instant.

Donald Ross deposed: I am a constable stationed at Byron Bay. From information received on the 21st Instant I proceeded on board a ketch called the Wh.eatsheaf, then lying in the bay, and there saw in a cabin in the forecastle the body of a man lying on his back, with the left hand across his chest and the right hand across the left. in the right hand was clasped the revolver (produced). There were three cartridges in the chamber. One had been fired. I noticed a bullet wound in the centre of the forehead of the deceased. Around the wound was black, as if caused with powder. I examined the body, which was in an advanced stage of decomposition. I discovered no other wounds. In my opinion death took place two or three days previously. The cabin was closely searched, but I found no trace of any papers or letters to indicate that deceased intended to destroy'

himself.

Edward Hayes Symonds, a seedsman, carrying on business at 739 George-street, Sydney, said:I know the deceased, who left Sydney with the Wheatsheaf. Captain Weaver was in command. The first port called at was Acts, in the Solomon Islands. We went from there to Tulagi, the seat of government, and Woodford plantation. We went from there to Maululu, Maribor, and Sao. Here we had some trouble with the captain and natives. We hold a meeting, and as the result of our de-liberations who told Captain Weaver we had no confidence in him. At Sao he resigned his command, and gave me charge of the ketch on behalf of the owners in Sydney. An inquiry was subsequently held at Moluka. Captain Weaver was returned to Sydney in the steamer Moresby. This was in September The commission appointed Mr. Crawford in charge of the ketch, as there was no certificated person available. The men agreed to continue the cruise for two months longer, he continued, and we finally left Tulagi on November 2. We called at Levuka for water, where there is a station kept by Lever Bros. A man named Henry Colbourne hero wanted a passage to Sydney, which we gave him. We

returned to Apia, and there contracted malarial fever. Mason was seasick most of the way up and down, and was very bad with fever. On the 15th wo assembled on deck for tea; but Mason did not turn up. There were then on board Captain Crawford, N. C. Symons, Henry Colbourne, J. B. Water-house, J. W. B. Symonds, a Japanest steward, and myBoIf. The- captain told the cook to take deceased some tea. I went below, and shortly afterwards heard that Mason was dead. I went forward with J. W. Symonds and the cook, and found Mason on his 1 bunk In the cabin with a revolver in his hand and a bullet wound in the forehead. The wound seemed blackened. The head was to one side: We felt his pulse, and put a glass to his mouth, but found no signs of life. We concluded then to make for the nearest land. We came close to Cape Moreton, but could see no pilot vessel, and not knowing the coast elected to go to Byron Bay, which we reached about 2 p.m. on the 21st. We signalled for a doctor and the police. They came on board, taking charge of the body. No disagreement occurred on board at any time, but the trouble with Captain Weaver. Deceased sometimes complained of want of sleep. We had firearms when we left Sydney, but sold them to the Commissioner. Mason and I retained our re-volvers. We showed our firearms at Woodford. The revolver produced was Mason's. Mason's body was not disturbed. When we found he was dead I suggested to bring it on deck, but the captain said It should not be touched until the police saw it. The body kept well for 24 hours, but afterwards began to smell. Did not see anything In Mason's demeanour to suggest that he would injure himself. He was about 50 years of ago, and leaves a widow and daughter in Albany-road, Petersham, near Sydney. He was a public accountant at Bond street. I don't know If he had any property. The business of the excursion to the Islands was partly for treasure and partly to look for minerals that Captain Weaver said he know to ex_lat there. Mason was the organiser of the expedition. We travelled about 6000 miles.

Reginald Blanchard Crawford, sailor, living

at 118 Forbes-street, Sydney, at present employed as acting captain of the ketch Wheatsheaf, said:I left Sydney on August S no mate under Captain Weaver. The deceased, Mason, was a passenger. Captain Weaver resigned his command at Sao. It was through some dis-agreement with the parties on board. I saw Mason all the way up. He

was on good terms with all on board.

He was a bad sailor, and was sea

a sick all the way up. I never heard him

say anything that would lead me to believe he would commit suicide. I last saw him alive the morning of the 19th June., about 5 o'clock. He was then sleeping on deck. The night previous he said he felt better. I did not see him again alive. About 655 p.m. I was told he had shot himself. I went below with Waterhouse and Symonds, and found him lying on his back on his back. I saw a bullet wound in the centre of the forehead, and a revolver clasped in his right hand, across his chest. We were then 110 miles north of Cape Moreton and 180 miles from New South Wales. I sailed over the pilot ground at Cape Moreton, and could not get a pilot, as the pilots were all inside. Night coming on, and the wind freshening, I decided to run to Byron

Bay.

John Symons, hardware man, residing at Colo Vale, said Mason was on good terms with everyone on board. Anyone could got on with him. At times he was dull and depressed. At two bells, 5 o'clock, I asked him was he coming up to tea. He said I will be up presently. I then went up and had tea. Mason was looking in his bunk, with his face to the wall. We were all in good spirits. The cook took him some tea, and shortly afterwards rushed out, and said Mr. Mason shot himself. The ketch is of some 5 or 10 tons, and over 60 feet

long. Mason find the fever as well as the rest I of us at Alia, and remarked once that he did not think he would see the trip out

Harry Hayes, a Japanese cook, described how he found deceased when he took his tea. He knew of no disagreement on the trip.

The Coroner found that Charles Mason came to his death by a gunshot wound, self-inflicted, on the high seas, about 180 miles from the New South Wales border.