The Inquest 1916

The inquest took place on Tuesday morning at the Town Hall before the Borough Coroner (Mr S. Payn). It dealt with the largest number of deaths that Mr Payn, during his experience of over thirty years, and had to inquire into at one time. During the course of the procedure Mrs Asquith, the wife of the Prime Minister was present for about half an hour. In the quaint old-world formula with which the Coroner always opens inquests, he described it as an “on George Saunders and fifty-four others”. 

The jury of which Mr Hookway was foreman was as follows - Messrs. E. Wood, 
H. Crundell, W. Langley, A. Hughes, S. Leigh, W. Pepper, H. Hentall, G. Spain, 
J. Alexander, A. King, W. Law, J. Hogben, G. Thomas and J. Lukey. 

The Coroner . "I am sorry to have to call you all together at this early hour, but this case necessitates it. It is a very sad occurrence and one of the worst we have had happen here since the war. It appears this ship belonging to the P. and O. line the “Maloja” had just started on its outward voyage and passed here last Sunday. When about a mile and a half from the port the vessel was suddenly blown up and sank in about twenty minutes and the crew and passengers were practicably cast into the sea."

"I understand that 155 out of the crew and passengers were lost and the others were saved by the timely help of boats and other craft that put off to their help. Most of the bodies were landed in the town, but some of them drifted to various places, and all were brought in here so that one inquiry only would be necessary as to their deaths. I shall have to detain you a little while in trying to get the names and description of the various bodies, I understand that only fifteen out of the fifty-five we have as yet have been identified. There are several Lascars and I do not suppose we shall ascertain the correct name of these." With regard to the passengers there is time and before they are buried I expect that proper names will be given to them, and that they will be properly registered in the ordinary way. The bodies are in the Market Hall – the most convenient place, and I will ask you to visit them and take what evidence we can. I am informed by Captain Irvine of the vessel, has been ordered to be present in London this afternoon so that he could not be here; but the Chief Officer of the vessel and some others were present and they can give some account of what happened. The evidence must necessarily be short but a good deal of time will be taken up in getting the bodies properly identified. Before concluding I wish to express my profound sympathy with the relatives of the unfortunate people who have lost their lives."

B. G. Unwin (1st Saloon Bar Steward)  "I have been to the Market 
Hall and recognised No.6 George Saunders first saloon deck steward; he was about 46 years of age. No.42 is Herring, a bedroom steward aged 24 years. No.55 is Lucas, a bedroom steward aged between 55-60 years. I went to look for my own friends and recognised these others. The vessel left London on Saturday. I did not see what happened but I got into the water. I do not remember being picked up."

Brigadier-General W. K. McLeod "I was a passenger on board the “Maloja” with my wife. I have seen her body at the Market Hall. Her name was Florence Mary and she was 38 years of age. My wife and I were walking on the deck between ten o’clock and half past, and suddenly I heard an explosion about 10.25. I thought it was a gun at first and it was right aft. I then saw a huge amount of debris being thrown through the air from the explosion. We rushed and got lifebelts and got into a boat on the port side. The vessel remained on an even keel for about five minutes. They tried to lower the boat but could not owing to the list. They lowered the boat next to us but it capsized. The boats were against the side of the vessel. When the boat upset we were told to get out and into the boats on the starboard side. The ship was then listing badly and we could not get into the boats. The vessel was then awash and as we could not get into the boats I pushed my wife into the sea. The waves were breaking over us and knocking us about then. I swam after her and got hold of her and supported her for half an hour or more when we were picked up by a trawler. We both had lifebelts on. The crew of the trawler did all they could to restore my wife, but they could not. She never spoke after going into the water. I think the shock of the cold water killed her. It was very rough water to swim in. We were transferred on to a destroyer and hauled up the pier. There were several other ladies in the boat. The only other body I recognised was that of Dr. W. K. Miley, who was a first saloon passenger.

A Juryman "Have you any complaint to make about the composition of the crew? Was everything done to save life? – As far as I can say, thier was no confusion. Everyone seemed to be in his place but the falls seemed to jamb because I take it, of the list of the ship. Was each boat under the command of some officer, a white man?"

Brigadier-General W. K. McLeod "That I cannot say."

Chief Constable Fox "No.2 on the list is a Lascar landed at the Naval Pier and received at the Market Mortuary on Sunday afternoon; he was picked up at sea immediately after the occurrence."

"No.3 is believed to be a member of the crew and a man named Kemp, but he has not been identified; the body was landed at the Naval Pier; there was a ring with the initials “E. K” 
No.8 is a Negress dressed in a red robe probably a nurse, not identified; she was landed at the Naval Pier; witness was told that she was suffering from a serious illness and was returning home to die in her native land; she was from 50 to 60 years of age.
No.9 is a passenger believed to be G. E. Pent; that name was found on some paper; he was wearing a war service badge.
No.10 was a Lascar landed in a perfectly nude state.
No.11 on the list is a male European who was perfectly nude he was 5ft. 10ins in height he was at least aged 30 years.
No.12 is a lady probably a passenger; she is not identified and was landed at the Admiralty Pier, she had two watches and a quantity of jewellery and notes; she is about 25 years of age, she was wrapped in a blanket; witness expected that she was alive when rescued.
No.13 has been identified by Mr. Woodgate of Beach-Croft, Grange Road North Finchley as the body of Phyliss Making aged 25 years the body was nude and the property handed to witness by the embarkation officer.
No.14 is a Lascar who was perfectly nude.
No.15 is a Lascar believed to be Plugno Masscarih believed to be Assistant Surgeon.
No.16 he was dressed in military uniform with several medals including the Military Cross.
No.17 has been identified as Mrs Seymour the stewardess.
No.18 is a male apparently a deck hand.
No.19 is a male who was perfectly nude.
No.21 is a Lascar dressed in a blue dungaree suit.
No.23 is a female landed at the Admiralty Pier – not identified she had a locket and chain and a wedding ring.
No.24 is a girl about 13 years of age she was wearing a ring and a brooch representing a peacock.
No.26 is a man named Monsieur Ferah with a permit from Scotland to embark at Tilbury there was a letter written in Chinese or Japanese.
No.27 is a lady who lives at Plymouth – from the address someone was coming to identify Mrs Hyham and baby.
No.30 is a Lascar not known.
No.31 is a man of colour.
No.32 is a lady with no property. Witness stated that in some cases the property was taken from the bodies and sent and he did not know to whom.
No.33 is, witness believed, Samuel Carswell. Chief Shipping Agent. He is in Naval uniform; witness had a telegram asking for information in respect of him.
No.36 is a Lascar.
No.37 is a male and probably one of the crew.
No.38 a male unknown.
No.39 a female identified as Mrs Stoddard by her son.
No.40 is a stewardess.
No.41 is another Lascar.
No.43 is a Lascar
No.44 is believed to be R. E. de Mello. B. A. Cantab.
No.45 is a Lascar and he was found on Shakespeare Beach by a guard.
No.46 is a Lascar also found on the beach.
No.47 is a Lascar also found on the beach; he had £8. 0s 7½d.
No.48 is a Lascar.
No.49 is a Lascar who was landed on Monday.
No.50 is a Lascar found near the Warren on Monday morning he had a label on him, Mons Fernardi No. G. S. 24.
No.52 is a little baby dressed in a brown velvet jacket and about nine months old; found near the Warren the jacket was fastened with military buttons and the child was probably a soldier’s.
No.53 is a Lascar found at Deal.
No.54 is a male person supposed to be Lieut. C. Mackenty that name appears on the passenger list and he had a card on him bearing that name. The Coroner said that all people embarking ought to have a disc like the Naval and Military people had."

Second Lieut. C. Vincent. "I recognize No.1 as F. J. Scobie my brother-in-law. He was 30 years of age. He was an accountant in the National Bank of India and he was going to take up his appointment after a holiday. I saw him of at Liverpool Street Station on Saturday. He had recently been married to my sister, who was saved. She was near the stern of the boat and her husband ran to her and tied a lifebelt to her and she tied one round him. They got into two boats but had to get out owing to the list. Eventually they slid down the side of the vessel and that was the last she saw of him. She did not see him in the water. She was in the water for twenty-five minutes, she was given a card by a man who picked her out of the water and she lost it, but wanted to obtain his name. There were five children and witness’s sister on board. One is in hospital and another saved. 
No.51 was the body of witness’s sister, Daisy Pardi. She was 22 years of age and lived with witness. Witness recollected being picked up by a trawler. She had a lifebelt on and was in the water half an hour. She had no recollection of anything else. A lady who accompanied the witness, who was very much overcome, said that she had come down to her daughter who was saved and was taking charge of the witness for the present."

Mrs Mary Harris. "No.20 is my brother-in-law, Henry J. Harris. He was in the Indian Reserve of Officers. His rank was lieutenant, but he was acting captain. He was going out to India and I saw him last alive on Thursday. He was aged 51 or 52 years. His wife was saved but is too ill to attend.
Horace Martin the Head of the Appointments Department agent for the Crown Colonies Whitehall said that No.29 was the body of Dr. W. K. Miley who was senior medical officer in the Indian Emigration Department. He lived at 10 Eaton Square Dublin. He was 62 or 63 years of age. He was proceeding to Calcutta to take charge of an emigrant ship going to Jamaica. He was alone.
Bombardier E. Penney, R.G.A. Fort Burgoyne Dover said; No.22 is the body of Charles Edward Kensett, gunner, R.G.A. He was 23 years of age. He left Dover on Friday to embark on the vessel. 
Charles Duncan Forbes, Chief Officer of the “Maloja” said; No.17 is the body of Mrs Seymour who was a stewardess.
No.17 is the body of Mabley a stewardess."