§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the disappearance at sea on 18th May, 1909, of an Asiatic coal trimmer named Cader Box Nabee Box, whilst serving on the steamer "Algeria," of Glasgow; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long had he served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what, was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log-book had been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any previous case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe coal trimmer in question disappeared while the vessel was on a passage from Genoa to Gibraltar. I am not aware whether he was medically examined before joining. He had served on the vessel since she left Calcutta on 17th April last, and had had no previous sea service. When last seen he was on duty. The temperature of the engine-room was 90 degrees, of the stokehold 100 degrees, and of the bunker, where he worked, 94 degrees. The coal consumption was 40 tons per day, and there were 12 firemen and nine trimmers. The engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors. No previous case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred on this vessel during the last three years.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the death at sea from heart failure, on 7th March, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman and trimmer named Ah Kow whilst serving on the steamer "Zambesi"; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel, and whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to-work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log-book had been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any previous cases of deaths from heart failure, heat-stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe fireman Ah Kow died at sea from heart failure while the vessel was bound from Manila to Newcastle, New South Wales. The owners state that the crew were medically examined before leaving Barry, where the man was engaged. At the time of his death he had served on the vessel about nine months and 11 days. I am not aware whether he had previous sea service. He was not on duty at the time of his death. As the vessel has been trading abroad since the man's decease the Board of Trade surveyors have not had an opportunity of visiting her, and I cannot give the other particulars asked for by the hon. Member, but full inquiries will be made upon the vessel's return to this country. No previous cases of deaths from heart failure, heat-stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or of disappearance have been reported as having occurred on this vessel during the last three years.