§ Mr. JOYCEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea on 6th January of an Asiatic trimmer, named Ebrahim Nagordy, whilst serving on the steamer "Bohemia," of Glasgow; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining, and how long he had been on the vessel; whether he was on duty at the time; whether he had any previous sea service; what amount of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; what was the temperature of the engine-room; and whether any previous cases of death from suicide, supposed suicide, and disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
Mr. TENNANTThe coal trimmer, Ebrahim Nagordy, disappeared at sea four days after leaving Calcutta for Colombo. I am not aware whether he had been medically examined; it was his first voyage, and he joined just before the ship sailed. He is described as apparently "the most able-bodied of the crew." He disappeared during his watch, but he had had little trimming to do as the bunkers were full on leaving Calcutta. The consumption of coal was 27 tons of Indian coal per day, and the number of natives in the engineer's department was 20, of whom 13 were firemen and trimmers. The temperature of the engine-room was 107 degrees, and of the stokehold 97 degrees on the day of the occurrence. One previous case of disappearance occurred in this vessel.