Mr. POINTERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the supposed suicide at sea, on 19th May, 1909, of an Asiatic coal trimmer named Husin Amat, whilst serving on the steamer "Cardiganshire," of Liverpool; whether any inquiry has been held in the matter; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had 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 and stokehold; how many tons of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
Mr. TENNANTThe Asiatic coal trimmer referred to in the question disappeared about 30 hours after joining the "Cardiganshire" and 17 hours after that vessel left Singapore for Hong Kong. Inquiry was made by the deputy superintendents of Mercantile Marine at Hong Kong and Middlesbrough and the principal Board of Trade officer in London. It is reported, but not definitely proved, that the man had been medically examined before joining; he was apparently in good health, and had had previous sea service. He was not on duty at the time of his disappearance. The temperature of the engine-room was 112 degrees and of the stokehold 102 degrees. The coal consumption was about 28 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 21. One other case of disappearance has occurred on board the "Cardiganshire" during the last three years.
§ Mr. JAMES PARKERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea on 28th May, 1909, of an Asiatic coal trimmer named Sookoor Mangrey, whilst 116W serving on the steamer "Bloemfontein," of London; whether any inquiry has been held into the matter; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had 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 and stokehold; how many tons of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
Mr. TENNANTThe coal trimmer referred to in the question jumped overboard in the Bed Sea whilst on the voyage from Calcutta to Boston, U.S.A. Inquiry was made by the Vice-Consul at Boston. It is usual for all crews engaged at Calcutta for the line to which the "Bloemfontein" belongs to be medically examined before joining, but I have no definite proof in this case. The man had been 20 days on board the vessel, but it is not known whether he had had previous sea service. He was on duty at the time of his disappearance. The temperature of the engine-room was 117 and of the stokehold 123 degrees. The coal consumption was about 43 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 18. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred in this vessel during the last three years. The "Bloemfontein" has not been in the United Kingdom since the date of the occurrence.