04.
TRAGEDY ON H.M.S. “ALGERINE."
DEATH OF LIEUT, HEYGATE.
The following account of the death of Lieut. Heygate is given by the N. O. Daily News
A shocking affair happened on board H.M.S. Algerine on Monday night, 19th July. The navigating officer, Lieut. H. B. Heygate, a young and most popular officer, was in charge of the ship, and to all appearance was in the best of spirits during the evening, but at about nine o'clock a report was heard from his cabin and on the gunner going to see the cause of it, Lieut. Heygate's body was found lying on his bed, shot through the heart, with a revolver lying beside him The affair is at present shrouded in mystery. No motive can be assigned for suicide, as the deceased officer was not known to be in trouble of any kind, and was exceedingly popular with the whole ship's company. Lient. Heygate had carried on the work of the ship up to the moment of his death and nothing unusual had been noticed in his behaviour, and only a short time before the report was heard, he was heard playing the piano in the ward-room. Of course, the affair may possibly have been an accident, but that is a matter which will doubtless be gone into to-day at the adjourned inquest, which was opened on board the ship yesterday. Lient. Heygate was buried with naval honours in the New Cemetery on Tuesday evening.
An inquest was opened on the 20th and con- tinued on the 21st July before Mr. R. W. Mans- field, Coroner, and Messrs. W. H. Anderson, H. H. Read, and A. Cunningham, Jury.
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James Symons, gunner of H.M.S. Algerine said-At about 9.30 p.m. on the 19th I was read- ing in my cabin and heard a report of firearms. Going out into the steerage I saw a signalman lying in his hammock, outside deceased's cabin. I asked him where the noise came from and he said from Mr. Heygate's cabin. I then knocked at the door and asked if anything was wrong but got no reply. I called a quartermaster to bring a lantern, and I pulled the curtain on one side and saw some- thing burning on the deceased's breast. He was lying on his back in bed. The quarter- master put out the fire and I then noticed blood on deceased's shirt. I went on deck and ordered a boat away for the medical officer and for all the officers of the ship. I heard deceased groan once, but he did not move. The doctor came on board in less than half an hour. I put the
THE HONGKONG W
[July 29, 1897. whether by accident or design there was no evidence to show, and there was no apparent motive for suicide.
KYPRESS AND Dr. John H. Stenhouse, suNo ine, said-On the evening of of the Alger playing billiards in the Shanghai
9th I was 9.45 when Mr. Heygate's servant mark at about ported that deceased had shot himseE. and re- mediately went on board in company as im- captain, first lieutenant, and engineer.ch the down to deceased's cabin and found him ent He had only just expired in my opinion. Th was a bullet wound on the left side of the che and the skin was blistered around it. Deceased was lying on his back, with both arms by his sides ; close to the right hand, but not in it, was a re- volver. I examined the revolver and found that there were three cartridges in three chambers, one of which had been discharged. The wound was between the fourth and fifth ribs, a little above and inside the left nipple. I did not make any further examination at the time, but held a post-mortem next day. The bullet had passed through the lower part of the upper lobe of the left lung, cutting across a branch of the pul- monary artery, and passing out through the fifth rib and then through the left shoulder blade The cause of death was hemorrhage from the left lung. Deceased always enjoyed very good health, and was not to my knowledge subject to fits of depression. I know of no trouble which could account for his taking his own life. Deceased was invalided home from China three years ago, with a disease of the eye, but not a painful one.
By the Jury-Even if medical aid had been at hand immediately I am of opinion that it would have been impossible to have saved deceased's life. The course of the ballet was quite in consonance with deceased having fired the shot with his right hand. -
Albert Prew said-I am a second-class petty officer on board the Algerine, doing duty as quartermaster. Just after 9.30 p.m. on the 19th I was on the poop and the gunner called to me from the steerage ladder to bring a light. I went down with a lamp and took it to de- ceased's cabin. I saw that Mr. Heygate's shirt was on fire over the left breast and I put it out. The gunner ordered me to get a boat out and send ashore for the other officers. The deceased was not then dead; I heard him groan. I last saw deceased just before 9.30, when he gave me orders to call him in the morning, should there be any evolutions. I saw nothing unusual in his behaviour during the day. I did not see the revolver when I went into the cabin.
Geo. Robinson, sergeant of marines on board
CANTON TRADE REPORT FOR 1896.
The following is the report of Mr. R. E. Bre- don, Commissioner of Customs at Canton, on the trade of that port during the year 1896:
LOCAL.
per
If anyone wanted to get an idea of the pros- was ty of an average Chinese district and
a single. partic limited to the asking of concernlar question, that question ought to be of the ring rice. The abundance or failure one conside harvest, perhaps more than any plenty which ation, influences the peace and Happily, in 189 the rural population enjoys. ficient to make the harvest was not only suf was a superabundahctos easy gur mave been profitably exported had the law-givers allowed. in ordinary years a certain amount of Canton rice is always shipped abroad with the concur- rence of the officials, to feed those of the Chi- nese race who are working for a fortune in dis- tant lands and foreign colonies. More or less is sent away even in years of scarcity, and the price it brings is re-invested in a cheaper Yangtze kind, to supply local needs and bring profit to the dealers. In 1896, in consequence, as alleged, of a disturbed state of affairs in California-of course, by implication, among the Chinese there, the export of rice has been prohibited rigidly, with the object of bringing the troublesome element within the golden gate to reason by diminish. ing its food supply. It is said that a certain amount still goes out, but for the truth of this statement I will not vouch. In spite oft he rice abundance, there seems to be a stringency of money and less to spare for luxuries. Cash are dear compared with silver and commodities do not seem to be purchaseable with any smaller number. As bills and debts have mostly to be paid in cash, the poorer people have nothing left after providing for actual necessity. On the other hand, it is generally held that the standard of living in these parts is getting.. higher every year.
REVENUE.
Revenue and values have fallen off, mainly because the import of opium and foreign goods through the Custom House has declined. The piece goods deficit may have been to some
sergeant of marines on guard at the cabin door. † the Algerine said—At about 9.35 on Monday extent compensated for by an increased junk.
Just before the doctor came I asked the ser-
geant if deceased were still alive and he replied that he thought he was. I spoke to deceased shortly after 9 o'clock, and did not notice any- thing ont of the common in his behaviour, During the evening he was playing the piano and singing.
By the Jury-I did not examine the body my- self, I sent at once for the doctor. I spoke to him several times but could get no reply. The sergeant of marines picked a revolver up on the bed. The weapon was deceased's own property and was not a service revolver. I did not ex- amine it. There was no light in deceased's cabin. Robert A. Coleman, a leading signalman belonging to H.M.S. Algerine was next called. He said hang my hammock up outside the deceased's cabin at 9.15 p.m. on the 19th inst. Lieut. Heygate had not then retired to his room. I turned in at about 9.25 and I heard Mr. Heygate tell the quartermaster to call him about a quarter of an hour before the evolutions in the morning, and added, "I don't suppose there will be any." He was then at the top of the steerage ladder. He then came down, went into his cabin, and drew the curtain across the door About three minutes after I heard a shot fired in his cabin. Before I had time to turn out the gunner came and asked what the noise was. I said it sounded like a rifle shot in Mr. Heygate's cabin. The gunner sent for a quartermaster with a light, and we went into the cabin together. Deceased's shirt was smouldering and the quartermaster extinguished it. Deceased was groaning when we entered the cabin. I had not noticed anything peculiar about deceased's conduct on that day.
By the Jury-There was no light in deceased's calin when he went in and he did not light the lamp.
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night Lieut. Heygate's servant informed me that the deceased had shot himself. I went down to that officer's cabin and the servant struck a light. Lieut. Heygate was lying on his bed, with a wound in the left breast. A revolver was lying by his right side. I remained with deceased until he died. I did not touch the revolver. I was ordered by the gunner to remain sentry over the cabin door and allow no-one to enter.
Capt. Domville-The only reason for that rumour can be the fact that there is an Ad- miralty order against officers' wine accounts being excessive, and I had bad to warn him to reduce his wine bill, or I should have to call the attention of the Admiral to it, and he had accordingly reduced it, but he certainly had no reasonto apprehend any trouble. That was on the 15th of June, on the way up the Yangtze.
borne import, and on this point the Kowloon and Lappa Reports will doubtless enlighten us; but the reduced import of opium, I am afraid, shows a revenne loss for which we have no
compensation, and which there is only too much
reason to think we shall continue to suffer as years go on.
FOREIGN TRADE.
(a.) Imports-With a very occasional excep- Mr. Road―There is a rumour that the de.tion, there is a decrease in every kind of foreign produce. Cotton piece goods, woollens, metals, ceased was in some trouble through drink and cotton yarn. all show figures on the wrong was in fear of a court-martial. I should like side. I am told the natives are manifesting an to ask Capt. Domvile if that is so.
inclination to prefer Nankeens to foreign cotton goods, on the ground that they. are cheaper (by the time the latter get inland) and more durable. On this point no doubt some of the numerous Commercial Commisions now abroad will be able to throw more light than I can. Cotton Yarn jumped from 828 a picul in the beginning to $35 at the end of the year. This is said to be due to a reduced output in India, and that, in turn, to have resulted from the influences of the plague on Bombay mills through their workers. As might be expected to occur, a certain proportion of the cotton which ordinarily would have been worked up in India was exported in its unmanufactured state, and some of it came here and swelled the raw cotton total by some thousands of picals. Flour shows a reduced import at, and perhaps because of, an enhanced price, presumably a consequence of the rise in wheat value in the United States. But foreign flour is becoming appreciated and there is a demand for it, and, so long as it can be landed here. cheaply, thero. is a market for a considerable quantity; if, however, America has to supply Europe at practically her own figure, she cannot and will not supply China at
Private D. Johnson, said he was Lieut. Heygate's servant. The deceased kept the revolver on a shelf above the foot of his bed. The revolver was not loaded as a rule. Witness last saw the weapon in its case on the shelf, about an hour before deceased shot himself: Witness did not take it down, He last handled it about four or five days pre- viously, and was certain it was not loaded at that time. The cartridges were kept in a leather pouch beside the weapon. Deceased had not used the revolver to witness's know. ledge since he had been in the ship. He could not reach the revolver from his bed without sitting up.
The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from a self-inflicted bullet wound, but
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