The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-10-19
THE DEATH
Of G|FFARD
He Lesped From the
Deck and Was
Drowned.

| Edward B. Giffard, clerk in the banl
of Spreckels & Co, brother of w. NJ
Giffard of w. G. Irwin & Co., and we'll
known about the islands, leaped ovel
| the rail Of the steamer Sonoma or
Tuesday night and was drowned. The
body was not recovered
| The passengers were Mortified at the
occurrence, which took place about $50
| p. m. Mr.. Giffard had been walking
up and down the decks, silent and un-
responsive to remarks addressed to
him, when suddenly without any warn
ing he ran to the rail of the upper
deck, at the stern portion of the prom
enade, leaped over and in a twinkling
crew in boats searched for the unfor-
tunate mans body, but with no sue
cess.
Buoys with lights attached were
after the alarm was raised and with
these drifting beacons for guides the
boats cruised hither and thither, but
no trace of the body was found. In the
opinion of Captain Herman the body
was drawn under the stern and sucked
beneath the surface by the propeller.
For several days it was noticed that
Mr.. Giffard had been more than usual
ly silent. He walked constantly about
the decks and two nights previous to
the tragedy had spent almost the entire
time walking. Pedestrianism has been
a regular habit with Mr.. Giffard, and
his walking about the decks was re-
garded merely. as a harmless eccen-
tricity On the evening of the tragedy
he was promenading with DR.. Derby.
DR.. Derby remembers that one of the
last remarks he addressed to Mr.. Gift
fard was something to this effect, as
they rounded the pilot house section:
This part of the ship is poorly
lighted; I should think they would light
it up better
Mr.. Giffard made no reply, but con-
tinued walking along, apparently deep
in thought. As they neared the after
end of the deck and started to go across
to the opposite side, Mr.. Giffard stop
ped and turned back, and the first that
DR.. Derby knew a tragedy was taking
place was when he heard scream and
a shout of MAN overheard" He turn
ed to find that Mr.. Giffard had disap-
peared and he was told that he had
leaped over the rail.
J. G.. Cohen and wife were nearby, as
was Mr.. Rosenberg. Mr.. Cohen saw
the figure of the man pass over the
rail and recognized it instantly as that
of Mr.. Giffard. Mr.. Rosenberg saw the
man go over, but not knowing Mtt
Giffard. could not identify him. Mrs.
Cohen also had momentary glimpse
of him.
Three life buoys with lights attach
ed were thrown overheard and shortly
the engines were reversed. The first light
was thrown over by T. w. Hebron. A
lifeboat was also lowered. The steam
er cruised about in a circle and every
effort was made to find the body.
Mr.. Giffard had complained to friends
that he could not sleep. His room
mateszF. w. Macfarlane and w. Aus
at his long absences
from his room at night. Mr.. Giffard
smoked cigarettes necessarily. f. D.
Bickerton says that he heard Mr.. Gift
fard tell child on Tuesday that he
wished he was overheard
Mr.. Giffard was returning from va
cation spent at Lake Tahoe. He start
ed home first on the Alameda.
Mr.. Giffard was of English parentage
and was born in the Isle of Jersey. He
had resided in Hawaii for about twenty
years. He was unmarried.