The Telegram. — 1899-08-22 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SAD SUICIDE OF A MAN-OF-WAR'S STEWARD.  Considerable sensation was caused at Portland and Weymouth when it became known that William Thomas Dailey, a young man aged 30, steward on board H.M.S. Furious, lying with the Channel Fleet in Portland Roads, had committed suicide by drowning himself on the previous Sunday. Sir R. N. Howard, coroner, held an inquest on the body at the Breakwater Hotel on Tuesday afternoon.— Mr. Joseph Stone was foreman of the jury. --Lieut. Harry Charles Sterling, of H.M.S. Furioue, produced the deceased's papers. On Sunday Dailey had been onshore fora few boors' leave. He left the ship at 1.16 and was returning on board about 7. He joined the service on the 16th December, 1686, and his character was very good. Nothing occurred on board that Witness knew of to upset his mind. Witness had been ashore and was returning by steamer to his ship, and ' as they were crowanig the bows of the Jupiter he saw McGill, the torpedo instructor, jump IMO the water and just afterwards saw Dailey in the wan:, swimming towards the cables. McCall swain after hirn, but deceased reached the cables first. Witness then raw Dailey haul hiruseif down the cables. McGill tried to follow him and then came to the top and said he could see no slam of him. Dailey must have jumped straight out of the boat, although witness did not see him. Witne-a stopped about the spot and asked an officer of the Jupiter to get a diver ready, but he said it would be too late by the time the pump was ready awl the diver dressed. He then went on board the Jupiter and reported it, and returned to his own ship and made a similar report. Deceased was perfectly sober as far as witness eiaild make out.—Falwin Allan McGill, torpedo instructor of H.M.S. furious, a 'Desolate of Dailey, said they were on shore twether on Sunday afternoon, and were returning by the 5.30 boat from Weymouth. Dailey was perfectly sober, not having taken any liquor whilst they were ashore. The steamer was elungsiie the Hannibal when they got into their own ship's boat. To reach their ship they had to pans the bows of the Jupiter,and whilst doitig ao,when they wete at diet:wee of about 15 or 20 yards ahead of the Jupiter. Dailey, who was sitting on the stern bench, suddenly turned round, grasped the gunwale with both hands. and dived overboard. Witness was sitting on the opposite side of the boat, and instantly dived after hint. On coming to the surfaJe, he saw Dailey look round in the water and give him a most hideous look. Seeing witness was in pursuit of him, he made a more desperate effort to escape him. He saw Dailey was malting for the cables of the Jupaer,and when he reached them be dived down and caught hold of the I cable usher water. Witness had to swim I about three strokes, and after reaching the cables lie fall, wed bon down, going to such a depth that lie : found a great pressure on the head from the water, and could not go further. He remained there looking about as long as he could, and then returned to the surface. Some men had now gathered at the bows of the Jupiter. and they threw him down a running towline to throw over Dailey if lie should appear. lie remained on the cable &hoot 10 minutes until ordered to return to the boat. Deihl was not peculiar that afternoon.hut for the past week he hail been very much deprewsed. He had not beta ou :tune since they left Chatham. Witeess and his (anther measmatea thought it would do hint good to have a run onshore. Witness took hitu for a stroll as far as the White Hone, where they rested, and afterwards went to the Sailors' Welcome for tea, a wash, and a brush-up. That made it about five minutes to 6, and they then made their way to the teats. He appeared affable during the afternoon and conversed on general topies.—Charles Frederick Cook, first-class petty officer of H.M.S. Furious, stated that on Monday morning he was ordered to get his diving dress ready and search for the body of deceased. IL left the ship at half-past 8 and found the bdsty about half-past 9 under the bows of the Jupiter in 10 fathoms of water on the gronnd,in a cramped position, as if he had been grasping something. Witness signalled fur a rope, and the body was hauled to the surface.—The jury returned a verdict to tlai effect that deceased drowned himself whilst in a fit of temporary innioity. The funeral took place immediately after the inquest at the Naval Cemetery, and was attended by officers, seamen, ana marines of the Furious. The band of Hartnrba/ was also present and played the '' Dead March "in Saul.