Alfred Elders

Alfred Elders, commonly known as Jim Martin, agreed to accompany skipper Ernest John Strom on the fishing boat Ada on his next fishing trip north. Elders had not previously been out fishing with him but it was common practice for men to work on boats and also work in other professions. They intended leaving the new Geraldton wharf around midnight, accompanied by Strom’s other crewman, Jack Troy.

Around 8 am on Thursday, 7 September they began getting the boat ready for the trip and after remaining on board until 11 am they then left for town in order to get some gear for the trip. They went to the hotel where they had a few drinks. Strom left Elders and Troy in the hotel while he went to borrow a hand cart in which to carry his gear back to the boat.

Once organised Strom went back to the hotel to collect Elders and Troy and without having any more to drink they all returned to the boat. Elders had been drinking beer but once back on board Ada all three consumed a small amount of rum, Elders more than the other two as he had been complaining of not feeling well. Elders had several times in the last few days complained of not feeling well and Strom was aware of this. On returning to the boat they had something to eat and around 3 pm decided to go back into town. Strom left Elders and Troy at the Club Hotel returning an hour later, asking the barmaid to not serve them any more liquor. He left returning to the boat around 5 pm. The barmaid had already refused to serve them any more liquor and shortly after Strom returned to the boat both Elders and Troy also returned. Both men were slightly intoxicated but had no difficulty getting back onto the boat. Troy left the boat again around 5.30 pm to go home for his tea, Strom and Elders remaining on the boat.

After Troy left, Strom and Elders went to their cabins and remained there until 8 pm when Strom decided to go back into town. Elders offered to accompany him back into town.

In order to get onto the wharf they had to climb up the rigging and then step across to the wharf at a favourable opportunity when the swell took the boat close to the wharf. They both mounted the rigging, Strom got onto the wharf and as he did so heard a splash and Elders sing out, ‘Strom, I’ve fallen in’. He immediately jumped back on the Ada and reached over the side of the boat catching Elders by the arm. He was too heavy and after nearly being pulled over the side himself Strom had to let go. Strom managed to get hold of a small piece of rope, but as it was small it ended up slipping through his fingers and into the water. Telling Elders to hang on he went and fetched another piece of rope, however on his return he could see no sign of Elders in the water. Thinking he may have been able to reach a pile on the wharf he left the boat and went to look, calling out his name in the darkness. Strom could not see anyone around to come to his assistance so he ran down town to the taxi rank and notified the police.

Meanwhile, Leslie Rowling, first mate of the wheat boat Evergoris heard shouting outside that someone was in the water and along with three other crew members, armed with just a torch, went down to the water to investigate. They saw the body of a man floating face downwards underneath the wharf and after recovering the body commenced artificial respiration, but without success. The body was finally conveyed to the morgue where a post mortem was carried out.

An inquest into the death of Elders was held on Monday, 11 September. The Acting Coroner,

Mr Meadowcroft, returned a verdict as follows:

‘That the deceased, Alfred Elders, came by his death at the new wharf, Geraldton, by drowning through accidently falling into the harbour from the fishing boat Ada whilst under the influence of liquor, and that no blame was attached to anyone. The action of Ernest John Strom in going to the police station instead of getting immediate assistance on the wharf is to be deplored; while the action of Leslie Rowling of the wheat boat Evergoris, and his companions, for their efforts at rescue is to be commended.’

Strom came under strong criticism for not getting immediate assistance which he defended by saying that at the time he was very excited (flustered) and thought that the police station was the place to go to. Whether locating the body earlier would have had any bearing on the final outcome is unknown.

Elders had resided in Geraldton for some years, working as a yardman at both the Railway Hotel and the Geraldton Hotel in addition to doing casual work on the wharf. He was born in Hartlepool, Durham, England in circa 1895, serving in World War 1 between 1914 – 1920. He was awarded the Star and Victory medal and a British War medal. His age at death is registered as 40 years of age but English census documents do indicate that he was born in 1895 which would put his age at death 38 years. His only relative residing in Australia was a sister, Ivy Anderson, who married a man named William Anderson in 1930 and lived in Fremantle.