This judicial document explains that McIntosh’s cause of death was drowning while attempting to land his
brig,
William, on the shore of
Vancouver Island. According to the investigation, the accident occurred near
Barkley Sound on the night of
1 January 1853. The evidence reveals that McIntosh
was a person of intemperate habits and that the ship had been lost entirely through
his misconduct
.
1 Apparently, McIntosh was in a state of intoxication when the vessel ran ashore. He
died in his attempt to land the wreck while inebriated; however, the mate and all
the seamen were able to land in safety. The crew, as a result of the Captain’s death,
were required to travel to
Victoria under the direction of the natives
; when they arrived, they were in a state of distress partly due to ship owner
Robert Swanston’s refusal to pay the wages owed to them for their time on board the
William.
2