Kichinosuka (Kich) Minami

On Sunday 13 September 1903, the Sunday Times printed an article on Page 1, with the headline of:

‘A Boat Capsized-Jap Fisherman Drowned’.

Two Japanese fisherman, one known as Kichinosuka (Kich) Minami, the other not named, ventured out on Thursday 11 September, off Mandurah to do some fishing. Suddenly a squall capsized the boat and the two men found themselves in the water.

Both of the men clung to the half-submerged boat, and it was not until Friday evening of 12 September, that the pair were picked up in an utterly exhausted condition. They had been in the water clinging to the wreck for around 26 hours.

It was reported in the Daily News on Tuesday 15 September, that a fisherman named Joseph Tatham, contacted the officer in charge of the police at Pinjarra on 11 September advising that a boat containing two Japanese fishermen had been overturned in the Murray River, about nine miles south of Pinjarra. One had been drowned, and his body was lying on the beach, near Windsor House.

Kich Minami was still alive and was helped to the Japanese camp, but could not be saved and died at the camp. The other man was pulled to safety and rapidly recovered after his terrifying ordeal.

Dr. Lovegrove made a post mortem examination of the deceased, and his report was to the effect that his death had resulted from consumption and inflammation of the lungs, accelerated by immersion in the water and exposure, but not from drowning.

The body of Kich Minami was taken to Pinjarra, where an inquest was opened and held on Monday 14 September 1903. The verdict according to the medical evidence was returned, there being no suspicious circumstances about the death.

Kich was a bachelor and his only next of kin residing in Australia was a sister, Osayo Minami.

His father was still alive and living in Japan. Osayo Minami lived at 539 Williams Street, Perth and probate of £34 was granted to her on Friday 2 October 1903.