DRUNKEN MAN'S FREAK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 December 1907, Page 8

DRUNKEN MAN'S FREAK.

FIRES AT SHIP'S OFFICER. 'fSENSATIONAL'ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE ~ • (BY ' TELEQEArH—PBE6S ; ASSOCIATION,) :•¥ . Auckland, ; December. SB. : . • About midnight a man named M'Tavisl, ' apparently- under tho influence of' liquoi, wont, on board' the .steamer 'Quito, .-. tho.. Queeii Street wharf., After an alterca tion-with . somo of tho officers, .whom hi ,), strange behaviour aroused, he produced -1 revolver,. and 'fired .at 'Souter,%-.thp. ..second • mate.. Though only a few yards away,' Soutbi. was not hit.". ■ .', ... . - , .... ■'M'Tavish .ran .to the ■ end»of ~tbe - whart ajjd; fired- atvhimself,- the bullet' entering 'the side -of.-,his face, in front ,of--.the''rigJit-,.ear,, and." piercing -this flesh. through .to his mouth. Th e' man,. .fell' into,; the.'.'water. ■ , :•\Th'e' A shg(s aroused Alfred'. I Paget, • steward ou the. steainer Sinqmoa, w'ho. jumped info • the water a.nd se'.feedM^TaVish,; and hejd him; till ropes and.a life belt,.,were thrown to him',.wh'eiijM'Tavish was-hauled pnt.. .\ ~J M'Tpvish was,se;nt .to the hospjtal,., biutiia. • now. in a critical condition. llo.is, unknown to Souter, and no ;reas6n' Has been/assigned for the ishooting; .except; that M'Tarikhiwas undor.,tho.influence.of-.*]iqu'or.,,,.? ■/■ ..-, : Later particulars show " that the mate ,was lying down in ".his; cabin. waiting for the, Return of- the' captain,, who at the thoatro,. t0..-, deliver up.tho' steamer's papers preparatory, • to ; the. veissol ■ sail,™ j? ■•» early,in the morning for Sydney. .M'Tavish's., conduct appeared, very. ..strange! to;Souter, ■who, said he .thought tho' man was iiisane.:' ■ Seeing; that had no business. on<, board, . Soiiter . n'tteiiptie'd to • persuadehim to leave peacefully, but, he declined-, The third mate hearjl .talking' iiv tho. cabin, ,and went.in. M'Tavish,. tvlio was sitting down, turned .to, the third, mate,..and said" You doii't,; know, wha'tv a' dangerous character yp.it are sitting- so -'near ;'to/. : if - 'would'.'.' shift.'' '• The;. officer >• then'' noticed M'Tavish's coat;,bulging as,if a 1 revolver; was concealed there.. ';. ..'M ! Tavish ■ was ~ persuaded, -to,. leave.;.. tljn ; cabin, and..as. he v showed: an .'inclination to spend' the night aboard ;he .was. warned that ho would .have t'o.get off.'; . t - M'Tavish • resented • this, -;h# would fight, .second .offiijer.,if ;ho wou.ldgo ashore.. Souter s'ii'w a ;chance of tridjjjng t)\e ship ofVthVj mjj'ni ' and: agree , to., fight.;.hjm; on -.shore;, M'Tavjsh .got oil.' the gaiigway, 1 and .^eiit; (in.,.to;'the-, whg.rf , with .the .- officer ,a , little.; distance. behind, Siiutef was corigr.atulating' himself in get-... ting M'Tavish, clear; of;the.ship.without';"any trouble, when suddenly' the > manv turn&d; round: and ..fiTfijl'' point blank .-at -him; Thi officer' was; then ,only a"few .yards, away, .standing ''oi) ■ the,.gangway,, but,- fortunatel: for, lliihj ;the;shot went-.wide. •It appears''that M'Tavish - rovolyer; and 'cartridges! yesterday afteniborii. Last evening .hK Mpceedcd- to >th 4 wl)an . aboutll;.3o under, tho '.influence; of U,il«pf.; He proo6edsd.-up ;the„jgangway of m<}r,., asked if.;t'Hc''.caj(tMn..or'. oii board. „ lie was t'pld-..neither; of.,them jWdi on ' boardand. ho ,r?.plied ; r ,".1 ; waht:tp',.se< sonjbbpdy' with- brass- buttpns, on:"; ,;A's hf appeirpd intent Pli.seeifig,someone in authority, . the,..watchman ;sh6>vcd ; hipi: the ; way tc tlie cabin of .the second 'niate,' Herbert ,Spiit?r, wjioso cabin wbs' Very close' to /'the- gangwaj landing.. a--:v ■'; ' ' '■ ■■ - y