AN UGLY MOMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 931, 26 September 1910, Page 6

AN UGLY MOMENT.

FRACTIOUS CHINESE ■■ SAILORS. ' "Yes," said Captain Dalziel of tho Highland Monarch when seen by a Dominion reporter on Saturday, "we have, had'a rough time of it. My luck seems to; have completely, deserted me this- voyage." It' all: came about .through^' the Chinese ' crew . taken on at : Philadelphia. Soon ;■ after .the: ves-. sel left' Bunbury for Indian ports last Christmas Eve. ; it: -was noticed -that 'the Chinese stokers were • evidently bent on deserting the ship at' the. first opportunity. \ The: first:' real attempt,- which wasluckily frustrated, occurred. when 'the -steamerwas<!l^ingV/ajt ..//Rangoon'.. "Wlien the vessel arrived at Philadelphia,'' -the/, 'capfiain../continued,i "I thought 'that something ■ might happen, so I kept a strict: watch , on the Celestials throughout loading- / operations.: The day .before we sailed for New Zealand /ports the;Chinamen:made..a request for their; liberty," which was met with a point-blank refusal. Almost immediately. the/Chinese, steward : on board: picked up a ' carving-knife : aid sprang at the chief officer (Mr. . R. ■Bowman). ' The • latter. ducked and ' fortunately; escaped-" " The ship weighed anchor' next morning. / The Chinamen. through one'of their number said thoy wanted some of. their grievances adjusted before.' leaving for New Zealand. The captain told them that he - would / anchor at / the /Navy Yard and get • the Chinese Consul aboard to hear their alleged grievances. This, however, did not satisfy them, and while the steamer ' was proceeding down the river they mutinied. Choy 'On (a Philadelphian Chinaman) and the whole of Ids countrymen scampered on deck. Ohoy then said,- "Well,, here I go," and jumped into the river. Ho was followed by six more, and just as the seventh was about to go over the side he was secured. The captain,called out "All hands on deck." The order was promptly obeyed, and the nine'remaining Chinamen were securely held. Choy and two others managed to reach the shore safely, but the remainder were drowned. All the: Chinese portion of ;.the orew were "then placed in safe keeping and deported to England, in accordance with.j the immigration- laws of the United States. .