REVOLVER DUEL IN SHIP'S SALOON.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 10

REVOLVER DUEL IN SHIP'S SALOON.

-; _- $ . CAPTAIN'S PURSUIT OF MADMAN. On arrival in the Tyiio. last montli of tlio Austrian steamer Daksa from Mariampol via Rotterdam, tlio captain gavo tlio following narrative:— Tlio vessel took on board three passengers 'at Mariampol—Mrs. Isabella Glaviok and her daughter Marie, relatives of the owners, and NikoloMuratti, aged about forty-six, ship's purser, who was going homo. On October 10, when tlio vessel was olf Trafalgar, Muratti and the women joined the captain and first and second officers at dinner on the bridge, tlio weather being line. Muratti, who had been peculiar in manner,' suddenly entered into an argument with' Mrs. ttjavick about tlio possession of ;t chair. When the captain remonstrated Muratti drew a revolver and pointed it at tlio officer's breast.

Tlio captain knocked' the weapon upwards and it exploded in the air. .Seeing that Muratti was mad, the captain lan to-ihe cliart-hoiiso for his Browning pistol. Muratti meanwhile attacked Mi's Giaviek, shooting lier in tlio leg, also shooting tho chief officer in the body. He- lied to Hie saloon, followed by the captain, and a duel between them took place. Muratti barricaded himself in a cabin and the captain retired, fur more ammunition, leaving tho first and second engineers on guard. Muratti then opened tlio door of the cabin cautiously, and, after firing at the second engineer, again locked himself in the cabin. .Soon afterwards two shots were heard in the cabin. The. door was forced open and Muratti was found dead, his head shattered:

Tho British cruiser Devonshire was signalled for medical assistance, and after tho wounded had received attention the ship proceeded to Gibraltar, whore tho women passengers were- landed and Muratti's body was buried. The chief officer, who remained in tho steamer, was progressing favourably.