STOWAWAY SWIMS ASHORE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 5

STOWAWAY SWIMS ASHORE

CAUGHT AFTER REACHING WHARF DIVE INTO, AUCKLAND HARBOUR (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 16. A desperate bid tor liberty was made to-night by a. young German stowaway who was being taken from Auckland to •Sydney :oy tho liner Mariposa. He dived into-the harbour from the vessel and -succeeded in reaching the shore. The stowaway was Frßz Kreuzer, .aged 21, who was* in custody on the-Mari-posa with a young Australian, Reginald Wright. Kreuzer’s companion evidently had 1 the same -opportunity to' reach, the shore, hut elected to remain aboard the liner. Not long after reaching the safety of the wharves after his strenuous swim in the icy waters Kreuzer, who. is fair- - headed and slim, was identified by the police a,s one of the stowaways who were brought from Suva by the 'Mariposa iru the- moaning. Kreuzer, despite a rigid watch kept on him, escaped detection as tho Mariposa was leaving the harbour for Sydney. He re-appear-- \ ed before the authorities in a surpris-' mg manner. The liner left the wharf just after 5 p.m. and was going down the harbour past King’s wharf at 5.20 when, according to the young German’s statement, he managed to leave custody, in a manner that has not been explained. He then made liis way forward to- the forecastle head a few feet from the anchor. EXPLANATION ON LANDING Kreuzer plunged from the liner into tho harbour, a height of 40 feet. His dive carried him clear from the tow of the Mariposa. He struck out for the lights on the wharves. Hampered by his clothing and swimming in chilly water, Kreuzer had a hazardous- task head of him hut succeeded, landing at the steps at the end of King’s wharf before six o’clock. The young man walked to where the steamer Omana was completing loading* farther along the wharf. His clothes were dripping wet, hut Kreuzer went aboard and explained to the passengers and crew that he had been watching the Mariposa, going out and that, dazzled bv the lights on the wharf, he fell into the harbour. Those aboard set about providing warmth for the young man and stimulants were given him. Meanwhile some person informed - the Queen's wharf police station that a man had fallen into the harbour. A constable took Kreuzer in a taxicab to Volcanic Street, Balmoral, where the vourig man said he had friends.

SUSPICIONS OF POLICE Tins constable returned with parficula.rs of tho vouing man to . the station, where Sergeant Thompson thought the description agreed with that of one. of the young men deported from Suva. The sergeant and constable immediately returned to Volcanic Street, where their suspicions were confirmed. Kreuzer was immediately taken into custody and brought into the city. The young man was little the worse for his experience. According to a story he told he was not anxious to be returned to Germany, but preferred to stay in the British Empire. No- intimation that Kreuzer had disappeaired was received from the Mariposa, so a; radiogram advising that the voting German had swum ashore and been arrested was sent to the master of the liner. Kreuzer is to be charged in the {Police Court. The travels of Fritz Kreuzer and Reginald Wright commenced at Sydney last April, when they secreted themselves on the Mariposa. They evaded detection on the voyage to Auckland, and on arrival at* Auckland walked’ off the ship. " \

PREVIOUS SENTENCE The success inspired them to further adventure, for a mouth later, with the arrival of .another of the Oceanic liners tiie Monterey, they stowed away again.. This time they were discovered the day before the ship reached Suva. On. arrival at the island .port they were handed over to the authorities, and both were sentenced at Suva to- one month’s imprisonment, with the proviso that they too placed on the first of the company’s vessels returning "'.to Auckland. This happened to be the Mariposa, and once again they travelled on the liner, tout not enjoying the freedom they had on the previous trip, for they were kept in close custody. Krcu'/.er is stated to have deserted from the German steamer Mosel in Australia, three years ago, while Wright is believed to be an Australian. They were to be taken to Sydney by the vessel. The comjpany will endeavour to land Wright there. There may be complications, however.