A SEA VENDETTA

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1927, Page 4

A SEA VENDETTA

TWO MEN ASSAULTED. AUCKLAND. March S. Last- night a ship’s crc*.' vendetta was enacted at the entrance to Prince’s Wharf. Two sailors entered the gate preparatory to going on their vessel. The two men had only got two steps iuside when there was a sudden rush of men from the shadows, 'and almost before one had time to realise what was happening one of the two men

was dropped like a log and the other was fleeing as if for life along the quay with others in hot pursuit. A* young mini, who was accompanied by his wife, was returning from seeing immigrants disembark, and saw from about 40 yards what was happening. Perhaps more pluckily than wisely, he ran to assist the nym struck down* and to stop, it' possible, further violence. His action probably prevented a worse happening. He picked the injured man up and found him to ho unconscious and bleeding profusely from a face wound, which seemed too severe to have been caused by o blow from a list-, and must have been the result of a fall, or, perhaps a knuckleduster of formidable size. On being shaken the man recovered and showed light nifiinst his helper.

What happened to his mate is not known. That he was maltreated is undoubted. Ho was caught apparently by the others behind some waggons, aiul after a few shouts of fear or pain there was silence. A few people later were seen attending to someone near the waggons.

After seeing the first injured seaman on his way the man who had helped him asked some of his assailants standing near why it was done, and pointed out that it was n poor game for a gang to .set about two. The reply was made: “Fifteen of them set about one of our chaps, a lad of 17. and nearly killed him. He’s got concussion of the brain, and we’re giving him a taste of what he gave our mate.”