MANY-SIDED SEA DRAMA

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1927, Page 3

MANY-SIDED SEA DRAMA

NEW YORK. March 1. Alter a scries of exciting land advent tires. including a mad dash in motor-cars to escape pursuing Customs officers, (apt. .!. 11. S. Macdonald anil ifi members of the crew of the steamship Clackamas, of Sydney, are awaiting their trial at Philadelphia on a charge of successfully smuggling into the United States a liquor cargo valued at more than £109.000. 'They owe their detention to a 10-yoars-old wireless operator, M. J. Long, who unbosomed himself to the authorities of a thrilling story ot how he was shanghaied (drugged and carried away to sea) with other members of the crew at Port Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, and how lie escaped from captivity while tlie Clackamas was at Newark. According to Long the vessel left Nova Scotia with a cargo of wood pulp. On tlie .second day out she sighted the schoiier Beatrice flying distress signals. The Clackamas drew alongside her, and Capl. Macdonald ordered iiis crew to dump half tlie cargo of wood pul]) overboard. MUTINY ATTEMPT. 'The members of the crew attempted to mutiny, hut were beaten into submission, and then, under promise of big nay, laboured for 17 hours in. ridding the Clackamas of half her cargo and transferring to her from the distressed Beatrice, 10.000 eases of whisky which were carefully concealed beneath the remaining half ot the wood pulp. A week later the Clackamas put into Now York, whence three days later she sailed for Newark. There, on February 17th. tlie whisky was unloaded into 00 motor-lorries and Long escaped. His story is stigmatised ns “poppycock” by tlie Now Jersey chief prohibition agent, but it was taken seriously by the federal authorities ot Poinisvlvania alio boarded the vessel and brought the captain and all the members of tlie crew except six to court. FREEDOM AND RE-ARREST.

As the crime is alleged fo have been committed at New Jersey, the judge declared that ho could not hold the prisoners. Under the leadership of their captain and leaving their hats behind them they sprang into motorcars and hastened to the station, but as they were hoarding the train federal officers from New Jersey reached the scene. “I arrest you in the name of the United States!” shouted the marshal. .“All right, old man.” answered the skipper, who, with his men. returned to the Federal building. Iho judge then held tho captain in hail of £I.OOO. the mate and engineer £OOO. and members of the crew £2OO each, pending next Tuesday's hearing of the