SEA DRAMA

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1927, Page 4

SEA DRAMA

MADt/KNKI) .1 AY ANUS ITS ATT.U K. SYDXFY, Dec-. I. When the steamer Balemhurg arrived at Melbourne lilts week, members id the crew related it drama of the high seas that occurred during the voyage of the vessel from Bc'lterda tit lo Australia. An infuriated Javanese member of the crew repeatedly stubbed the ship’s cook, wlio Intel tu he translerred to aunt Iter Dutc h steamer for an operation w hile heavy seas were ; tinning. While the I’alenibang was in the middle ot the Indian Ocean, Lite cook went to his galley early one morning in inspect some yeast which bail been prepared the previous night, lie was surprised lo see that it had not risen, and that sea-water had penetrated into it. A Javanese " hoy,” whose business was to see to the yeast, had neglected t i do so. The cook called lor tile Javanese and angrily admonished him. ’I lie j Javanese appeared unperturbed, showed no sign ol having done w rong, and j said nothing in defenc e. Bending down lie asked the cook to administer c orpor-| al punishment bV kicking him. hut the | coox declined to do so and pushed him out of the galley. shortly afterwards the cook passed along ait alleyway while the Javanese was brooding in his cabin. Suddenly the, Javanese sprang out, a mad look on his face, and an ugly glint in it is eyes, brandished a six-inch carving knife, and drove, the blade into the cook’s abdomen. With a cry ot pain, the cook staggered and reeled. The Javanese became wilder at the sight of blood, and stabbed five times more, wounding the cook with each thrust. The chief steward, hearing the commotion, rushed into the alleyway, and seized the Javanese, who was placed under arrest.

A wireless message was sent to the steamer Konigin dor Xetherlando, which put on full steam, and soon arrived near the Balonihang. There ' was a heavy sea at the time, and there was some danger in lowering a boat from the succouring steamer with the doctor and his instruments, as it was deemed advisable to perform an operation. The doctor found that it would he more practicable to perform the operation in his own operating theatre, and the cook was transferred to the Koingincler Xetherlande. The task was a difficult one for with the cook s.iilfering excruciating pain and loss of blood, every care, yet all haste, had to he taken to save his life. But eventually the ordeal was over, and later the crew of the Palenibang learned that the operation was successful and the cook was recovering. The Javanese was returned to Holland for trial.