NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1928, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

FISHERMEN’S RISK. LONDON, Nov. 20. Having loaded their 30 boats with a record catch of sprats, 120 fishermen from Torquay and Teignmouth were caught by a sudden freshening of the wind off Broad Sands, in Torbay, yesterday morning and for an hour had a thrilling battle with a rising gale before they were towed to safety.

One. of the boats was swamped, but the crew was rescued by a. launch, and eight other boats were in such danger that the Brixham lifeboat had to be sent to their assistance. The boats were so laden that their gunwales were only a few inches above the water, but rather than throw their fish overboard the men risked making port with their catch.

Their small craft arc towed by motor I'oats. Five of them immediately set off for Brixham. only 2"miles away. The motor-boat was unable to make much headway, and the men in the fish-lad-en boats had to cling to the gunwales for their lives and bale out water furiously. Again and again the waves crashed over the boats, hut they succeeded in reaching Brixham. TOW-ROPES SNAP.

As the next string of boat? was rounding Fishcombe Point one of them was swani|)ed, and the two men in it. A. Adams and I'. Seagell. both of Toignmoutli. were tiling out with all their fish. They managed to climb into their small rowing boat and were picked ii]) by a launch. A Altogether 24 boa ts struggled into Brixham Harbour.

The most adventurous trip was experienced bv the other six boats, which in the teeth of the gale , fought their way for 3J miles into Torquay. Time and again the boats were submerged, ami the ropes which joined them to the two motor-boats towing them snaplied . The men dung gallantly to their [rail moats, baling out the water as it poured in. Several times they risked their lives in fix'ing the broken towropes. Despite the thousands of fish that " ere lost, more than GfiO bushels were landed and sold for 5s a h

SURPRISE FOR ‘'MR X.” J'ARTS, Nov. 23. It was learned this afternoon that the mysterious “Mr X.” otherwise “the Marquis do la Houpillierc” (arrested in connection with the alleged £10,(100.000 Central European bond fraud), is well known to the police of both London and Parrs. He was arrested in London - in 190!) when trying to negotiate the salt of bonds stolen in Franco. Ones day he met a supposed British financier who told ile la Houpillierc that ho was willing to finance any reasonable enterprise. The two spoilt many merry evenings together in the cabarets of Montmartre, and finally the simposed British financier suggested to the other that he should go to London, taking with him a travel I rag-bag tilled with Ibe stolen bonds. But ones do la iloupillicrci readied London the supposed British financier was suddenly transformed into M. (kissel, of flic French Detective Department.

For this offence do lu Houpillierc was sentenced at the Seine Assizes to five years’ imprisonment. COWARDLY KLAXSMEX. NEW YORK, Oct. 26. Responsibility for more than a score of brutal floggings is laid at the door of 36 prominent residents of Alabama by a special grand jury. They are all associated with the Ku-Klux-Klan, which is biterly denounced in the jurors’ findings. Those indicted include James Es(■rand Dragon of the Alabama Klnn, Cecil Davis, Grand Titan of the southern province of the Order, the Rev. D. A. Nalls, Exulted Cyclops of the Georgiana Klavern, and Tea Thompson, Exalted Cyclops of the Lucerne Klavern. The following jurors’ finding included the following passage : Nothing can he more cowardly, no act can so stir the blood of good and and loyal citizenship than for persons who call themselves men, and purporting to gather under the banner ol‘ Christ .to gather behind secret walls where none may enter if he does not bear tbe countersign, and there bo lore the cross of Christ to plot and plan, conjuring up yellow deed and diabolical schemes for unmereiiul Lashings and cowardly, torturing attacks upon defenceless men and women.