Serious Stabbing Affray.

Manawatu Herald, 5 September 1899, Page 3

Serious Stabbing Affray.

A great sensation was caused on Saturday evening by a stabbing affray, which took place aboard the tramp steamer Tolosa, says the Times. Tbe vessel had just left one of the tees of the Queen's Wharf, on her way out to Lyttelton, when the incident occurred. A nunmber of the firemen had been ashore, and they came aboard just prior to the vessel's departure in an intoxicated and quarrelsome Btate So far as can be ascertained one of these men, Grant by name, went forward and made himself so obnoxious to the chief officer, James Gordon, that the latter ordered him to go below. Grant responded with a volley of insulting language, which had the effect of causing Gordon to lose his temper and strike him. Grant retaliated, and a struggle between the two ensued. The boatswain— a Greek named Consadine Hatzakis— went to the assistance of the mate, and was at onoe assailed by other firemen. A free fight ensued. Testimony as to what followed is conflicting, but *he result was that three men named Frank Jones, Thomas Newbury and James Saunders were stabbed, and the Greek jumped overboard in fear of his life, The boatswain swam for the pilot's boat, which was about ten yards out from the ship, and was freely pelted witb all sorts of missiles by the infuriated fireman aboard the Tolosa, who, as they threw called outT "Kill him, kill the b Greek." •Hatzakis remainded under shelter of the boat for a few minutes, theo struck ont for the shore and, on landing immediately stated tbat he had stabbed several men aboard. He was at once placed under arrest. At the same time a cry came from the ship that a doctor was wanted, and Drs Pollen and Cahill went to her. Mr Haselden, S.M., also went aboard, as well as Inspector Pender and Detectives Neil, Broberg and Nixon. It was found that some of the firemen, headed by Grant, had made a fierce attack on W. S. Egginton, the chief engineer, and had battered his face about a good deal. The wounded men were at once examined. Jones was found to have received a stab in the region of the heart. Newbury had two serious wounds in his right ribs, and Saunders had a gaping flesh wound in his right hip. The doctors ordered that Jonse's depositions should be taken. The Tolosa was brought back and i Jied up to the Railway Wharf, whence the wounded men were removed to tbe hospital. An hour after Newbury's admission to the hospital— he was stabbed in the ribs, one was completely smashed —his condition also became serious, and Mr Haselden took his depositions also. Newbury is in a very bad state, and ne will be lncky if his wound does not prove fatal. Grant, the author of the mischief, was arrested by D.tective Broberg on a charge of assaulting the chief engineer, and Dixon, a fireman and Evans, a sailor who took part in the affray, were also taken in charge for resisting the lawful demands of the captain. . .