A DRUNKARD’S ESCAPADE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2037, 28 December 1907, Page 5

A DRUNKARD’S ESCAPADE.

Per Press Association. Auckland, December 28. About midnight a man named McTavish, apparently under the influence of licpior, went on board the steamer Quito lying at Queen Street wharf, and after an altercation with some of the officers whom his strange behaviour aroused, lie produced a revolver and fired at Sutor, the second mate. Though only a few yards away Sutor was not hit. McTavish ran to the end of the wharf and fired at himself, the bullet entering the side of his face m front of the right ear, piercing the flesh through to his mouth. McTavish fell into the water. The shots aroused Alfred Paget, steward of the steamer Hinemoa, who jumped iuto the water, seized McTavish, and held him till ropes and a lifebelt were thrown to him when McTavish was hauled out. McTavish was sent to the hospital and is now in a critical condition. McTavish is unknown to Sutor and no reason is assigned for the shooting, except that McTavish. was under the influence of liquor. The second mate says he was lying down in his cabin waiting for the return of the captain, wiio was at the Theatre, to deliver up the steamer’s papers, preparatory to the vessel sailing early in the morning for Sydney. McTavish appeared very strange to Suter; in fact he thought he was insane. Seeing that the man had no business on board Suter attempted to persuade him to leave peacefully, but he declined. The third mate heard talking in the cabin and went in. McTavish, who was sitting down, turned to the third mate and said “You don’t know what a dangerous character you are sitting so near to. If you knew you would shift. ’ ’ The officer then noticed McTavish’s coat bulging as if a revolver was concealed there. McTavish was persuaded to leave the cabin. As he had an inclination to spend the night aboard he was warned that he would have to get off. McTavish resented this and declared that he would fight the second officer if he would go ashore. The latter saw a chance of ridding the ship of the man, and said *he would agree to fight him on shore. McTavish got on the gangway and went on to the wharf with the officer a little distance behind. Suter was congratulating himself in getting McTavish clear of the ship without any trouble, when suddenly the man turned round and fired point blank at him. Suter was then only a few yards away, still standing on the gangway. Fortunately for the officer the shot went wide. McTavish purchased the revolver and cartridges yesterday afternoon, and last evening he proceeded down to the wharf about 11.30 o’clock, under the influence of liquor. He proceeded up the gangway of the steamer and asked if the' captain or mate was on board. McTavish was told that neither of them was aboard. He replied ‘‘l want to see somebody with brass buttons on.” As he appeared intent on seeing someone in authority the watchman showed him the way to the cabin of the second mate, Herbert Suter, whose cabin was very close to the gangway landing.