SHIP'S CAPTAIN MURDERED.

Shannon News, 11 December 1925, Page 4

SHIP'S CAPTAIN MURDERED.

THIRTEEN PEOPLE STABBjED, MAD MALAY'S DEED. AUCKLAND, Decebzer 10. The full horror lojf the strails Settlement tragedy on the siteamer Klang was revealed in the details received yesterday. A Malay fatally stabbed Cap*. Murdoch McDonald, who was born in Auckland, and killed seven other -persons. Five otihers were wounded, including the chief engineer, Mr Mc\Viiliain Roe. The Klang left Singapore for Port Swettenhani and Pjenang on October 31 with about eight European passen r gers and over 200 deck passengers. When approaching Tanjong Pagar, a Malay passenger suddenly ran amok with a iknife and stabbed right and left. A panic ensued, the deck passengers rushing all oiver the deck to escape the madman. Eventually the main deck and boat detck; on which the saloon is situated, were isolated. Tlie ship was put about, ,bait warthin half an hour the Malay had etalbbed thirteen persons. Ca,pt. McDonald left the bridge to investigaite the matter after the ship had anchored and was fajtaliy stalbbed in the abdomen. Mr Rae, on corning from the engine-room, encountered the madman, who -staibibed him seriously in the cheat. Medical assistance and the police were summoned and two inspectors with eight constables, all armed with rifles and ibayonefe, went to the stem of the upper deck, where tiiey found the Malay near the second class, cabins. After trying for a quarter of an hour to persuade the*man to drop i the knife, Inspector Bostock was i forced to disable him; with a' shot in the leg. '.■■'"'■'■-' •

Subsequently Chief Officer William Lutkin told the police that the Captain had ibeen killed, and he ordered the man tot be ghat dawn. The inspectors ihoth fired and the man died on. the way tO' the hospiital. '