CAPTAIN TOO LENIENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 391, 27 June 1928, Page 11

CAPTAIN TOO LENIENT

! “TIMES” ON SEA RIOTS “THE ÜBIQUITOUS CRUISER” MEN’S TRIAL AT COLOMBO (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) Times Cable. LONDON, Monday. “The Times,” commenting on the Jervis Bay sensation, says there was undoubtedly danger, but it might not have arisen if the captain at the outset had been a little less lenient. “It seems a pity that after the efficacy of the benign hose-pipe treatment the captain thought it necessary to summon the aid of the Navy, however satisfactory it may be to know that as usual the übiquitous cruiser was not too distant to give it.” A Colombo message says the stowaways on the Jervis Bay were convicted on four counts, and each was sentenced to imprisonment for five and a-half months. An escort of nine armed Marines brought the stowaways ashore in the afternoon, and they were taken to the Police Court. Mr. Roberts, of the local Bar, was assigned to them as counsel. The accused men were charged on five counts with being stowaways, disobeying orders to work, and committing mischief by setting fire to the vessel’s furniture and bedding. In reply to a question, Captain Daniel said that not one member of the crew was in any way involved, he was proud to say. The imputation in the papers to this effect W'as wickedly untrue. The names of the accused men are: —John Anderson, Thomas Blaylock, John Fletcher, William Teasey, William Mackay, David Mac William, Douglas Bruce and Arthur Jackson. The last-named is a Cuban halfCAPTAIN’S EVIDENCE The accused were found guilty on all charges except that of arson. The magistrate said he was satisfied the men had no intention of setting the ship on fire. Captain Daniel gave evidence along the lines cabled. He said the stowaways were told to keep to themselves and were given two cabins, and the same food as the passengers had. Some of them were set to clean the decks, and others to polish brasswork. Later they all refused to work. Only Blaylock complained of the food. He had the accused evicted from the cabins and taken to the isolation hospital. They were instructed not to go beyond the Iron rail. The men left their quarters and annoyed the passengers during a dance and behaved in a disorderly manner. They were overpowered, and used filthy language. They were taken hack to the Isolation hospital and put in Irons. TO SET SHIP AFIRE Captain Daniel said the stowaways used an iron bar to remove the hatches, and went perilously close to the electric wires connected to the steering-gear, which, if they had been cut, would have rendered the ship helpless. Nobody but witness and the chief officer knew that the electric wires were there. The accused caused fires in their bedding. There was much inflammable material on the upper deck. The hose was turned on the men. Witness then sent a message for help. The accused openly told the passengers and officers that they were determined to set the ship on fire. When the Jervis Bay was raising its second anchor to leave Colombo a delegate representing the engine-room trade unionists said to the captain: “We will not take the ship to sea." The captain ordered the man off the bridge and said he would deal with him after the ship left port. There was no further trouble and the Jervis Bay sailed at midnight.

Debates Help Charity. —A net profit of £ 100 was made from the recent debate between representatives of Bates College, Maine, and the Auckland University College. The Anglican City Mission will get £SO, the Methodist City Mission £25 and the Poppy Day fund £25.