A FIGHT WITH "LAND-SHARKS"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 41, 28 May 1910, Page 9

A FIGHT WITH "LAND-SHARKS"

AMAZING ADVENTURES OF A PETTY OFFICER. On the 19th March, 1004, the Mediterranean' Fleet arrived at Corfu, and the Admiral signalled, "Twenty-four, hours' general leave by 'watches; to commence on Monday, the 21st, at 7 a.m." Thus it came about that troops of bluejackets landed on the following Monday morning, and amongst those who set out to enjoy themselves was William Daniels, .petty officer of H.M.S. Intrepid. For hours he explored the town and surrounding country, and at last, finding it was very late, thought it advisable to .seek a lodging for the night. Being unable to find this, 'however, he decided to .return to his ship, and going down to the quay found some dozens of Greek' and Italian boatmen clamoring for a fore. He selected a boat in charge of two Greeks, and, jumping in, told them ■ ■to pull to the Intrepid. The boatmen were big, hulking fellows, dressed in rather loose, baggy trousers and openfronted shirts, and, as ultimately transpired, carried knives in their ihip-poek-ets. A SURPRISE ATTACK.

After they had pushed off from the shore, Daniels leaned bacK in the stern of the boat, lazily contemplating the hills in the distance. Suddenly he was brought to his bearings by seeing the two boatmen unship their oars, and just a3 smartly each drew a knife. Quick as thought they lea.pt into the stern of the boat and demanded the sailor's money. Then they proceeded to rifle 'his pockets, during which unpleasant process Daniels sat perfectly quiet, offering no sort of resistance.

He realised that he had two desperate criminals to deal with. "This mas the situation as it presented itself to me," Daniels said,, when relating the incident afterwards. "The men, j. knew, would not dare >to land me alongside the Intrepid, for fear that I should have them detained. Furthermore, they could not put me ashore, because discovery would be equally sure there, and we* should probably come across some of my shipmates. Evidently, then, they meant to kill me and dispose of my body. Desperate measures, it was evident, were necessary if I wished to save my rife." Having rifled his pockets, one of the men said something in Greek. This was Daniels.' opportunity. While the man had his back half-turned towards him be leapt to his feet, struck him a severe blow on the side of the face, and knocked him into the bottom of the boat. Then 'he turned his attention to the other man. FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE.

"As I made for him," said Daniels, "he thrust his knife savagely at my stomach—the spat for which ruffians' of this class invariably aim. 1 caught the weapon with my left hand, but, unfortunately for myself, by the blade. With my disengaged right hand I fought hard to get possession of the knife, which would put me on better fighting term* with the scoundrels. The boat rocked violently with our quick movements, and, to make matters worse, the man I had -knocked down had recovered himself, and was now striving to aid his comrade.

"Backwards and forwards we lurched, this way and that, and during the terrible struggle the knife-blade out deep into my hands. By this time, however, the other pirate had managed to rise and thrust at me viciously with his knife. With my ■right hand I caught the knife, endeavoring to wrest it from him. This, however, I was not abie to do, as the pair were raining blows on to my head and neck with their hands, while, clinging desperately to the two knives, I kept my feet and head 'as well as I possibly could.

"It was no good, however, for the knife in my right hand also began to cut from the wrenching motion, and, losing my hold on the two weapons, I fell back exhausted. Thereupon both the men .seized me. trying to batter my head on the stern of the boat, but I prevented this by thrusting my neck forward and keeping it stiff, receiving the blows on my shoulders. One of the ruffians made a thrust at my body, the point of the knife penetrating .my jumper and my jersey, but a quick backward movement saved me from receiving further damage. As I lay quite still, nowever, utterly exhauste", they no doubt concluded tnat the last blow had done its deadly work, for they promptly seized me by the head and heels and dropped me into the water.'' But the fight for life was not yet over. The cold 'mater revived Daniels, and he struck out boldly for land. The assassins, however, noticed his recovery, and rowed towards him with the intention of running the boat against his head. Time after time they nearly succeeded in braining the gallant sailor, who in the meantime cried out loudly for help. He only evaded the bow of the boat by sinking at each critical moment and allowing it to pass over him.

He was almost exhausted with the chase, and still some distance from the shore, when he was at length gratified to sec the light< of some boats coming out to the rescue. His cries 'had been heard at last, and the assassins fled. He related the story of his terrible arlventure to the police, who at length arrested two men; but Daniels failed to recognise them, and, so far, the real culprits 'have not been captured. "I hope," says Daniels, "■•that my experience with these villainous ■land-sharks' will act as a warning to other sailors who have occasion to go ashore at Corfu. But for a combination of fortuitous circumstances T should undoubtedly have been murdered, ana my fate would probably have remained an unsolved mystery."