AN EXCITING INCIDENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 189, 19 November 1910, Page 5

AN EXCITING INCIDENT

CHINESE PELT CUSTOMS OFFICERS.. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchureh, Last Night. An exciting incident occurred aboard the steamer Strathclyde at Lyttelton the other night owing to the Chinese crew resenting the visit of a Customs officer to their quarters. A Chinaman living in Lyttelton had been seen to go aboard the vessel, and, suspecting that there might be opium in the forecastle, the Customs officer went into the crew's quarters, and searched them. One Chinaman was in his bunk, and had an opium smoking pipe and a tray on which was a small quantity of the drug. The pipe and tray were seized by one of the officers, who took it to the chief officer's room, where it was locked up. Meantime the Chinese had got worked up into a very excited condition and matters looked veiy serious for the Customs officer, who was surrounded by a jabbering and gesticulating mob. He deemed it wise to beat a hasty retreat, but one of the Chinese attempted to bar him. This man received a blow from the officer's fist, which sent him staggering. The officer, rushing out of the forecastle and gaining the bridge-deck, was pursued by a whole crowd of Chinese, who seized lumps of coal and started to pelt both Customs men. One was struck on the back by a large piece of coal and the other fell into the net under the gangway, and things looked bad for him, as one of the Chinese was in the act of throwing a large lump of coal at his head. The other Customs officer got a piece of coal and threw it at the Chinaman, and thus diverted his attention. The man in the net gained the wharf, and both officers escaped up the wharf from the yelling and dangerously excited mob. It is possible that further proceedings will be i taken.