AFFRAY ON AN AMERICAN SHIP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1255, 21 October 1884, Page 3

AFFRAY ON AN AMERICAN SHIP.

No little excitement was caused in Port on Saturday (says the Press), when the H. J. Libby, American barque of 590 tons, from Boston, arrived with the police flag flying. The Lyttelton Harbor Board’s tug Lyttelton Captain J. W. Clark, went off to her at once, with Sergeant W. T. Mason and force on board, and the steam launch conveyed the Health Officer (Dr. Bouse) and the Customs officials. It appears that on the passage one of the crew stabbed the captain, inflicting a frightful wound in the left side. The affair took place on the Ist inst., just after midnight. - The statement of tha master and the report taken from the official log ore given below. The blow struck by the seaman would seem to have been a desperate one, The knife penetrated the left side just below the ribs, and struck inwards aud downwards towards the groin. The wound was fully ten inches in depth. The master is in a very weak state, but is said to be out of danger. The following is the log entry “ On October Ist, heard a fight on deck, on the quarter-deck ; ran on deck and found the mate and Patrick McCarty clenched, and immediately separated them. McCarty ran for'ard swearing that he would kill the mate. I went into my cabin, got on my shoes, and went for’ard to try to quiet him. Found him in the forecastle with a knife in his hand ; ordered him on deck. He said, ‘ if you want me, come in after me,’ I then told the second mate to go in and take him out, I following myself. Immediately McCarty made a rush at me and stabbed me through the left side, inflicting a serious wound. I seized him, drew the knife from the wound in my side, and had him put in irons and looked in the lezarette. He still used the most violent language, swearing that he would kill both me and the mate, so, fearing ho might succeed in getting loose, I had him chained down with his hands behind him.” This statement is signed by the oaptoin, the chief officer, second officer, and the whole of the crew with the exception of McCarty. The man was brought ashore on Saturday and lodged in the lock-up, pending the action of the American Consul. _ It may be said that McCarty complains of being struck with a belaying-pin by the mate while he was at the wheel, and that he went forward when ordered i to do so ty the captain. Also, that the ; assault on the master was brought about as a ■ matter of self defence, McCarty alleging that

the master and mate were attacking him with belaying-pine. An entry in the official log shows, however, that during the paitagt Captain Riohordaon had found it necessary to suspend the cook of the barque for “ dirtiness and laziness,” and that McCarty asked to take his place in the galley. This request was granted, and McCarty filled the duties for some little time. Upon the cook assuring the master that he would be more careful, he was reinstated, and McCarty was of course sent for’ard to his former position. This was done about a week btßjo the assault, and Captain Richardson states that he had given no cause for the man’s antipathy towards him unless removing him from the galley be the offence. Whatever the nature of the quarrel was between the mate and McCarty, the skipper considers that ho should not have been punished for it. When McCarty was brought ashore from the vessel on Saturday his emaciated and physically helpless state was so great that he had to be carried to the police office. He was quite unable to walk, and ho complained loudly of the manner in which he had been chained up and his limbs lashed together for the eighteen days which have elapsed since the assault. The why* and wherefores, and the pros and and com, will doubtless be made public through the enquiry that must take plaoe.