MUTINY ON BOARD A REFORMATORY SHIP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1486, 30 March 1886, Page 3

MUTINY ON BOARD A REFORMATORY SHIP.

The bead constable of Liverpool on February l«t received a message from the captain of the Roman Catholic reformatory ship Clarence, lying off Rook Ferry, that insubordination which had existed among the boys for some days had broken out into a serious mutiny, and that the safety of the ship and officers was imperilled. The bead constable immediately despatched police assistance, and on getting near the vessel it was found tha' the boys on board had taken possession of the vessel, and broken into the armoury, and weru in possession of the firearms. They had commenced pelting the officers of the ship with missiles of various descriptions,* and tha latter, it is stated, locked themselves in their rooms to escape from their assailants. The captain, armed with pistols, tried to keep order from the bridge, but without success, The boys cut the boats adrift and injured the rigging. In the endeavor to quell the disturbance two of the ship’s officers ware severely injured, sustaining scalp wounds and bruises, The police on reaching the ship arrested thirteen of the ringleaders, and took them to the police office in Dale Street, Liverpool, where they were charged with being concerned in slabbing some of the officers. Two of the injured officers were brought ashore by the police and taken to the hospital. About two years ago another reformatory ship, in which t’m lads were undergoing punishment, vvas set on fire by a number cf the boys and burned to the water’s edge. Iho ringleaders were captured and sent to long periods of imprisonment. After considerable delay the Government placed at the service of the Comini tee an old wooden man-of-war named the Royal William, which was rechristened the Clarence, the same name as the ship that was burned, and it is on board of this latter ship that the mutiny has now occurred.