A SAILORS' ROW.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 209, 4 September 1899, Page 4

A SAILORS' ROW.

THREE MEN STABBED.

TWO DANGEROUSLY HURT,

ACCUSED IX COURT,

CHARGED WITH

ATTEMPTED

MURDER

(By Tc-legraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

An affray of a very serious character occurred on board the ocean steamer Tolosa, as she was leaving the wharf for Lyttelton on Saturday evening, which resulted in the boatswain, a Greek named Constantine Hatz Aids, ' stabbing three firemen, James Newberry, Frank Jones, and James Saunders.

Several of the steamer's firemen had been drinking on shore during the day, and several minor quarrels had taken place, culminating in a comi bined attack on the boatswain by ! seven of the men as the vessel was leaving the wharf. Several well-known citizens saw the ! whole affair, and they are unanimous in declaring that the Greek was provoked almost to madness, and only drew his knife when- his assailants had him cornered in the forecastle. The officers of the steamer express a similar opinion. | Newberry and Jones are very badly ' injured, the former having two stabs in the right side, and the latter a | deep wound in the region of the | heart. Their depositions were taken |at Ihe hospital. Both repre- | sent the Greek as having provoked i the row. Their condition showed slight improvement yesterday, but not ■ much hope is held out for their recovery. Sauriders escaped with a flesh wound on the hip. After the stabbing occurred the Greek, being in fear of his life, jumped overboard I and swam ashore. He was immediately arrested on a charge of wounding1 with intent to kill. Thomas Grant, John Dixon, and George Evans, who were concerned in the affair, were arrested for disobeying the commands of the officers. They will appear at the Cou,rt this morning. With the exception of the Greek, all the men were more or less drunk. When they had the Greek bailed up, some of the officers, in endeavouring to disperse them, came in for some rough treatment, the chief mate receiving a nasty blow over the eye.

The officers speak highly of the Greek, whom they describe as a quiet, inoffensive man, and an excellent seaman. Moreover, he was quite sober, and had been a teetotaller for many years.

Before the knife was used he took up a hammer to defend himself, but his assailants still crowded round him. Even when he was in the water some of the men threw capstan bars, sticks, and pieces :of iron at him.

The Tolosa has cargo for Southern ports, but it will depend on to-day's Court proceedings when she will be able to leave.

Constantine Hatzakis was to-day charged in the Police Court with attempting to murder Fredk. Jones, Thos. Newbnry, and Joseph Saunders.

Accused, who is a small man, appeared in the dock with a number of wounds on his face, which seemed to have healed in a remarkable way compared with the state he was in on Saturday.

James Gordon, chief officer of the Tolosa, described what took place. He said three of the firemen had been drinking all day and went aboard intoxicated one being carried on another man's shoulders. They used bad language, and Grant particularly so. Witness struck him. Newbury joined in, and accused came to witness' assistance. A general melee followed, which was temporarily pacified by the captain. During this, Grant kicked the chief engineer in the face. Most of the firemen went away, but Jones refused to leave the forecastle, and wanted to fight accused. Witness separated- them twice; then Saunders I came up and wanted to fight accused, ! who picked up a hammer and defended himself; Witness took it from j him, and accused went on with- his work.,, Then Newbury rushed up and continued the attack made by Jones, Saunders, Newbury, Grant, and Eoberts on Hatzakis, who was knocked down. Amid cries of "throw him overboard" accused was jammed in a corner, with the firemen on top and i around him. Witness tried to pull them off, and saw Hatzakis draw a knife. Witness shouted a warning, | and accused jumped and struck out, ! but whether with intent to kill or | merely to stand the men off witness j could not say. Witness rushed at him and knocked his arm against the rail, the knife going overboard. It j was a Swedish knife, with a blade | about 4 inches long.. Hatzakis jumped j overboard, and Avitness then found three men were stabbed. He saw no other knife used, but immediately I afterwards the third engineer handed one to him, which he said he took from Saunders.

In cross-examination witness said ; accused had been two years on the ship, and escribed him as quiet, I inoffensive, sober, and industrious. Accused did not usually carry a knife, I but, along with witness, he had just been cutting potato sacks. When he juniped up he "appeared to be dazed. Witness considered him in peril of his life, and had he (witness) ,been in the same position he would have used a weapon. The firemen were acting like madmen. _.