HALF-CASTE PIRATES.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 9

HALF-CASTE PIRATES.

RUNAWAYS FROM APIA. CAPTURED IN IONGAN GROUP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SXTVA, April 16. News has just been brou«hb to Suva fey the Tofua of the capture of the fi->-e lalf-caste isamoans who, some six weeks ago. seized the auxiliary ketch Fetu Ao, owned by I. C. Carruthers, Limited, of Apia, and left on a cruise for an unknown destination. It cannot be said that the age of romance has departed. It may be the lurid effect of the cinema or the force of environment, but there is no doubt that the half-caste of the Western Pacific, whether Fijian, Samoan or Tonga n, does not require much encouragement to start out on adventure. In this case the five lads set out with f 100 of stolen money and a considerable quantity of stores. For a month they cruised about enjoying themselves in a princely style. Where they went or what they did has not yet been made public, but a month after they had sailed forth from Apia they hove-to off the island of Manua, in American Samoa. When an official sent off a messenger to inquire who they were and what was their errand he returned with the information that the voyagers were American millionaires on :i world tour for amusement. Evidently these kindly-in-quiries raised uneasy feelings of alarm, for with little delay "the vessel raised her anchor and vanished into the horizon. From Manua a course was set for Niv.e, but a water famine set in, and it was decided to make for two small islands lying to the east of Hapaii. Their luck, however, was out, for they could find jio water on either island, so they bribed an old native to pilot them to "Hafeva, but here they made the inevitable wrong step, for the people of Hafeva had been warned of the escapade, and when the adventurers landed they were promptly arrested. Word was sent to.headquarters, and Captain Willcocks, who is harbourmaster of Apia, and who was returning by the Tofua to Apia, was instructed to take over command of the Fetu At and bring her on to Apia. The captain took over the vessel, but as the stock of benzine was exhausted he is waiting for supplies ere setting out. The half-castes were taken to Apia, where they await trial.