Cuffers Spun In The Dog Watch PRUSSIAN CHARLIE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

Cuffers Spun In The Dog Watch PRUSSIAN CHARLIE

IT all started in the Harbour * Lights, a sailer*' resort in Port Louis, Mauritius. Every time 1 went into that vile hole I got into trouble., Although I was not a drinking man, I somehow used to wander that way—driven, who may say? by a hidden lust for adventure. The fact that I did not drink made mn ""popular with the proprietor, a vilelooking "Oreeko," so my entrance was greeted with a snarl and a curse. I laughed It off and ordered my limejuice, of "Fresco," a* lemonade was called. Once when I went that way the proprietor was brutally heating a little monkey chained up at the door. I Interfered, with the result that the proprietor got a black eye and I got the "monk," with one or two other things not so pleasant. The monkey recognised dm as i friend and clung to me, and ns*t morning myself and a friend named Dave took him out in a gharry, or nativs carriage, to Pamplamaase Gardens. (Jutting hie belt and chain, we let him go. UnbttinM* Frmfern • You ought to have seen that "monk." He couldn't believe it I It wasn't possible that he who had worn a chain all his life was actually free! He stood still, then went over to the chain and belt and showed his contsmpt for it In a most saphatifl meaner. We had brought bananas as a start for him and, clutching one of thsss, he BMde for the top branches of a big tree. He was free. Hs daneed, he y*bbered, he yelled, then he cam down and ; jumped on to my shoulder. Stroking iiim, 1 put him once more in the tree and bid him good-bye. Where he went to r never knew,' but there was ample ( f"! and no doubt he commandeered 1 sufficient to live on. Xext time T went into the Harbour i Lights there was an added attraction— j ii nuked man was going to fight a dog. i The prize was 15 rupees for the winner i mid nothing for the loser— (fifteen ] rupees equalled £1 sterling). These were the rules: No kicking, no knife or yeapon other thun hands and month, j The mnn wore hoots but whs not allowed „ to use them. I Ihe light started mid the dojf, a big i fellow, grabbed the man l>y the hack s of the neck and shook him savagely, j growling and snarling all the time. The t fre «» himself and grabbed the dog's h leg with his teeth and hurijj on. The f gramtse the man by one ear and besrHn t ir« W »°' ry ,U , Th * m * n P ull, *«l himself i free from the dog losing half of his ear * by doing so, and dslibsrately broke th* ■

# rules by savagely kicking the poor clop. I couldn't stand for this unfair play, so I kicked the man—and the fat was in the Hre. When I got out of that "free-and-easy, ' which I did only with the aid of my friend, who had arrived unexpectedly, I was a sight for the gods. But I was satisfied and elated, inasmuch as I had upheld the principle of fair play even if it was only for a dog, and I felt a hero and a martyr at the same time. Laughing and joking, we made for the Oriental Hotel, where my friend had a room. When we got into the lighted room I could see that there wag something the matter with my friend who was master of a steamer owned out east. There had been an interval of at least two years between the two episodes just narrated, and in that two years we had crossed each other only once in addition to these two recorded meetings. Now that he was master of a steamor and I was mate of a sailing ship, wa had accidentally met and I coi> see he was in serious trouble. Putting my hand on his shoulder I asked: 'What's the matter, Dave? Is it moneyT I can let you have £200 or £300 if it is." "Thanks, Bob," he replied. 'It's not money. Would to God it was only that. No, it's worse. It's death. I have lost my boy. He was only 18 years old and he was practically murdered by that murdering swine, 'Prussian Charlie,' the boy killer." I demanded an explanation and got it. "My boy," said Dave, "was a 'middie' or apprentice on a little barque trading to South Africa and Mauritius from j London. He was on his second voyage { and was getting on well." His emotion , got the- better of him; he broke down s and sobbed. "My boy, oh my boy!" . was all lie could say for a little while, j I comforted him as best I could, and he t >med: "One Saturday night he came ashore j here with two of his mates for a 'bit of t a frolic. 'Prussian CharYie,' who makes « Port Louis and Singapore his two stamp- a ing-grounds, was here at the time with e another man who is the same sort of t man as himself. The boys were passing the Harbour Lights when they were accosted by these two swine, who A demanded money for drink.. Of course, they refused and a row started. In the melee that ensued. 'Prussian Charlie' slipped a knife into my boy's shoulder v and made off. r

THE "BOY-KILLER" Tale Of A Duel At Mauritius

By - - Captain McKenzie Cliff e

*He was not badly hurt and, on the tulvi.e of a soldier, lie was taken into (lie house of an Indian doctor who, after sterilising the wound, sewed it up. The hoys went aboard and my hoy made his mates promise that they would not tell the captain. They promised, but my boy suffered such pain that one lad could not stand it any longer, and on the Monday morning he went aft and told the Old Man. "My l»oy was rushed ashore to the hospital, but already it was too late. The wound was badly septic and tetanus set in and he died on the Wednesday night in horrible agony. The police pot on to Charlie, but he proved an alibi with the aid of a number of his friends. He ia suspected of killing the third mate of a steamer at Singapore, and he did shoot a boy off an Australian barque here, but he proved it was an accident. He also fought and put a bullet into the senior apprentice of an English barque, but this was hushed up as the captain die not want it to be known that his appren tice had fought duel. The swine—tc kill my lovely boy!" He broke down again. "Oh, my boy, my boy!" he cried Man't Love for Man Seeing my friend in such dire distress affected me and I wept with him, for we 1~-jd each other—this middle-aged man and myself "Where is the love in the world like unto the -love of man for a man?" Men who love each other will gh~ all for each other, will sacrifice all for each other, will if necessary, die for each other. Soon we calmed down and we made plans to go out to the cemetery and see the grave the following day. We both stayed at the Oriental Hotel that night and before tiffin we went out to the cemetery and saw the grave of the dead boy. Sacred to the memory of !>avid Only son of Captain David— A boy who met his death at the hands of n ruffian. Oh Jesns, have merer! We both knelt at the graveside. I vowed inwardly that if 1 could get tli.it ruffian 1 would do so. I would make

him oven as he had made that boy lying in that grave. I knew this was wrong, but I was deeply moved by the father's grief and the manner of his boy's passing. We returned to the hotel, had tiffin and went for a stroll. On the waterfront we met my captain and I introduced him to my friend. We all returned to the hotel, where I put a plan before the two astounded shipmasters. We had found out by adroit questioning that "Prussian Charlie" had shipped on the Sir Launcelot, bound for Chittag<>ng (India) and Singapore. My friend was bound to Bombay and Singapore, then back to Bombay and Port Louis. My plan was this: I was to change places with the second mate of the steamer who, I knew, wanted some sailing ship time to get his master's ticket. I would go with my friend in the hope of meeting this ruffian and squaring accounts. Both shipmasters violently disagreed, but I told them that I was a single man and that my friend was married. I pleaded my case so well that they reluctantly consented. The change was made and, securing two revolvers and about 1000 cartridges for practice shooting, I set sail. When we got to Singapore we found the Sir Launcelot had sailed for Bombay and Mauritius and that Charlie was still aboard. He had got into trouble in Singapore and had been badly beaten up by the bo'sun of a German barque lying there, but he had "got even" a few nights after by stabbing the bo'sun severely in the groin. The bo'sun had not died; he also was looking for Charlie, and evidently meant to square the deal to the finish. &

— «$> My old ship had sailed for East London, South Africa, and was to return to Port Louis, so we hoped to meet again. The Sir Launcelot had left Bombay before us and, as we were only a tramp steamer, she did t1.3 trip nearly as fast as us. When we arrived in Tort Louis we found the Sir Launcelot at anchor near the lightship. We passed in and. after receiving pratique, moored our ship in the line. My old ship was not there, but was expected in a few days. '"Prussian Charlie," we found out, was still on tinSir Launcelot and, as I knew Captain Brebner well, I went aboard to see him —and, incidentally, to get a sight of my bloodthirsty ruffian. I was not much struck with the facial aspects of my enemy, and knew I would beat him. I seemed to have that confidence—but you never know. The Black Watch was in barracks there, and I knew a soldier who was my friend till death because of a service I had done him, and I told him all. He wished to take my place, but- this was my own affair, and 1 told him emphatically that in this case I would, "butter my own bread." "Anyway," he answered, "I'll be hanging around and «t> will some of my mates. You'll pet fair play. He's a murderous bully; he has met only one man and then got the worst of it, so you say." I would not let Captain Dave know anything. I asked for leave and, shaking hands with liiin, went ashore. Captain Dave shed tears as I left him, but I laughed and said: "I'll get him, Dave, all right," and off I went. Like all youngsters, I was cocksure. I went ashore and cruised round the waterfront for a little while, then went off to the Harbour Lights. There seemed a good many soldiers inside, and I received an ill-natured scowl from the "Greeko" proprietor. I ordered limonda and, as he gave it to me, he spat viciously on the floor in frank dislike and hatred. I grinned cheerfully at him and informed him that he was not looking so sweet as he usually did, and he