" LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 235, 27 June 1908, Page 6

" LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE."

TROUBLE ON THE BARQUE RENFIELD. FIGHTING AND THREATS. As a sequel to the voyago of tho barque Renfleld from Liverpool to Wellington, a well-built young Arab seaman, named Mohaed Cherilf, was charged before Mr. Riddel], S.M., yesterday that on Juno 14, on tho high seas, ho was guilty of continued wilful disobedience of tho lawful commands of the master of tho vessel. Mr. Johnston appear for the captain of the vossel, Edmund Mann, who deposed that defendant was reported to hirn on June 14, on a charge of refusing duty and threatening a man's life. Defendant had given a good deal of trouble during tho passage from Liverpool. Ho lipd refused duty on several occasions, had threatened to bill various members of the crew, had threatened to destroy tho running gear on. tho vessel, and to broach tho vessel, and also to blow her up m port. Entries of all these matters had been made in tho log, which was produced. • Witness had accused arrested on Thursday night. When charged with tho offence mentioned in tho information, Clicriffj admitted the charge, and said ho was sorry. John Adams, second mate of tho vessel, deposed that on June 14 ho reported defendant to tho captain for refusing to obey orders. On other occasions during the trip out accused refused point blank to obey orders, and threatened witness on several occasions. Entries in tho log book would bear out what witness said.

Sergeant Dalo stated that ho proceeded to tho barquo Renfield at Queen's Wharf on Thursday evening. Accused was called into tho captain's cabin, and the charge was read out to him. Accused, in reply, said: "Yes, captain, I am very sorry." Defendant, a highly-excitable man, who spoke broken English, and had to be interrupted repeatedly during tho hearing of the case, stated that' he had never refused duty, and had nover threatened to kill anyone, although ho had, had a fight with fists with tho boatswain. Ho.was not satisfied with the way ho had been treated; or with the food, and this was the last British ship ho would servo on. . He did not threaten to broach tho ship, to, but had called on 1 tho Powers on High t'o send winds that would tear the masts out of her and break her up. Sidney Herbert, seaman, remembered a row occurring between tho second mato and accused, but could not call to mind the exact date. Tho second mato had como along to accused when he was sitting down on the rail doing chipping work / and told him to stand up. Accused said lie was doing his work, and asked why he should stand up. Tho mato then reported him to tho captain for refusing duty. Tho man had not refused duty. To Mr. Johnston. —Defendant had not given trouble outside of the occurrence mentioned. Ho knew Cheriff threatened to in-

juro the ship, but he did not tlireatgn the ife of anyone. Witness heard the boatswin ihreaten to shoot accused.

Defendant: Yes, ho threatened to shool me with his revolver.

John Williams, seaman, deposed that accuscd had only been fighting for his rights and tucker.

His Worship: Have you made any complaint to the Marine Department here?— Witness: No, hut wo intend to do so.

Oscar Neilson deposed that accused had a fight with tho boatswain. He heard tho boatswain threaten to shoot.accused.

Joseph Osborne gave corroborative ev: deuce.

His Worship remarked that the-offence was a serious one under tho Shipping and Seamen Act. The entries in the log and tho ovidence of the captain and the second mate were decidedly against accused, as was the admission made beforo tho Sergeant of Police. With tho exception of ono of the witnesses for tho defence, nono of them could remember tho date of any of tho occurrences, whereas .the entries in tho log were made at the tinie. It was clear from the ovidenco that the crow wero not a happy family, but, at tho samo' time, when a crew signed oii a ship's articles they undertook to oboy tho lawful commands of tBo officers of tho ship, and they must do so. Defendant would bo convicted and fined 405., and costs £1 Bs., in • default seven days' imprisonment.

EXTRACTS FROM THE LOG. Tho following extracts, taken : from the log of the vessel by our shipping reporter, give details of the oft'enccs entered against Cheriff:— "Juno. 18.—To certify that M. Cheriff, A.8., Las on several occasions refused to obey tho lawful commands of the different officers belonging to tho above ship, and has several times threatened to kill or do bodily harm to different members of the crew, officers, and myself. He has repeatedly sworn to destroy some of the ship's running or standing gear, also to broach ship to and dismast her, and, if not able to do that, says ho will set her on fire or blow her up when in port. He has been a constant source of anxiety to my officers and self during the wholo passage. '' details of mutinous conduct March 10—Threatened to kill R. Bellmore, cook. March Ilefused to obey second mato and bosun, and threatened to kill same. May 10.— I Threatened second mate and rcfused to obey orders. May 27.—Threatened sailmaker. June 1. to kill chief mate and myself, also to do damage to myself. Juno 3. —Threatened to dismast ship or destroy her. June 4.—Threatened to do five years in gaol "for me," also injury to ship. Juno 14.—Threatened second mato and refused to obey orders. Juno 15.— Threatened carpenter. In addition to above dates, there are several othors occasions on which he has bohaved m a mutinous and dangerous manner, and the only reason why I have not had him locked up before, is for want of a room or place to do so. Entries signed: E. Mann (master), W. Robson (chief mate), J. P. Adams (second mato), H. Knedl (boatswain), J. W. Green (carpenter), R. Bellmore (cook).