STOWAWAYS’ THREATS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 228, 27 June 1928, Page 11

STOWAWAYS’ THREATS

ALARM ON JERVIS BAY FIERCE FIGHT WITH CREW DISTURBERS STARVED INTO SUBMISSION The various versions of the happenings on the Jervis Bay show that for some hours the situation appeared desperate, owing to the threats of the stowaways, but by the time the marines boarded the liner the disturbers of the peace had been quite subdued b,y the treatment meted out to them. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) London, June 25. The Central News correspondent at Colombo states that the stowaways on the Jervis Bay were discovered shortly out from Fremantle. The chief officer ordered them light work, gave them cabins, and allowed them to have meals with the passengers. They were not satisfied, particularly one described as a half-caste Cuban. They complained of the food, used bad language, and flatly declined to work. They were told that if they refused to work and behave, they would be imprisoned. The warning was ignored, and matters came to a head when certain stowaways were found on the promenade deck, where they had been forbidden, allegedly molesting lady passengers who were dancing. The ladies were much alarmed and appealed to the captain, who ordered the stowaways to be arrested and confined to the isolation ward. The stowaways strongly resisted and a fierce fight ensued between decks, with members of the crew armed with live preservers, to the considerable alarm of the passengers.

The hose pipe was turned on as a last resort, and the stowaways were practically washed into the isolation ward, which was flooded to a depth of a few inches. Thereafter all was quiet, but the men escaped later by means of an iron bar and were discovered at 4 o’clock in the morning in the passengers’ quarters. They were rearrested after a struggle and confined under double hatches. Nothing Approaching Mutiny. Further interviews with passengers reveal the general opinion that nothing approaching mutiny occurred. They were amazed at the alarming wireless messages sent out. The officers suggest that the messages must have been mutilated. The officers say that the Cuban was most abusive and demanded that the passengers pay his fare. He boasted that he had travelled as a stowaway eleven times and the passengers had always paid his fare. He told the passengers that they were “the mealiest lot of blanks he had ever travelled with.” The stowaways one night broke out of prison and invaded the saloon during a concert, shouting and swearing. The mate ordered them to clear out and they jeered insultingly till the officer knocked down the ringleader. Then there was a general melee of passengers, officers, and stowaways. Later in the evening the stowaways ran amuck along the decks and terrified the women and children, opening cabin doors and shouting insults. A second struggle followed in which four naval ratings rendered valuable assistance. Eventually the stowaways were battened down. They threw overboard everything they could lay hands on, and set fire to straw mattresses piled against the bulwarks, but the smoke was too overpowering, so they pushed them through the portholes. The crew turned on the hose pipes and quelled the fire, damping the stowaways’ enthusiasm. Captain’s Wireless Call. The captain then sent a wireless message for assistance. While awaiting the arrival of the Slavol, the officers adopted new tactics, and began starving the stowaways. The result was that when the marines boarded the Jervis Bay, they found them subdued and easily controllable. The officers are emphatic that the crew did not participate in the trouble, but someone slipped an iron bar down the ventilator to the prisoners, facilitating their escape.

CAPTAIN’S VERSION OF THE AFFAIR EVIDENCE AT POLICE COURT DANGER TO THE SHIP (Rec. June 26, 7.45 p.m.) Colombo, June 25. An armed escort of nine men brought the stowaways ashore this afternoon, whereupon they Were taken to the Police Court. Mr. Roberts, an advocate, was assigned to them as counsel.

The accused were charged (1) with being stowaways; (2) disobeying

orders to work; (3) committing mischief by setting tire to the vessel's furniture and bedding.

Replying to a question, Captain Daniel' said that not one member of the crew was in any way involved. He was proud to say the Press imputation was wickedly untrue. The names of the accused are: John Anderson, Thomas Blaylock. John Fletcher, William Teasey, William Mackay, David McMillan, Douglas Bruce, and Arthur Jackson. The lastnamed is a half-caste Cuban. The accused pleaded guilty to all the charges except arson. Captain Daniel gave evidence along the lines cabled. He said the stowaways were told io keep to themselves. They were given two cabins and the same food as the passengers. Some were set to clean decks and others to clean brass work. Later all refused to work. Only Blaylock complained of the food. He (Captain Daniel) had the accused evicted from the cabins and taken to the isolation hospital, and they were instructed not to go beyond the iron rail. The men left their quarters and annoyed the passengers during a dance. They behaved in a disorderly manner, but were overpowered by the crew. They used filthy language and were taken back to the isolation hospital and putin irons. Captain Daniel added that the stowaways used, an iron crowbar

to remove the hatches. They went perilously near to the electric wires connected with the steering gear, which, if cut, would have rendered the ship helpless. Nobody but witness and the chief officer knew the electric wires were there. The accused caused fires to bedding. There was much inflammable material on the upper deck. The hose was turned on the men. Witness then sent the message for help. The accused openly told the passengers and officers that they were determined to set fire to the ship.

CONVICTED ON FOUR COUNTS SENTENCED TO TERM OF IMPRISONMENT (Australian Press Association.) London, June 25. At Colombo, after a hearing by a Marine Court of Inquiry, the stowaways were convicted on four counts and sentenced to five and a half mouth's imprisonment each. LOYALTY OF CREW Colombo, June 25. The passengers in the memorial to Captain Daniel added"We are gravely concerned at the untrue rumours concerning the alleged attitude of the crew. We saw nothing but the crew’s active loyalty in assisting the commander and officers.’’ “STORM IN TEACUP” MR. LARKIN’S COMMENT London, June 25. The general manager of the Commonwealth Line, Mr. 11. B. Larkin, said :—"The Jervis Bay affair was merely a storm in a tea cup.” Mr. Larkin added that he was not commenting on the captain's action till he had had a personal explanation from him. He had instructed the captain not to provide the Press with any more exciting messages.

STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

(British Official Wireless.) Rugby, June 25. In reply to questions in Parliament, it was stated that the president of the Board of Trade had cabled the Collector of Customs at Colombo asking that inquiries regarding the recent happenings on board the Australian liner Jervis Bay should be made as soon as the vessel arrived and that a reply be sent by telegraph. On behalf of the Admiralty, it was stated that the first message from the Jervis Bay was received by the Enterprise at 9.20 on Wednesday morning. The Admiralty oiler Slavol, in which a marine guard was dispatched, was the only immediately available vessel.