STRUGGLE AT WHEEL OF LINER

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 11, 8 October 1936, Page 13

STRUGGLE AT WHEEL OF LINER

Quartermaster and Third Mate SKIP S AXE CRASHES INTO CAPTAIN’S CABIN By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, October 7. With the ship following a zig-zag course the third officer and the quartermaster struggled at the wheel of the Remuera as the vessel was passing Cape Campbell on Monday night. Later a ship’s axe thrown by the quartermaster crashed through a glass panel into the captain’s cabin, where the third officer had gone seeking aid. The quartermaster followed the axe and grappled with the mate, but received a black eye and wag taken into custody. The quartermaster, James Lundy, aged 42, a native of Ireland, appeared in court this morning, charged with assaulting4he third mate. Harold Hill, on the high seas. He was sentenced to three months’ hard labour by Mr. E C. Levvey, S.M., and ordered to be placed on the ship at the end of the term.

The police said the Remuera sailed from Wellington at 5 o’clock on Monday afternoon. Lundy was due on the bridge at 8 o’clock, but arrived 10 minutes late. Tlie third mate knew that Lundy had been drinking in Wellington and after a few minutes he sent for another man to take the wheel as the mate was anxious to get an accurate bearing from Cape Campbell. Lundy refused to go, but after a struggle was put out of the wheelhouse. Lundy returned and. the mate went into the captain's cabin to call the captain. There was a crash as an axe came through a panel Hill, in evidence, said that soon after Lundy took the wheel he found that the ship was off her course. A chart produced by witness indicated that a zig-zag course had been taken and Hill said he found it impossible to get another bearing with Lundy steering. In evidence, Lundy said the mate told him the ship was off her course and his reply was that he was bringing her back. He claimed that the mate struck him and stupefied him. After he was put off the bridge he saw the axe and the sight of it tempted him to threaten the third officer.

In reply to the magistrate, Lundy declared that his mind was a blank from the time he alleged he was struck outside the wheel-house until he found himself in the captain’s cabin.