MUTINY IN THE SOUTH SEAS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 9

MUTINY IN THE SOUTH SEAS

Treasure Trove Seekers Fall Out

HOLLYWOOD PARTY ON “HELL SHIP”

(Independent Cable Service.) HOLLYWOOD, January 12.

An amazing story of mutiny and violence during a South Sea treasure hunt is being unfolded before a Federal grand jury here. The principal witness is Captain Robert Hoffman, of the schooner Metha Nelson. The vessel left San Pedro in September with a crew of amateurs and sailed to Cocos Island, where treasure was supposed to be buried. Countess Dorothy di Frasso. a well-known member of the film colony, and Mr. Marino Bello, stepfather of the late Jean Harlow, were among the treasure seekers.

After weeks of fruitless digging everyone lost their tempers, and Captain Hoffman said that the Metha Nel- . son became a “real hell ship.” He said that the boatswain, Rolf Barman, was drunk for three days and terrorized the ship with a gun. Plied with gin and incited by two of the “guests” the crew defied the captain’s authority. “I knocked some discipline into them,” said Captain Hoffman, “and I shackled some to stanchions.” The witness added that Countess di Frasso asked him to shoot Charles Segal, one of the ringleaders, because she feared he was planning to seize the ship and hold her to ransom. Captain Hoffman revealed that he married Mr. Bello to Miss Evelyn Husby, the ship’s nurse, a few days after the voyage began. Finally the schooner, with her mutinous crew, was towed back to port.