BRUTAL ATTACK ON ARNST

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1912, Page 3

BRUTAL ATTACK ON ARNST

CERIOUSLY INJURED. A BOXING MORNING INCIDENT. 4FAOM OUK OWN COREESPONDENT.] • SYDNEY, 3rd January. Dick Arnst, the popular New Zealand sculler, who hats been living lor some time past at Manly, Sydney's marine suburb, was savagely attacked by four ruffians in the early hours of Boxing morning, sustaining injuries so eerioue as to necessitate treatment at a private hospital. It will be learned with regret throughout Australia (6ays the Sun) that Dick Arnst, the sculling champion, lies in a Manly private hospital "almost done to death at the hands of some drunken brawlers, with whom he had remonstrated in the cause -of decency and good conduct. Arnst had been onjoymg the quiet delights of Manly life for the last month or so, and as an enthusiastic surfer he has been a prominent figure in the breakers and on the beach. - For the last week he was missing from his accustomed haunts, and people were wondering on all sides where he had got to, as he" patronised the surf tEree or four times a day. On. Christmas night, or rather m the early hours of Boxing morning, Arnst was asleep at his boardinghouee on the ocean, beach, at North Steyne, when he was awakened by ,some men making a row and using bad language on the footpath directly in front of the house. Arnet got out of bed, and, hastily dressing, went out to remonstrate with the men.' Instead of taking his advice, they started to abuse him, wrenched the ■gate off its hinges, and became more riotous. further request from the champion* to desist brought upon him a sudden attack from three of the men. The big athlete put up a willing fight against his assailants, and he had protty well disposed of two of them, when, it is declared, ' the fourth man, who had not up to then taken part in the one-sided battle, tore a picket from the garden fence, and, sneaking up behind Arnst, dealt him a couple of blows on the head. Arnst fell like a log, and lay on the ground unconscious till some people came along and took him to the surgery of Dr. ( Harold Bennetts, who conveyed the injured man in his car to St. Aubyn's private hospital, and attended to his wounds, which were found to be dangerous. Hfe skull was laid bare- on the forehead, and on the left side of the head, by gaping wounds, and he had lost a lot of blood. He is now progressing favourably towards recovery.