SHIPS AND THE SEA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 53, 30 August 1913, Page 12

SHIPS AND THE SEA

THIEVING OF CARGO. Concerning the pilfering of cargo, the following interesting case appeared in Shipping Illustrated: — "The amazing confeesion of Isidor Rader, the convicted organiser of truck thefte in New York, promises to lead to the breaking up of the gang whose depredations are estimated to have amounted to about 5,000,000 dollars a year. As usual with criminals operating on a large soak, the gang of truck thieves enjoyed police protection, and it is announced that as a result of Rader's confession, a number of indictments will be asked for against police detectives and a number of bogus merchants who disposed of the^ stolen stuff. For the energetic prosecution of this owe, oredit is due originally to the Merchants' Association of New York, whose committee on City Conditions engaged the services of a retired police inspector to investigate the stealing of goods from trucks, terminals of steamship lines, and railroads and warehouses. Rader had been indicted in King's County, and had been able to prooure no less than sixteen postponement* of his trial. The inspector discovered that an indictment was also pending against Rader in New ; York County. He thereupon called tho attention of the District Attorney to the matter, with the result that Rader wag tried ' and convioted. In common with others of his ilk, Rader then decided to save what he could of his scalp by confessing, and the extensiveness of the gang's operations was made public Steamship agente, however, suspected long before this thai robberies on such a large scale could not have been perpetrated for any length of time without the connivance of some members of the police force. The system of receiving cargo at the steamship piers in New York is particularly well adapted to prevent the detection of robbery shielded from the "inside," and, in certain trades, the claims for ihort delivery at destination are almost always traceable to thefte committed on the piers at New York. Of course, the same can be said of claims in connection with inward cargo from European ports, such as dry goods, liquors, etc., which are pilfered before being put aboard. 'However, the revelations concerning the methods of the gang operating in New York are expeoted to put a quietus to the work of the waterfront "rats" for some time at least, to the great relief of the merchants »nd underwriters who have to pay for the pilfeiage." TROUBLE WITH A LASCAR CREW. An exciting incident is reported to have pocurred on the steamer Clan Macintosh before she left Port Pirie (South Australia). On the afternoon of the 3rd August an officer (Mr. D. S. Pettwiok) had Ocoasion to reprimand a member of the Lascar orew. The man resented the officer'p interference, and became abußive. On the following day the second officer felled one of the Lascars as he was in the act of striking the third mate with a shovel. The officers chased several of the coloured crew into the forecastle, but were obliged to retire, beoause they were not in possession of firearms. On the next day Mr. Pettwiok was savagely attacked while on deok. He had several members of the orew against him, and one of them struok him a severe blow on the face with an iron bar. The officer was rendered unconscious, and his jaw was broken. He was taken to the hospital. The matter was not reported to the police, as the captain of the vessel was anxious to leave port. AN ANCIENT- WRECK DISCOVERED. How a shipwreck whioh is supposed to have occurred in 86 B.C. was discovered in 1907 was the interesting story which Professor R. C Bosanquet related to the members of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies in the h&H of the Royal Society at Burlington House In 1907 some sponge divers found an ancieut wreok on the sea bottom at 25 fathoms four miles off the coast of Tunis, and the diving operations were carried on for five years. The ship had on board a o&rgo of marble columns and works of art, and it is thought that in all probability the disaster was due to faulty loading, as sixty-five of the columns were placed between decks. A similar wreck was discovered in 1900 off the Greek island of Cerigo, and in both instances the bronzes were comparatively well preserved, particularly a notable figure of Eros, which may be connected with the school of Praxiteles. The vessel oontained abundant remains of bronze furniture, braziers, 'candelabra, and the feet and arms of bronze couches. v A LONG TOWAGE FEAT. The Amsterdam Salvage Company has undertaken the towage of a 14,000-ton floating dock from Holland to Sourabaya, in the East Indies. This is now being carried out by three powerful tugs, which are expected to reach their destination shortly. The dock is owned by the Dutch Government, and will be a decided acquisition to that part of the world. PECULIAR INCIDENT. Captain Oarruthers, master of the British steamer Ikala, whioh, after discharging a cargo of lumber in South Australian waters, loaded oofcl at Newoastle for a Paoifio Slope port, achieved some notoriety by issuing a claim against the commander of the U.B-A. man-o'-war Chattanooga, for demurrage. According to *, report of the evidence great preparo^ tion had been made at South Bend, Washington, for an aquatio event, and the committee in charge of affaire arranged for the cruiser and a submarine to pay a visit For some reason not explained the cruiser went to Raymond, a port close by, and whilst there held up the Ikala owing to the narrowness of the river. Captain Carruthers resented the delay occasioned his vessel, hence the claim, whioh has been forwarded to the navy headquarters, thu* promoting what some American exchanges are pleased to term "a healthy row.' Captun Carruthers, who ie well known locally, is described by one journal as of the "Captain Kettle" type, and just the man to carry out a "healthy row."— 'Sydney List. "A- SERIOUS CHARGE." . According to the Albany correspondent of the Daily News, the captain of the s.s. Melbourne, journeying from Christmas Island to New* Zealand, has levelled a rather serious oharge against tho "lookout" men at Fremantle. The captain of the Melbourne states that he brought, his vessel into -Gag© Roads (Fremantle), but failing to receive an answer to his signals, he drew out again in the face of the gale and left for Albany, which port he reached on the Thursday evening. On enquiries at Rottnest signal station and at ' the _ Arthur's Head look-out, it was ascertained that there was no record on tho books regarding the Melbourne at this port. It is almost impossible for a steamer of the Melbourne's size to get into Gage Roads without being sighted both at the Rottnest and Arthur's Head, and it is also regarded as being impossible for a vessel to leave the Roads without being observed. On the night in que»tk>h the weather up till 8 o'clock wa« clear and fresh, without rain. After that hour, at which the mail steamer Maloja was in the Roads,* the weather became rough, but it was not so dense as to prevent Rottnest seeihg the lights ( of Fremantle and vice versa. Again, with the Maloja in the Roads until 11.20 p.m., it would be vory peculiar were the Mel' bourne to be also in port without being observed. The opinion amongst shipping men is that the captain has mistaken some other inlet, perhaps in the vicinity of Sharks Bay, for Fremantle, ©specially as h# did not reach Albany until the Thursday night, with the assistance of a gale behind him, This appears to be the only answer to the captain s riddle. Information has come to hand to the effect that a new port called Rio Grande has been opened up about 60 miles north of Blttefields. The bar is too shallow to allow eea-going Vessels to prose, so vessels will have to anchor outside and lighter their cargoes there. In very rough wea- : ther they will have to anchor uniter the lee of Man-of'War Bay, about 16 miles j N.E. of Rio Grande. The erstwhile "crack" A.U.S.N. Liner Warrego has again changed owners, having been disposed of by the Sydney pur- ! chaser to the Federal Government, which intends to utilise her a* a hulk at Port. Dfcrwia.. ,