"I AM CAPTAIN"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1925, Page 5

"I AM CAPTAIN"

LIQUOR-RUNNING MYSTERY

DRAMA IN THE POOL OF LONDON

OWNER WHO COULD NOT GET

ABOARD.

(UKItgD PRE3S ASSOCIATION—COPTRIdHT,) (SYDNBJ SON CABLB.) LONDON, 16th September. A wealthy-Argentinian, Madame Decasares, who. claims to be the princip^ owner of the whisky ship General Serret, accompanied by police and lawyers, dramatically attemped to take possession of the ship in the Pool of London at midnight. , .

Standing in a rowing boat r she shouted for Captain Whitburn. Instead of him, a burly figure carrying a hurricane lamp came to the bulwarks surrounded by the sullen nondescript crew, and said,' "I am captain of this ship." Madame Decasares replied, "You are hot; you are Joyce, the supercargo. .Steward, fetch the captain." Joyce replied, "If you are the owner, why not pay the crew?" Madame Decasares asserted , that, they had been paid. When a lawyer attempted to climb aboard, the crew rushed at him threateningly, and the police advised Madame Decasares to withdraw, as they feared violence.

On the following /day, Joyce, who participated in four AntaTctic expeditions, commenced unloading the whisky into lighters, to be taken to a bonded store. The "Evening News" asserts ' that Madame Decasares is at the head of a big whisky-running syndicate, which is prepared to finance cargoes up to £50, ,000, and whose headquarters is at Westminster^ \ . ■ ■

A previous message reported that the captain of the General Serret had put into port out of provisions and coal, and also out of money, so that he was unable to pay the crew or- buy provisions for the ship. '■' ','■■■ ■