AXE THROWN AT OFFICER

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 October 1936, Page 7

AXE THROWN AT OFFICER

REMUERA’S VOYAGE THRILLS

QUARTERMASTER IMPRISONED

[PEB PBESS 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 Capp Campbell on Monday night. Later, the 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 was taken into custody.

Quartermaster James Lundy, aged 42, a native of Ireland, appeared in the Court this morning, charged with assaulting the Third Mate, Harold Hill, on the high seas. Lundy was sentenced to three months’ .hard labour by Mr Levvey, and ordered to be placed on the ship at the end of the term.

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

In reply to the Magistrate, Lundy declared his mind was blank from the time he was alleged to be struck outside the wheelhouse, until he found himself in the Captain's cabin.