BID FOR LIBERTY

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1933, Page 5

BID FOR LIBERTY

BY GERMAN STOWAWAY Arrested by Police A COLD SWIM. (F'r Press Association ). AUCKLAND, June 18. A ilespernlo bid for liberty was made to-night by a young tierman stowaway who was being taken from Auckland to Sydney by the Matson liner Mariposa, when he dived into the harbour from the vessel and succeeded in reaching shore. The stowaway was Fritz Kreuser, aged 21, and wtis in custody on the Mariposa, with a young Australian named Reginald Wright, who is Kreuser’s companion, and evidently had the same opportunity to reach shore, but elected to rc,main on board the liner. Not long after rea.ching the safety lot’ the wharves, after a strenuous swim 'in the icy waters, Kreuser. who is fair-headed, slim and young, was identified by the police as one of the stowaways, wdio were, brought from Suva by the Mariposa. In the morning. Kreuser. in spite of the rigid watch kept on him, escaped detection. As the Mariposa was leaving the harbour for Sydney, he reappeared before the authorities in this surprising mnnncr. The liner left the wharf just, after 5 p.m., and was going down the harbour past the King’s Wharf at 5.20. According to the young German’s statement, he managed to leave custody in a manner which has not been explained He then made his way forward to the forecastle head a few feet from the anchor and then plunged from the liner into the harbour, a height of sonic 40 feet. His dive carried him clear from the tow of the Mariposa. He then struck out for the lights on the wharves. Hampered by clothing and swimming in chilly water, Kreuser had a hazardous task ahead of him, but he succeeded in landing at the steps at the end of the King’s Wharf before 6 o’clock. The young man then walked to where the steamer Omana was completing loading, further along the wharf, his clothes dripping wet. Kreuiser went on board and explained to | the passengers and crew that he had 'been watching the Mariposa going out, and that, dazzled by the lights on the wharf, he fell into the harbour. Those on board set about providing warmth for the young man. and stimulants were given him. Meanwhile, some person informed the Queen’s Wharf Police Station that a man had fallen into the harbour. The constable took Kreuser in a. taxi .cab to Volcanic Street. Balmoral, where the young man said he had friends. The constable returned with particulars of the young man to the station, where Sergeant Thompson I thought, the description agreed with that of one of the young men deported from Suva. The Sergeant and constable immediately returned to Volcanic Street, where their suspicions were confirmed, ami Kreuser was immediately taken into custody and brought into the city. The young man is little the worse ior the experience. According to a 'story he told, ho is not anxious to return to Germany, but preferred Io stay in the British Empire. N<» intimation that Kreuser had disappeared was re••eived from the Mariposa, so a radiogram advising that the young German had swum ashore and had been arrested. was sent to the Master of the liner. Kreuser is to be charged in the Police Court.