GREATLY EXAGGERATED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 June 1928, Page 5

GREATLY EXAGGERATED

TROUBLE ON JERVIS BAY. INSUBORDINATE STOWAWAYS. ARDOUR COOLED BY HOSEPIPES. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association —United Service.) COLOMBO, June 25. Passengers by the Jervis Bay, which arrived here to-day, state that the reports of mutiny aboard the ship were creaky exaggerated. Shortly after the •steamer lett Fremantle eight stowaways were discovered. They were given work cleaning brass and were provided with cabins. They were also given the same food as the passengers, with whom they took their meals. The stowaways complained of their ''oocl and declined' to work. On Tuesday they made themselves highly objectionable. They molested ladies on the promenade deck, on which they were not allowed. The captain ordered them to be confined. Led by a hair-caste Cuban, who acted as the ringleader, the stowaways offered stout resistance. The crew armed themselves with life-preservers, and, after a fierce fight, the stowaways were handcuffed, but they continued to struggle. Eventually a hose was turned on them and they were washed down the gangway- into the isolation ward, where there were several inches of water on the floor.

The next night, apparently finding a crowbar which had been overlooked, the men broke out. Four of the stowaways were found in the passengers’ quarters and they were, recaptured and reconfined.

On Thursday morning a fire was seen issuing from below. It was ascertained that the men set their bedding, pillows and clothes alight, necessitating the blazing mass being thrown out of the portholes. The passengers believe this was merely intended to frighten them, and that it was not the intention to fire the ship. The hose was again used and the fire promptly put out. It is also reported that a microphone was installed near the foot of the stairs, attached to the wood, to detect plots, and that by- this means plans to fire the ship were discovered, enabling them to be easily dealt with. A preliminary official inquiry- will be held aboard the liner before anyone is allowed ashore.

Three or four hundred passengers have signed a memorial to Captain Daniel, expressing appreciation of the tact, ability, and leniency wherewith he and the officers of the ship dealt with a difficult situation. The signatories stated that they had not observed any signs of the crew’s active sympathy with the stowaways, but heard many strongly condemning such insubordinate behaviour. The hose-pipe was turned on as a last resort, the stowaways being practically washed into the isolation ward. The stowaways were discovered shortly- after leaving Fremantle. The chief officer ordered that they be given light work, and gave them cabins and allowed them to take their meals with the passengers, but they were not satisfied, particularly one who was des.ribed as a half-caste Cuban. An inquiry on board of a preliminary nature was conducted by the principal collector or customs. At the conclusion it was decided that the men be tried locally by a marine court of in quirv. The eight men accused are all stowaways and consist of four Englishmen, three Scotsmen, and one American negro. They were removed by the police to gaol on remand. The passengers were disembarked after the inquiry.

WOMEN AND CIHIL-mtEN FRIGHTENED. PASSENGERS’ ACCOUNTS OF THE TROUBLE!. Received 10.0 a.m. to-day. , LONDON, June 25. A British United Press message gires narratives of passengers. Three nights out from Fremantle the stowaways were, discovered' and immediately became insubordinate. They burned their beds, broke the starways. and threatened to set fire to the ship. The alarm of women and children probably decided the captain to send out the S.O.S. The trouble lasted only a few hours. We were surprised that the story of mutiny g:ot abroad; there was nothing Like it,'said one passenger. Another version states that after the stowaways hail declined to work they were imprisoned in a cabin. They set lire to the bedding and thrust the blazing mattresses out of the portholes. There was no disturbance among the crew. The stowaways gave no trouble after being brought under control ancl placed- in- a room by themselves. The SlavoPsi marines had nothing to' do. The leader of the stowaways, the Cuban, boasts that ho has done only three weeks’ work c.n six years. The passengers added that the stowaways were' desperate at night time, frightening women and children. They also attempted to cut off the l'resl water supply. They caused uneasiness on five nights. When the Slavo-l’s-party boarded, the Cuban remarked: “What a fine set of Boy Scouts.” 'Hit passengers agree that there was lit til cause for fright, though for a few hours the situation seemed desperate owing to the stowaways’ early threats q 1 what they intended to do. TWO EIGHTS OCCUR. BEFORE STOW A,WAYS ARE SUBDUED. PASSENGERS’ PRAISE FOR THE GREW. Received 10.25 a.m. to-day. COLOMBO, June 25. Further interviews with Jervis Bay passengers, 'disclosed' thy general opiu ion that, nothing approachimg a. mutiny had occurred. They were amazed a 1 the alarming wireless messages senl out. The officers suggest that the messages must have been mutilated. They also say that the Cuban was most abusive and demanded that the passengers should pay his fare. He boasted that he had travelled as a stowaway el eve t times and that the passengers always paid Iris I’aire. He told the passengers that they were the. “measliest, lot lie had ever travelled with.” The (stowaway.s- one night broke out of their prison and invaded the saloon ilairin" a concert, shouting and swearincr. "The mate ordered them to elmout, but they jeered insultingly till the officer knocked down the ringleader, when a general melee occurred. Later in the evening the stowaways ran amok along the decks and terrified women and children, opening cabin doors am. shouting insults. A second struggle followed'. in which four naval ratrnys gave valuable assistance. Eventually the disturbers were battened down. While awaiting the arrival of the

Slaved the officers adopted new tactics and began starving the stowaways, with the result that when the marines boarded the Jervis Bay they found them subdued and easily controlled. The officers are emphatic that the crew did not participate in the trouble, but someone slipped an iron bar down the ventilation to the prisoners, thus facilitating their escape. The passengers added to their memorial to the captain : “AVe are gravely concerned by the untrue rumours concerning the alleged attitude of the crew. Wo saw nothing but the crew’s active loyalty in assisting the commander and officers.’’