WAR INCIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1928, Page 8

WAR INCIDENT

capture of till scow mo a AUCKLAND. Nov. 21. A man who figured in one of the romantic incidents of tlie war, Captain William v. Burke. died yesterday at Ponsonby, aged 09. Captain Burke was master of the scow Moa which was captured by Count Felix von Luckner and a party of Germans who escaped from the internment camp at Motuilii on December 13th. 1927. This was the outstanding event in Captain Burke’s seafaring careed of over half a century. The Moa, owned by the Leyland, O’Brien Timlier Company, was returning to Auckland from Omakoroa. near Tauranga. She was off Mercury Bay at eight o’clock on a Sunday morning, two days after von Luckner had escaped from Motuilii in a stolen launch, the Pearl. Captain Burke noticed a launch Hying the New Zealand flag approaching and a man on it was signalling to the scow to stop. Captain Burke stopped his vessel and the launch came alongside. In a flash armed men hoarded the Mon. the German flag replaced the New Zealand ensign at the mast of the launch, and the crew of the scow were informed that they were prisoners of war of the Kaiser. Then Captain Burke and his men were ordered to work the scow with the help of the Germans, and they headed for the Kernmdecs. There the Moa was overtaken by the cable steamer Iris and the deed of high adventure ended with tlie recapture of the Germans. During his few days as a prisoner of war Captain Burke was not illtreated hv von Luckner. He entertained a considerable amount of respect for the German, whose daring exploits in the Seadler. and his audacious esc are f'fnn Motuilii have, in the clearer light of peace, won considerable admiration. After his final release from captivity at Die end of the war von Luckner sent Captain Burke a photograph of himself. Captain Burke had about- fifty years’ experience in the coastal trade of New Zealand. He was born in Galway, Ireland. and at an early ago went to Portland. Oregon, where liis father was engaged in the fishing industry. Captain Burke later served for a time ith the United States navy, and subsequently worked his way to New Zealand. About three years ago he retired.