FIGHT AT SEA

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1936, Page 6

FIGHT AT SEA

OFFICER AND QUARTERMASTER GAOL SENTENCE FOR LATTER Per Press Association Copyright. CHRISTCHURCH, October 7. With the ship following a zig-zag course, the third officer and quartermaster struggled at the wheel M the Remuera as the vessel was passing Cape Campbell on Monday night. Later the ship’s, axe, thrown oy the quatorma-ter, crashed through a glass panel into the captain’s cabin where the third officer had gone seelvp ing aid. The quartermaster followed the axe and grappekl with the matQj. hut received a black eye, and was taken into custody.

The quartermaster, James Lundy, aged 42, a native of Ireland, appeared in 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 C. E. Levvey, and was ordered to he placed on the ship at the end of the term.

The police said the Remuera sailed from Wellington at five o’clock on Monday. Lundy was due on >ne bridge at eight o’clock, hut he 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- me wheel as the mate was anxious to get an accurate bearing att; Cape Ca m pbell. Lundy refused to go, but, aftpr a struggle, he was put out of the wheel house. Lundy returned and the. nut to went into the captain’s cabin to cad the captain, and there was a crash as an axe came through the panel.

Hill, in evidence said soon alter

I.umly took the wheel, he found the ship off her course. A chart producen by Hill indicatd the zig-zag course that had been taken, and Hill said he found it impossible to get another hearing with Lundy steering. In evidence Lundy said the mate told him the ship was off her course, and his reply was he was bringing her hack. He denied that he claimed the mate had struck him and stupefied him after he was put off the bridge. He saw the 'axe, and the sight of it tempted him to threaten the. third officer.

In reply to the Magistrate, Lundy

declared his mind wa s a blank from the time he was alleged to be-struck outside-the wheel house until he found himself in the captain’s cabin.