PIRATES OFF JERSEY COAST

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2648, 17 May 1923, Page 8

PIRATES OFF JERSEY COAST

YARMOUTH SCHOONER HELD UP. LOSES CASH AND WHISKY, "Get ready!” Ten guns were flashing on the astonished crcw < deck and rigging wei - e splintered by a fusillade of shots, and Phillip Knowles fell unconscious with three shots lired at 4 point.hlank range. This was the beginning- of an adventure which befell the Yarmouth schooner Eddie James, as she lay off lithe Jersey Coast, about nine miles from Highland Light, on March 2. The story told on arrival of the hid die James at described the carrying away of Knowles, in what condition his shipmates did not know, and the taking at the point of guns of 600 cases of whisky and between SOOO and 9000 dollars in cash. The Eddie James was from Nassau for St. Pierre. On March 1, as she lay off the Jersey coast, a large motor launch kindly consented to bring her a cask ful of water from aothc vessel. They were a generous group on board the launch. They even consented to bring a supply of provisions to the vessel, Accordingly next day they ran alongside and were welcomed on board. Two men went aft to the cabin where Captain Mosher and Knowles were. Three remained on deck. Suddenly one of the men in the cabin shouted, "Get ready!” The cap. tain and Knowles were instantly cov. crcd covered by four guns, two in the hand of each man. Knowles reached for his pistol and was fired at. The crew were backed towards the forecastle and made to go below. Then they were ordered on deck, one by one, and, under the guns of the raiders, were set to work unloading the Eddie’s cargo into the launch. This done, all wer c backed into the forecastle again and locked up. The raiders said they were taking Knowles with them, and would take care of him.