A MANIAC HELMSMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9229, 17 June 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MANIAC HELMSMAN

DESPERATE STRUGGLE ON A BRITISH SHIP. An extraordinary story is told by the crew of the British ship Albani, which recently arrived at New York from Hong Kong. One of the crew taken on at Hong Kong was a Russian Finn named Ivan Matson, who grew moody and despondent as the vessel was rounding Cape Horn. One day when the Finn was at the wheel the first mate observed that the Albani was deviating from her course, and was steering in a most erratic manner. Ho shouted to Ivan Matson to know what was the matter, but the only reply that ho gob from the latter was a blood-curdling series of oaths. The first mate now knew that something was wrong with the helmsman, so he told one of the crew to summon Captain Brunnell on dock. In the meantime Ivan Matson was steering all over the compass, and the vessel was in danger of being capsized. His appearance was enough to strike anybody with terror, as he had drawn a huge jack-knife, which be flourished in his right hand, tending to the tiller with his loft, His eyes were roiling in his head, froth was issuing from his lips, and ho threatened,to cut tho heart out of anybody that would come near him. Matters were now in a terrible position, and Captain Brunnoll saw he had to capture tho maniac at once or lose his ship. Four of the men advanced cautiously on Matson, who had now placed his back against the wheel and flourished his deadly weapon in a very uninviting manner. Tho Albani was now without a helmsman, as tho Russian Finn hold the road to tho wheel. Tho four Bailors dashed upon tho madman, who shrieked aloud and struck out right and left with his knife. Fortunately, one of tho men managed to soizo his hand, while the other three threw them alves upon him. A terrible strugglo ensued, tho four men rolling over and over on the deck, tho Russian Finn scratching, kicking, and biting like a demon incarnate. Ho seized Jim Daly, one of tho men, by the right check and buried his teeth savagely in it. Daly roared aloud with pain, but this seemed only to infuriate the madman. Ho suddenly released his hold, and, eluding the men, rushed to tho bow. His eyes were flashing tiro, and tho froth that oozed from his lips foil all over the deck of the vessel. When ho was running one of the other sailors tripped him up and ho foil. Fivo or six sailors jumped on him liko a Hash, and before he could make any further resistance ho was pinioned. lie was then carried below, never ceasing to struggle a moment, and put in irons, from which ho was not released until tho Albani reached New York. The man was as mad as a March hare.