DISTURBANCE ON A STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13305, 11 October 1906, Page 5

DISTURBANCE ON A STEAMER.

THREE MEN ARRETTED; • '; ' Them-was a great disturbance on board the cargo steamer > Suffolk, ■ berthed at the Queen-street Wharf, yesterday afternoon. lue row commenced with two of the men having an argument,.'and one striking the other. Although several of the more peace-' able-minded members of the-crew tried to stop the matter going further, the two men would insist upon fighting it out. At first they only took their coats and waist->' coats off, but after several rounds, during which both men met with some damage by' falling upon the iron,deck fittings, they stripped to the skin, and engaged in a desperate battle, which continued for some time. A. large crowd of sightseers assembled on the wharf, and some of these urged the men on. Eventually, the aid. of the police was called in, but upon a constable - going on board he met with a very, warm reception from the other members of the crew when he endeavoured to arrest the contestants. One of the men was more aggressive than the others, and when the constable's back was turned he caught him by the coat, and pulled him backwards, and when remonstrated with struck the constable. The latter at once closed with the man, and threw him on the deck, and after some difficulty succeeded in handcuffing him. Several more policemen arrived on board subsequently, and the result was that three of the men were taken to the lockup, followed by a large crowd. The men will be brought before the Police Court this morning, one being charged with obstructing the police, and the other two with disorderly conduct.