"TURN ON THE HOSE!"

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14585, 23 January 1911, Page 6

"TURN ON THE HOSE!"

ROWDY IMMIGRANTS AT SEA.

When the steamer Mamari, which arrived % in Sydney with 490 immigrants last week reached Capetown, a number of those on board, not content with having " a jolly time '* there, .laid in a secret stock of liquor on board for celebrating New Year's Eve.

When New Year's Eve came they gathered together in the dining saloon, forward, where the men's quarters were, and the celebration eventually became so pronounced that the steward informed Captain Holmes that he couldn't keep the men quiet. The captain visited the scene, and remonstrated with them, saying that he would have all lights put out if they did not keep quiet. The captain went away, only to be called again by the steward some time later. The men had become worse, and were creating a good deal of disturbance. This time the captain ordered the lights to be turned off, and at the same time ordered the men to go to their beds. "If you don't get into your berths and shut your doors," he said, I'll have"the hose turned on you." The men openly defied him. "I'd like to Bee you turn the hose on me," said one. They refused to leave the dining saloon, and as the room was in darkness, aJid they kept striking matches/thereby exposing the ship to the risks of fire, the captain's next order to the steward was: "Send for the boatswain, and tell him to get the seamen to connect the hose." ,

• Captain Holmes stood on the stairway, and the second officer stood by him in case of trouble. The hose was brought, and the captain said to the second officer, "Tell them to turn the water on full as soon as my whistle goes." He took out his watch, and, addressing the men, said, "I give you two minutes. If you are not all in your berths in two minutes, I'll have the hose turned on you." The men took the hint and" went, and as thev were going the captain called out to the"second officer, "Stand by for half an hour, and if one of them shows his head, let him have it." Fortunately the trouble ended there. The men did not come out again. Captain Holmes said the disturbance was confined to a few men, and he did not wish to reflect, upon the immigrants as a body. "They are "as fine a. lot as you have had," he said, " but there are always a few rough ones in every lot."