AT THE PISTOL'S POINT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15500, 6 January 1914, Page 8

AT THE PISTOL'S POINT

TROUBLESOME FIREMEN.

AORANGI AT PAPEETE.

ACTION OF FRENCH POLICE.

[BT TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Monday. Particulars of a sensational incident in connection with the R.M-S. Aorangi's last voyage from Wellington to San Francisco were gathered by a pressman to-day. It will be remembered that the Aorangi left Wellington for the Californian port on December 7 last, when the strike here was still at its height. Great trouble was experienced before her departure in bringing her stokehold complement up to the required number, but 14, firemen and trimmers were engaged at Wellington, some'of them being " green" at the work.

The voyage out from Wellington started well, and the vessel, in spite of seasickness in the stokehold, was able to keep up a speed of 12£ knots when the weather was fine. There was grumbling, hovovsr, amongst the firemen, and one or two- of them, said to be Sydney men, spoke openly of leaving the vessel at Papeete. It is said that the morning before arriving at the Island port, some of the firemen had an altercation with one of the engineers, and feeling was running high. Papeete was reached on December 15, and no trouble being suspected, the men were allowed shore leave. When the tim<) came for the vessel's departure, however, some of the firemen were missing. Search was made, but in the meantime the men decided to go and tell those still on board that they were not going back on the vessel. It is said that several of the number were intoxicated and when remonstrated with became violent.

Then came the appearance on the scene of the French Commissioner of Police, and several Island constables and the men were told that they would have to get on board. Threats seemed to be of no avail, and the passengers on the mail steamer began to dream of a prolonged stay at Papeete and the upsetting of all their plans. After further delay and more squabbling between the French police and the stokehold men the commissioner, it is said, drew his revolver and ordered the men one by one up tie gangway. The sight of arms was sufficient and the firemen scuttled aboard to the great relief of the passengers and soon afterwards the Aorangi was able to resume her voyage. Although no particulars are available yet the vessel seeron to have made a slow passage from Papeete to San Francisco, where she arrived last Tuesday, December 30, five days late.