HIGH SEA MUTINY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17038, 20 December 1918, Page 5

HIGH SEA MUTINY.

FIREMEN REFUSE DUTY.

HEAVY PUNISHMENT INFLICTED.

A story of how the firemen on a large liner mutinied during the war has now been published in Sydney. The vessel left London on her maiden '■ voyage to Australian ports, and some difficulty had been experienced in obtaining the right class of men for work in the stokehold, and in the end 62 Liverpool Irishmen were signed on. These men were not accustomed to long-distance voyages, but apparently they were prepared to do a trip to Australian ports. In all their previous ships they were used to nothing but the four or five day trip 3, with a day or two spell. In the new ship it was a different proposition- The journey meant at least 40 days' constant work in the stokehold, and the men proved themselves unequal to the task. ' In the early days of the voyage the new ship, which had aboard many wounded soldiers, made good time, Later on the tired feeling developed, and with it came a consequent reduction in power. Everything possible was done to keep the men at their posts, but it was all of no avail.

Before the liner reached Bombay the trouble, which had been brewing for a week or more, came. to a head. The officers and engineers could do nothing to persuade the firemen to keep up a full head of steam, and without the least ceremony they stopped handling the coal. Another attempt was made to get the men to continue, but they refused point-blank to carry out the lawful commands of the captain, and mutinied. The ship is of more than 15,000 tone, and has to be well supplied by steam to bo kept under control when on the high seas. When the whole of the firemen, numbering more than 60, mutinied, it was difficult to find sufficient men to keep the I fires burning fiercely, but those aboard overcame the position, and steam was maintained. The mutineers were kept aboard until the liner put in at Bombay, where thoy were handed over to the authorities. To mutiny in a British ship is the worst of crimes, and when the firemen were'brought before the court that view was taken. Each of the men was sentenced to imprisonment for the duration of the war and six months after. A new 1 lot of firemen were signed on at Bombay. i They were Cingalese, and they brought i the vessel to Sydney. It was the first time for many years that a steamer of the I line worked coolies in the stokehold, a 1 clause in the mail contract making it imperative that none but white men. should I be employod on any of the ships.