FIGHT ON LINER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22544, 8 October 1936, Page 12

FIGHT ON LINER

HATCHET THROWN STRUGGLE ON BRIDGE OFFICER AND HELMSMAN <f REFUSAL TO LEAVE WHEEL [nV TELEGRAPH —OWN COBRESPONTJENT] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday A story of assault on the high seas, when a seaman with a hatchet pursued an officer into the captain's quarters, was told in the Magistrate's Court today before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M. The seaman, James Lundy, a quartermaster on the R.M.S. Rernuera, who pleaded not guilty to a charge that he assaulted the third officer, Harold Hill, on the high seas between Wellington and Lyttelton on the evening of October 5, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. The Remuera left Wellington at o p.m. on October 5, and at 8 p.m. Hi took charge on the bridge. Lundy was duo to take over the wheel at the same hour, but he arrived 10 minutes late. Hill was anxious to take a bearing of Cape Campbell, but found that there was something wrong with the steering. Relief Sent For A few minutes later the officer sent for another seaman as a relief, but, Lundy refused to leave the wheel. He had been drinking at Wellington and on the ship after sailing. Some time later he was seen following the thiid officer, who ran for the captain's quarters and had just reached shelter when a hatchet hurtled through the window, smashing the Venetian blind. Hill gave evidence that at 8.10 p.m. the quartermaster going off duty reported the course, as was customary, and witness then suspected that something was wrong, as it was important that the men should be punctual. He saw Lundy at the wheel and knew that he had had liquor during the first dogwatch. Witness then sent tor another to relieve Lundy, who claimed that he was quite capable of steering the ship. Ordered, from Bridge "I said he was not, and in the meantime the ship was going off the course," said Hill. "1 had to put my arms about his waist, seize his wrists, and drag him from the wheel with the ship going off the course all the time. 1 pushed him to the side of the bridge and he started abusing me and struck at me wildly. It was then that I struck him and the captain came and ordered him off the bridge. "Five minutes later I saw him coming with what I thought was a hammer in his hand. I ran for the captain's quarters, so that if anything happened it would be in the captain's presence. I had just got into the captain's room when the window crashed. I did not see what did it. as it was then very dark. Captain's Arrival "I tried to get into the captain's day room," continued witness, "but found I could not, and Lundy was coming at me. I rushed him and grabbed him by the throat and wrist. The captain then arrived find Lbndy was locked up in the ship's hospital." Captain Frederick William Robinson, master of the ship, said that Lundy was under the influence of liquor, although not rolling about. His conduct had been generally very good. Albert Lichfield, the quartermaster from whom Lundy took over, said the ship was on her course when he was relieved. Constable C. A. Jackways, of Lyttelton, said Lundy told him he had had a few glasses of wine earlier in the evening. "When I was relieved the third officer said the ship was off her course," said accused. "I said I was trying to get it back." Got Hatchet From Galley Hill pushed him off the bridge, continued Lundy, and he (Lundy) then went to the galley and found the hatchet, which was used as a coal hammer. He intended to do no great harm. "No officer is allowed to come and pull me away from the wheel like a dog," Lundy said to Sub-Inspector Maclean. In reply to the magistrate, Lundy declared that his mind was a blank from the time he alleged he was struck outside the wheelhouse until he found himself in the captain's cabin. Lundv was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour, and ordered to be placed on a ship at the end of that period.