Did the Gob Fall— Or was He Struck?

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 3

Did the Gob Fall — Or was He Struck?

Stricken one Recovering, the Dead one Accidental, Says Official Version.

Whether the Americans, like the British, term their navy the "silent service," this paper has no idea, but on first acquaintance we would take a risk on the "mysterious

service. ' '

Mystery certainly attaches to the* death on the hospital ship Relief m Wellington last week of a seaman, Wallace Dole, from the battleship. Seattle, Admiral Coontz's flagship. Following the official version comes an extraordinary story of confusion of identity. And the story comes from no less a person than the officer for the day on Tuesday on the flagship. RUMOR OF A BRAWL. Here are the facts: On Saturday it was reported by the evening, press that a. seaman from the Seattle had died on the hospital ship, 'where be was taken on Thursday evening "suffering from severe injuries to the skull. It was reported ,then, though

without official endorsement, that these had been caused by a biow or blows from a naval patrolman's baton m the course of intervention m a street brawl. The naval authorities gave an entirely different version, stating that Dole reported sick after having fallen into a gravel pit near the waterfront on the Thursday night. He was sent to the hospital ship and there died from a haemorrhage of the brain. The story of the patrolman's baton gained strength, however; and it was a subject on which everyone had some- j thing to say, especially as patrolmen are to be seen stalking the streets, armed with stout and formidable clubs called batons.' "Truth" has seen one used on the head of a luckless gob who staggered from an hotel m a riotous frame of mind. Crack! The weapon landed on his skull, and m an instant ho was

From the Country Said a foolish young lady of Wales, "A smell of escaped gas prevails." Then she searched, with a light, . And later that night Was collected — m seventeen pails!

a helpless, docile prisoner. Patrolmen do not hesitate to reduce a prospective prisoner to pliancy, by these means. WHAT ORDERLY OFFICER SAID. However, the methods by which discipline is maintained m the American navy is no affair of "Truth's." This paper was merely concerned ,fov the benefit of the thousands of readers ih obtaining an authentic account of this happening, so much discussed, and so a representative went aboard the Seattle and addressed himself to the orderly officer for the day. "It's all a mistake," he said., "The man who got a crack on the head with a baton — and men often do, you know — is well on his way to recovery. The man who died was a man who reported sick on the

Pennsylvania. I just heard it this morning. I got it from Colonel Beaumont. However, you'd better, see the Staff Duty Officer." The orderly officer disappeared for. a few moments at this, and returned shortly to say the Staff Duty Officer had nothing to say until a report was received from the committee of inj ciuiry investigating the affair. A report was expected shortly. When? He had no idea. As two dainty damsels demurely stepped up at this moment, the orderly officer clearly had a duty to perform m asking them their business, so the interview was cut short. The following evening the finding of the official board of inquiry was made known. It was to the effect thai Dole succumbed as the result of a blow on the head through falling into a gravel pit one evening during the week.