TROUBLE ON HIGH SEAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23006, 8 October 1936, Page 13

TROUBLE ON HIGH SEAS

FIERCE STRUGGLE. AT WHEEL QUARTERMASTER ASSAULTS MATE (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 7. With the ship following a zig-zag course, the third officer'and the quar-ter-master struggled at the wheel of the Remuera as the vessel was passing Cape Campbell on Monday night. Later, a ship's axe, thrown by the quarter-master, crashed through a glass panel into the captain's cabin, where the third officer had gone seeking aid. The quarter-master followed the axe and grappled with the mate, but received a black eye and was taken into custody. Quarter-master James. Lundy, aged 42, a native of Ireland, appeared in the court this morning charged with assulting the third mate, Harold Hill, on the high seas. Lundy was sentenced to three months' hard labour by Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., and ordered to be placed on the ship at the end of the term.

The police said the Remuera sailed from Wellington at 5 o'clock on Monday. Lundy was due on the bridge at 8 o'clock, but arrived 10 minutes late. The third mate knew that Lundy had been drinking in Wellington, and after a few minutes sent for another man to take the wheel, as the mate was anxious to get an accurate bearing of pape Campbell. Lundy refused to go, but after a struggle was put out of the wheel house. Lundy returned and the mate went into the captain's cabin to call the captain, and there was a crash as an axe came through a panel. Hill, in evidence, said that soon after Lundy took the wheel he found the ship off her course. A chart produced by Hill indicated that a zig-zag course had been taken and Hill said he found it impossible to get another bearing with Lundy steering. In evidence Lundy said the mate told him the ship was off the course, and his reply was that he was bringing her back. He denied that he claimed that the mate struck him and stupefied him after he was put off the bridge. He saw an axe and the sight of it tempted him to threaten the third officer. In reply to the magistrate. Lundy declared that his mind was a blank from the time he was alleged to be struck outside the wheel house until'he found himself in the captain's cabin.