ATTEMPTS FAIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26692, 11 February 1948, Page 4

ATTEMPTS FAIL

SHIP DESERTERS CAUGHT EXCITING CHASE ON WHARF Valiant and determined efforts by five seamen from the Denholm Line steamer Glenpark to settle in New Zealand yesterday proved abortive. Alter scaling down the, side of the ship—their second attempt to desert —the men vfere making good their escape when the long hand of the law reached out. As a result, they spent last night becoming acquainted with conditions in the Dunedin “ lock-up,” and this morning they will appear in the City Police Court. Whether it was Dunedin’s climate or its centennial celebrations.that. enticed the sailors to make a further bid to leave the ship after their first attempt had failed miserably, with the police returning them ignominiously to the ship, is uncertain, but to-day, as sailing time drew near, they, collected their belongings, threw them on to the wharf, and then scaled down the side of the vessel.

Some hurried consultations on board took place, the police were called, and a chase —exciting to the onlookers but perhaps less so to the sailors and their burly pursuers—began. The sailors, although possessing, a pretty turn of speed, did not show much form over the distance, and were cornered by the officers of the law in a timber yard near the wharf.

The seamen were arrested on warrants, and will appear this morning in the Police Court on charges of being absent without leave from their shipLess amusing than the men s action was its result/ The Glenpark’s sailing for Whyalla, in South Australia, was delayed, and the vessel is' now expected to leave to-day.