BRUTAL ATTACK ON DICK ARNST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 3

BRUTAL ATTACK ON DICK ARNST.

(Fboii Ode Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 3. Dick Arnst, the popular New Zealand sculler, who has been living for some time past at Manly, Sydney's marine suburb, was savagely attacked by four ruffians in the early hours of Boxing Morning, sustaining injuries so serious aa to necessitate treatment at a private hospital. It will be learned with regret throughout Australia (says the Sydney Sun) that Dick Arnst, the sculling champion, lies ' in a Manly private hospital almost dona to death at the hands of some drunken brawlers with whom he had remonstrated in the cause of decency and good conduct. Arnst had been enjoying the quiet delights of Manly life for the last month or so, and as an enthusiastic surfer he has been a prominent figure in the breakers and on the beach. For the last week he was missing from his accustomed haunts, and people were wondering on all sides where he had got to, as he patronised the surf three or four times a day. On Christmas Night, or rather in the early hours of Boxing Morning, Amst was asleep at his boarding-house on the ocean beach at North Steyne, when he was awakened by some men making a row and using bad language on the footpath directly in front of the house. Arnst got out of bed, and, hastily dressing, went out to remonstrate with the men. Instead of taking his advice, they started to abuse him, wrenched the gate off its hinges, and became more riotous. A further request from the champion to desist brought upon him a sudden attack from three of them. The big athlete put up a willing fight against his assailants, and' he had pretty well disposed of two of them, when, it is declared, the fourth man, who had not up to then taken part in the one-sided battle, tore a picket from the garden fence, and, sneaking up behind Arnst, dealt him a couple of blows on the head. Arnst fell like a log, and lay on the ground unconscious till some people came along and took him to the surgery of Dr Harold Bennetts, who conveyed the injured man in his car to St. Aubyn's private hospital, and attended to his rounds, which were found to be dangerous. His skull was laid bare on the forehead and on the left side of the head by gaping wounds, and he had lost a lot of blood. He is now progressing favourably towards recovery.