NEGRO STOWAWAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16500, 30 July 1919, Page 2

NEGRO STOWAWAY.

IN RUAPEHU’S COAL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. July 30. A nigger in the coal-pile incident is reported by soldiers who arrived on hoard the Ruapehu. The vessel coaled at Newport News and a day or two afterwards men sitting on the hatch of the hold forward heard, tapping. As the noise continued' an officer’s attention was directed to the sound and the hatches were lifted to disloose a negro, whose first request was for water. He had been knocked down by the rush of coal through the overhead shoots and buried almost _ completely for three days and two nights. He fought his way, through the coal towards the centre of the ship where ho was able to attract attention. Ho said that there were two others buried, but volunteers who xd>°d shovels vigorously found nothing, so it is presumed tho negro was mistaken. He was put ashore at Colon.