THE MOA'S CREW'S STORY

Observer, Volume XXXIX, Issue 49, 9 August 1919, Page 19

THE MOA'S CREW'S STORY

THRILLING EXPERIENCE.

How the Moa Was Captured.

The following • interesting story, in which is told the experiences of the "Moa appeared in the Auckland "Evening Star" of 28th Deceniber, 1917:—

It appears, that the Moa left Omokoroa about 10 o'clock on the morning of Saturday, December 15th, with a cargo of timber for Auckland. ' All went well till about 8 a.m. on the Sunday morning, when they arrived off Mercury Bay. At this time the skipper, Captain Bourke, was on deck, and noticed a motor launch flying the New Zealand flag, a man on ' board in uniform waving to the scow to stop. The launch at this time was astern of the Moa, flying the German flag, and about 20 minutes later drew alongside, and an officer and ten men jumped aboard the scow. The officer was Count Yon Luckner, and he immediately said, "You are prisoners of war to Germany," and then hoisted the German flag on the Moa, pulling down the one that was flying. Captain Bourke, knowing nothing of the escape of the prisoners at the time, was naturally thunderstruck at this surprise boarding. The Count and one other when they boarded the scow were armed, and a third man held a bomb ready in each hand. The crew of the scow, being without any arms at all, were helpless in face of these odds, andj without mode ado, the Count told the captain ami crew that they would have to work the ship and obey orders, and that they would get treated accordingly.. Under orders from the Count-, the ship was then turned about,; and-'her-head-'set in a different direction. They sailed on this course for five days, .and then sighted land on Friday, the 21st, about ten o'clock in the. morning. The scow was hove, to, and five of the Germans went ashore in the dinghy and returned with stores from the island. These stores were taken aboard the scow, and the dinghy returned for another load, but while she was absent a steamer hove in sight, and the Germans ashore were immediately signalled to return to the scow. Upon the dinghy being hoisted the scow was put under way with all sails set, and the order given to steer west. The steamer rapidly overhauled her, however, and, after a chase of about twenty mimvtek fired a shot across the scow's bows as an order to heave to. The scow heaving to, the other vessel steamed up to within hailing distance, and ordered the German captain to appear on board at once. Hoisting the German Flag. Yon Luckner and two other Germans then left in the dinghy for the steamer. ■■ A- boat from- the steamer with an armed guard then boarded the Moa and took charge of the remaining ■ Germans,- while > the scow was taken in tow for Auckland. While captives aboard their own vessel the crew of the scow appear to have received good treatment at the hands of their captors, receiving an equal share of the food available. The launch Pearl, -which was taken in tow after the Germans boarded the Moa, was lost in heavy weather, while about 40,000 ft. of timber, representing half the cargo, had to be thrown overboard for the safety of the vessel. (To be continued next weefc.)