SKIRMISH WITH POLICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19462, 23 November 1925, Page 7

SKIRMISH WITH POLICE

SYDNEY WHARF INCIDENT BAILORS GET BRAVE, AND BRAVER. BUR RENDER SOON FOLLOWS. By Telegraph—Per Press Aren.—Copyright. Beceived November 22. 10.20 p.m. SYDNEY. Nov. 22. K short sharp fight occurred on the wharf last night between the police and about twenty members of the crew of the steamer Persie. Early in tho afternoon seamen went Rshore and. it is alleged, they spent most of the afternoon in various hotels until closing time, when they returned to the ship. It is understood they met a representative of the strikers, who persuaded them to get him aboard the Persic. On arrival at the wharf the gates watchman refuse*! the stranger entrance, and he was threatened with instant violence. He summoned a constable, who also refused the stranger admission. The seamen becoming more enraged, the constable held them off while the watchman sought assistance. Another constable arrived, when the seamen, in a concerted rush, succeeded In gaining the wharf and went aboard rhe Pers>. When the constables and watchman appeared on the wharf they were with a fesilad? of lumps cf iron and wood, and potatoes. A sergeant of police and three constables th»»n arrived and as they approached the ship a lump of iron missed a constable’s head by the fraction of an inch. The seamen were working themselves into a frenzy and four of them, armed with shovels and iron bars, charged down the gangway, intent upon putting the police to immediate flight. As soon as they reached the foot cf the gangway the police leapt upon them. The weapons were wrenched out of their hands and they were arrested. The remainder, seeing the fate of the quartette, surrendered. The Persic was due to sail to-dav.