Mutiny at White Star

That great liner, which reached Southampton only on Saturday night last, was due to leave for New York on Wednesday at noon, and all arrangements for her sailing were thought to be complete, but unexpected developments took place, which have since assumed a most serious turn.

All her 1,400 and odd passengers were on board, including the Duke of Sutherland, but a few minutes before the time fixed for departure, a deputation from the firemen and greasers waited upon Mr P E Curry, the local manager of the White Star Line, with whom Commander Clarke, the chief emigration officer happened to be standing, and stated that they were not satisfied with the collapsible boats which had been placed on the boat deck. It was even alleged that in the course of an inspection one of their number had pushed his thumb through the canvas hull. Commander Clarke, in reply, assured the men that he had officially examined all the boats and was quite satisfied with what the company had done with regard to the provision of additional lifeboats. As far as his own personal inspection went all the boats were satisfactory and, if the men were not satisfied with this assurance, he was prepared to go with the Olympic down to Cowes, and there demonstrate with any boat or boats that the men might care to select the complete seaworthiness of the craft. He could not believe that the allegation just made could be true, and the offer he had made, he thought, was one which would meet the grievance. The deputation, however, were not satisfied and Mr Curry gave them five minutes to make up their minds what they were going to do. The men's delegates thereupon returned to the stoke hole to confer with their conferers.

The result of their deliberation was not long in doubt. Eight bells had struck and the last passenger gangway had been removed, when down the only gangway that remained in position at the stern of the vessel, the greasers and firemen trooped ashore in India file with their kitbags over their shoulders. The quay was as crowded at the time with sightseers, who had assembled to see the great liner off, and from the lofty decks of the vessel towering above the sheds on shore, the faces of tier upon tier of passengers looked down on the strange and unrehearsed scene in puzzled wonder.

Subsequently Mr A Cannon, the secretary of the British Seafarers' Union, whose members manned the stokehole, gathered the men around him in the shed on the quay side and placed the case before them, leaving the decision as to how they were to act entirely in their own hands. He asked them whether after hearing Commander Clarke's offer if they were prepared to accept it or not. A vote was taken, and with complete unanimity as far as could be seen, the men decided against returning to the ship.

Board of Trade officials were aboard the ship in the morning, and the enforced stay in the Solent was utilised for lifeboat drill. The 20 wooden lifeboats were lowered in turn, and the crew were practised with the collapsible boats.

In the afternoon another deadlock arose. The Seafarers' Union requested the 18 firemen who stuck to the ship on Wednesday should be dismissed before other firemen of their union rejoined the vessel, but the White Star Company refused to entertain the idea. Apart from this statement, no news reached Southampton as to what was transpiring on board the Olympic. Meanwhile the union firemen many of them carrying their kit bags, were assembled in the vicinity of the Royal Pier. They were orderly, though a few of the younger men were inclined to be argumentative. The only duty the police, under Chief Inspector Allison had to perform was to keep the roadway clear for vehicular traffic. The stokers' band, led by a man dressed as a Redskin, put in an appearance during the afternoon and directed the exuberant spirits of the men into a harmless channel. Just before five o'clock the union officials ordered the men to disperse and reassemble at seven o'clock next morning.

A QUESTION OF BOATS

A largely-attended meeting of the men who refused to sail in the Olympic was held at the Southern District Schools on Wednesday.

Mr T Lewis, the president of the British Seafarers' Union, whose members man the stokehold of the liner, made a lengthy statement concerning the dispute about the lifeboat accommodation, which culminated in nearly 300 men leaving the ship just before she was due to sail. He declared that the men had taken their stand that day, and whatever the immediate result might be their action was bound to make for progress so far as seafarers were concerned in the future.

At the conclusion of the meeting pickets were posted at the dock gates to prevent the recruiting of non-union labour. Forty free labourers were sent to the Olympic on Wednesday by tug.

It was expected that the Olympic would proceed yesterday morning, but a new difficulty arose. During the early hours of the morning, a new complement of firemen, to replace those who left the vessel at Southampton on Wednesday, boarded the ship off Ryde and it was thought the difficulty was over, but it subsequently transpired that the deck hands refused to do duty.

Later the mutinous seamen were taken in custody, and were brought before the magistrates at Portsmouth.

On the return of the deputation which was appointed by the Seafarers' Union to witness the demonstration of the collapsible boats on the Olympic on Thursday night, Mr Lewis made the following statement.

The firemen of the Olympic met at seven o'clock yesterday morning. About eight o'clock Mr Blake, the superintendent engineer of the White Star Company said the company were agreeable to an inspection of the Olympic's lifeboats if the men would agree to appoint a deputation.