EMS-ORE: POLICE BOARDING SHIP; NEUMANN OF STRETCHES; WRECKED CABIN; LIFE RAFT ON DECK; STRETCHER LOWERED TO LIFE BOAT; LIFE BOAT RETURNING TO SHORE.




Initials GEM/VS/CCT/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BRITISH POLICE TOOK THREE GERMAN SEAMEN OFF A LIBERIAN FIGHTER AT PENZANCE IN CORNWALL, SOUTH WEST ENGLAND TODAY (SATURDAY) AFTER THEY HAD ALLEGELDY4 RUN AMOK WITH FIRE AXIS AND HAMMERS.

THE DRAMA ABOARD THE 8,200 TON BULK ORE CARRIER STARTED IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING. THE EMS-ORE WAS FIFTH MILE WEST OF THE CORNISH COAST, SAILING FROM GLASSGOW TO VITTORA IN BRAZIL, WHEN THREE SEAMEN BROKE INTO THE BONDED STORE AND GRABBED BOTTLES OF GIN AND WHISKY AND CARTONS OF CIGARETTES.

OTHER CREWMEN, WHO SAID THE THREE WERE ROLF NEUMANN, WALTER CEZESZIOR AND HERBERT SPECKOWIUS, TOLD HOW THE MUTINEERS THEN BROKE INTO THE BOSUN'S CABIN. BUT THE ESCAPED THROUGH A PORTHOLE, AND AFTER A CHASE LOCKED HIMSELF INSIDE THE FUNNEL INSPECTION DOOR, WHERE HE SPENT THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

THE THREE, WHO WERE SAID BY NOW TO BE DRUNK, THEN TRIED TO BREAK INTO THE RADIO ROOM, BUT THE OPERATOR BARRICADED HIMSELF IN AN HELD THEM OFF WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHEN THEY TRIED TO GET IN THROUGH A PORTHOLE. HE MANAGED TO SEND A MASSAGE TO THE CORNISH PORT OF PENZANCE, SAYING THAT THREE SEAMEN HAD GONE BESSERK AND ASKING FOR HELP.

THE THREE, ACCORDING TO EYEWITNESS REPORTS, LOADED THEIR PERSONAL POSSESSION, THE STOLEN BOTTLES AND CIGARETTES AND A CHART OF THE ATLANTIC INTO A LIFEBOAT. BUT WHEN THEY FAILED TO LAUNCH IT THEY SMASHED IT WITH FIRE AXES AND HEMMERS. THEN THEY LAUNCHED A RUBBER LIFE RAFT, BUT ONLY NEUMANN MANAGED TO GET ABOARD IT AS IT DRIFTED AWAY FROM THE SHIP.

OTHER CREWMEN LAUNCHED A BOAT SEARCH FOR NEUMANN, WHO, THEY SAID, ATTACKED THEM WITH AN AXE WHEN THEY FOUND HIM. HE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND BROUGHT BACK ABOARD. MEANWHILE CEZESZIOR AND SPECKOWIUS, SAID THE OTHER SEAMEN, HAD SMASHED THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN AND WERE STILL ON THE RAMPAGE.

BUT WHEN THE SHIP ALTERED COURSE AND HEADED FOR CORNWALL THE BECAME SUBDUED AND WERE RETRAINED BY THE OTHER SAILORS.

AS THE EMS-ORE NEARED PENZANCE, TWO LIFT BOATS AND A PILOT COAT CARRYING A PARTY OF POLICE PUT OUT TO MEET HER. ONE OF THE LIFE BOATS BROUGHT NEUMANN, ON A STRETCHER, ASHORE. HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, WHERE HE IS UNDER OBSERVATION. POLICE BROUGHT CEZESZIOR AND SPECKOWIUS ASHORE TOO, AND THEIR SHIP SAILED ON FOR SOUTH AMERICA.

LATER PENZANCE POLICE SAID THAT NO CHARGES WOULD BE MADE, BUT INSTEAD THE THREE WOULD BE SENT TO GERMANY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.