The New York herald., 1922-01-10
ship CREW BATTLES
WITHBOOTLEGCANC
Seven Attempt to Rush Deck
of German Boat in Quest
for Rum.
ONE OFFICER NEAR DEATH
Fights Alone Till Help Comes;
Four Escape and Three
Are Locked Up.
)NE OFFICER NEAR DEATH

Albert Greenland Of go East 214th
street, The Bronx. on duty as guard
at the gangplank Of the steamship
Mount Clay of the United American
sides Of the ship last night about z
o'clock. A few moments later seven
roughly dressed men appeared at the
bottom Of the gangplanlk. Greenland
walked down and asked them what
they wanted.
We're coming aboard one of the
msh said. Get out Of the way"
Greenland told them to keep off. but
they pushed him aside and ran onto
tine ship. Greenland blew q whistle
to summon officers and crew. The
whistle and the argument between
Greenland and the seven men were
heard by Charles N. Banforth of
Swampscott, Mass chief officer of the
steamship, and he hurried from his
cabin.
Banforth met the seven men on the
afterdeck and ordered them of the ship.
o.rc of. them swung at him with black
jack. Banforth lodged and knocked the
man down. The other six closed in upon
him. and he fought them all. shouting
for help. He knocked two others down
with his fist and stretched another un-
conscious on the deck with n blow from
snail iron bar which he picked up
from the deck. but the bar was wrenched
Prom Ill 1n, t,tr i'll
his side.
Whips Seven Invaders.
Two os three Of the invaders had black
Jacks, and they circled the outskirts OF
the struggling group, Of which Banforth
was the center. trying to smash the
skull of the chief officer. Finally one
managed to get close enough to swing
his blackjack and hit Banforth behind
the right ear. His skull fractured. Ban
forth fell unconscious TO the deck just as
the third officer. Charles Strausser, came
to his aid with several members OF the
crew.
Strausser and his men laid about them
with Delaying pins and handspikes and
the seven invaders tried to flee. Others
of the crew met them at the gangplank
Four managed to fight their way
through the Gordon and onto the pier,
WiscTc tney NHnlSneu among the ware
houses. It is believed they made their
way to the boat In which they had come.
as they did not go through the main gates
and no trace of them could be found.
The other three men were chased about
the deck and beaten by members Of the
ships crew until they surrendered
Admit They Arc Bootleggers.
Officers of the ship sent word to the
West Forty-seventh street station and
Detective Stanley locked the ,srisoners up.
They gave their names as Hugo Stengle
of 445 West Forty-sfxth stree: Pat
rick Mcclure of 524 West Forty-fffth
street. and Gilbert 8. Hettrich OF 44s
West Forty-eighth street. They said they
were bootleggers and had boarded the
ship to get whisky from man of the
crew with whom they had made ar
rsngements to smuggle the liquor In
from Germany. They would not reveal
the name OF this man. They we're
charged with felonious assault. which
viii be changed to homicide " Banforth
dies. The chief officer. sent to Bellevue
Hospital. was still unconscious early
this morning and his condition is serious.
Police notified Government prohibit
ton enforcement authorities and the
Mount Clay will be searched. Detectives
say they have learned the whisky which
caused several deaths during the Christ
mas holidays was smuggled into this
country on a German ship.