Bottle Tells Of Murder And Mutiny

Conflicting reports of shipboard fire, then mutiny at sea, surrounded the rescue of seven Taiwanese fishermen washed up on a Polynesian atoll and flown to Papeete on December 27.

The seven seamen were first discovered on Manihi, in the Tuamotus 300 mdes north-east of Tahiti. They had drifted four days on a raft which appeared to be well-made. After being washed up on Manihi . they lived three days on shellfish and coconuts before being found.

The men explained they were the sole survivors of the Ho Chawn No 12, which had caught fire at sea, the captain and eight crewmen being lost, as well as another seaman who attempted to escape with the seven survivors.

This was the version of the drama reported after the men were flown to Papeete. Then four days later, in the best tradition of sea dramas, a bottle was found washed up on another atoll. On New Year's Day its message was flashed around the world, for that bottle contained a note from the vessel stating that a mutiny had broken out on board.

The note said the captain and first mate had been murdered. Apparently disputes had broken out on board over the length of stay in the popular port of Papeete.

The seven escapees suddenly assumed the role of mutineers, giving the Tahiti maritime authorities an interesting plot to unfurl.