The last time I was in Perth, WA I was headed to a local watering hole with a pair of buddies at a time of the “evening” that had gotten past being late and was well on the way to being early again. We probably didn’t need another beer. But we wanted one. I mean, it was Perth.
The folks we met just outside the bar definitely didn’t need any more. There was a European couple there – the guy was English, and the girl from Eire – young backpackers they were, both of them reeling drunk. They went to cross the street when she stumbled and fell by the curb. By an unfortunate twist of fate, her friend lurched the other way at just the same moment. A mixed group of American sailors and locals, about six or seven young men, saw this from a different angle than I did and sadly misinterpreted the scene.
They thought that the guy had knocked his lady fried down, and instantly set upon him with a vengeance, outraged. The guy was too drunk to defend himself, and was quickly knocked to the ground. Without much thinking about it I stepped between them to break it up just as they started to kick at him. It was horrifying and outrageous, I was shouting at them and it frankly could have gone either way but there didn’t seem anything else to do. They might have killed him, and I’d already seen one kick land on his head. One of the sailors said something about how the guy had “knocked her down, man.”
I told him with blood in my eye not to “man” me, that they were mistaken and that they’d better shove the hell off. Our eyes locked for a moment, but he wasn’t too drunk to evaluate my accent, age, haircut and tone of voice. The sailors took off at a run, the locals following after. I was shivering a bit once they’d run off.
I guess it was a little cold out, or something.
I would have dearly liked to bug out myself, there’s no career either in brawling or in breaking up brawls at 0200 for Navy commanders, and most of the people around us were too shocked and drunk themselves to make for very reliable witnesses when the police came. I had visions of being delivered to the ship at 0600 in hand cuffs after a night in gaol insisting that this was all a mistake, that I was innocent. Which, tell that to the judge.
But there was that girl still lying in the road, and that would never do. Plus we had to stay with the guy at least until the ambulance arrived. He was in a bad way, and it was hard to tell how much of that was from the beer and how much from the beating. We couldn’t just leave them.
When the ambulance came, the local constabulary came right along with it of course. The police were true pro’s, and our story checked out. We walked away having had our fill of adventure for the evening, and I found out the next day – through our strike group’s flag officer, no less – that the backpacker was going to be fine, which was a relief.
That’s about the best way a story like that can end up.
This, on the other hand, is about the worst way:
HALIFAX (CP) – An American sailor killed during an early-morning bar brawl in Halifax was a “Good Samaritan” trying to break up a fight he wasn’t even involved in, police said Sunday.
Hull Technician 1st Class Damon Crooks, 28, of West Palm Beach, Fla., was stabbed early Saturday outside a popular downtown club after a fight that began inside spilled onto the street.
Cory Wright, 23, of Halifax was charged Sunday with first-degree murder. Two other local men face less severe charges.
Crooks and at least one other sailor, who was taken to hospital with minor injuries, apparently tried to break up a fight that escalated into a brawl involving about 20 people, said police spokeswoman Theresa Brien.
“There was a disturbance unrelated to the American sailors, where a local individual was being assaulted,” said Brien.
“It looks like the American sailors attempted to intervene as Good Samaritans, at which point the disturbance escalated.”
Brien said police don’t think the two seamen were targeted because they were American sailors. She said there were other U.S. sailors at the scene, although it wasn’t clear whether any were in uniform at the time.
A witness told the Halifax Chronicle-Herald the melee started as a fight between two women at the club.
What a shame.
Things I was taught [and thought I'd long forgotten] in the Merchant Marine:
*Switchblades come in unexpected shapes and sizes
*Blood looks like paint on the floor, and it flakes in the morning
*Never get up from a table without your hands leading first
*Always take the table away from the hinged side of the door
*First beer is always a long neck bottle, save the empty
*If the shrimpers want to stand at the bar looking silly in welding hats, sleeveless shirts, running shorts and white rubber boots–well that’s their business. You mind yours quietly…
*Leave early –you’ll be glad you did
It’s a damn shame; made even more so by the fact that the defendant was on active parole. I could enter into a diatribe here about Canadian Law, but the same thing happens here – many times a day. A Pox on lenient judges!
Tactical Note: If you absolutely have to intervene in a bar fight (like you’re senior – and everyone knows it)yank on the guy/girl who’s losing; they want out anyway.
Lex,
I would’ve been disappointed if you didn’t step in. Defender of the defenseless….
As for the other story- what a damn shame. Being the Good Samaritan doesn’t always have good results, unfortunately. It does, however, show that our boys aren’t afraid to defend what’s right- no matter what the consequences might be.
I’d be damn proud if I was his mother, knowing that my son died defending someone.
Jeez Lex. Give the keyboard a break will ya? Can’t keep up with your prose today.
Slow day at work
On that note… I guess I better read in detail what you had written as I was doing a final drive by before hitting the sack. Son of a bitch, mea culpa. If this tragedy happened in Halifax, NS, this is really too bad all the way around. God speed and God bless Hull Tech First Class Crooks.
Having visited Halifax with Lipstick 6 not too long ago, I liked the and the town and the folks there and didn’t see any seamy side to it. In fact, they were down right friendly to Americans and we had a great weekend.
Alchohol really has no friends.
He’s from my town. We are sick for the family. I didn’t know him, but I have sons and I am heart broken for them.
Well I feel almost obligated to respond since Hfx is darn close to my home town, well my adopted one anyway. It really is a sad thing. What’s bothering me now is that after saying that the sailor intervened in a fight (as a Good Samaritan), the local newspapers today purported to tell a different story – that he and his buddy were attacked during a fight for their gold medallions. No mention of the Good Samaritan story. The newspaper piece today was about “bling”, how the last 3 stabbings in Hfx involved youth attacking pple for their gold chains and other rapper-style jewellry. To have as a status symbol or trade for drugs. Not sure I buy this story, but who knows…. the Good Samaritan story would at least give his family something to be proud of as opposed to dying in just senseless violence.
Lived in Halifax for three years and use to walk those hills in not the best state at 3:00 in the morning many weekends. It was a great city. I would say it still is. We use to call it the “little big city” because although it was large enough it still had a nice smaller feel to it. But definitely getting more violent lately; just another example of stupid things I did that could be potentially suicidal for my kids to try when they get to the same age.
But Bomber Guy, you can’t blame the Canadian judges yet, at least wait until the guy is sentenced. Opposition politicians trying to make hay on the story today too; the guy who did the stabbing had served four years in jail for previous stabbing; Crown has asked for 12. Pol trying to say its government’s fault for not appealing sentence. This despite fact that independant prosecution service had been set up years ago so that gov’t couldn’t intefere.
Again, my condolences to the sailor’s family.
As I finish reading today’s paper, I see that the Chronicle-Herald, one of our provincial papers, has initiated the Damon Crooks Family Fund to assist the sailor’s financee and daughter. Knowing Haligonians, in particular, and Nova Scotians, in general, I am sure some generous and heartfelt donations will be made to the cause.
Until this tragedy, I hadn’t even realized that this is Halifax’s third stabbing of the year. So sad.
This hurts. I lived in Halifax for a year before heading down to Pensacola. That was at the end of 7 wonderful years in Nova Scotia. I was living in Halifax when I received word I was accepted to AOCS and since the Standing NATO Fleet was in for a visit, I headed down to the US Navy frigate that was assigned to that duty. I talked my way onboard and had a nice visit and conversation about my upcoming Naval career with a few officers. We met afterwards at the Split Crow for some beer. Halifax is a great place – I’m sorry this happened and HT1 Crook and his family will be in our prayers.
Michelle-
That’s really cool. I would like to think that if something like this happened in the US, the Americans would start a similar fund.
Ah, the Split Crow – many a Saturday afternoon and evening spent there. There and the Lower Deck. If any of you ever head back up this way, let me know
Sister, yeah, I would like to think the same. But I don’t know…..I am actually pleasantly surprised that this was done. Would venture to guess say it would not have been done in other provinces, at least not outside the Maritimes.