ADRIFT IN BATH-TUB

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 242, 26 July 1935, Page 5

ADRIFT IN BATH-TUB

DESERTING APPRENTICE SAFE.

ii. LANDS AFTER SIX HOURS’ TRIP.

TO BE CHARGED AT BRISBANE,

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 8.50 a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day.

Karl Hjelmstrom, the Swedish apprentice who deserted from the barque C. B. Pedersen in the ship’s bathrtub, was brought to Thursday Island from York Island. He told how, when over the sidb with the captain’s bathtub, he had fitted it with an outrigger and, improvising a sail, set out for Darnley Island, which he reached after six hours. From there he was taken to York Island.

Hjelmstrom will be charged with being a prohibited immigrant.

LURED BY TALES OF COLD.

SHIP'S ONLY BATH GONE

SYDNEY, July 18.

The passage of the Swedish fourmaster barque C. B. Pedersen from Melbourne to Gothenburg, by way of Torres Strait, with eight passengers (four of theim ladies), has been enlivened by two exciting incidents. One was the discovery three days after the vessel left Melbourne of a girl stowaway. The other occurred one night .last week, when one of the cadets left the vessel on an improvised raft. A wireless message received l in Melbourne from Miss Glen Mills, a passenger on the barque, stated that the stowaway is Miss Edith Wilson, of Melbourne, who was formerly employed at a chocolate factory. An official of the factory said that the girl “just disappeared” .about five weeks ago. Little is known of her by the other employees, among whom she apparently made few friends. Before Miss Wilson left her guardian died. I Ship’s Only Bath-tub. The apprentice who left the ship is Bertil Hjelmstrom, aged 21, a native of jSweden. It is believed that he constructed a crude raft from the ship s only bath-tub, which he hoisted over the side of 'the ship. He took with him all his belongings. At the time, the C. B. Pedersen was about 100 miles east-south-east of Thursday Island. When,Hjelmstrom’s disappearance was reported to the master, Captain Hjalmar Dahlstrom,,. a- search .was .madp, hut the cadet was not found!. So, in his old wooden tub, with an improvised sail as his ensign of adventure, and a rifle beside him to meet the perils of the sea, Bertil Hjelmstrom is possibly bobbing about somewhere in Torres Strait. . , Hjelmstrom quit his ship with the intention of making for New Guinea, 50 miles off. He had been lured by tales of gold to be won, but those on board knew the ladi, and particularly the wooden bath, and fear for liis safety. The ship’s captain is worried also, for if Hjelmstrom lands in Australia he may be regarded as a prohibited immigrant, and the captain will have to forfeit £IOO, as well as the bath, the only one that was on boaid. Stowaway Signed on as Stewardess. . Neither of the incidents had been reported in previous messages from the C. B. Pedersen, because Captain Dahlstrom had asked that the news should be withheld, pending an inquiry. . Three weeks have passed since Miss Wilson was found. Before the barque left Melbourne on June 18, the ship was searched for stowaways, hut Miss Wilson was not discovered until three days after the vessel had! cleared Port Phillip Heads. She was signed on as a stewardess.