MISSING TRAWLER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 11

MISSING TRAWLER

Vessel Answering to Her Description Seen London, May 18. The British steamer Avoceta has advised Lloyd’s that when it was passing the Salvage Islands, 180 miles south of Madeira, yesterday an anchored fishing vessel was seen which answered to the description of the missing trawler Girl Pat. Several boats were working close inshore. The islands are a small rocky group, dependencies of Madeira, used mainly as fishing bases. It is suggested that the object of the captain of the Girl Pat, for which BriIsh shipping has been instructed to keep a look-out, is a search for Captain Kidd’s pirate treasure, which is reputed to be hoarded in the Salvage Islands.

A Grimsby resident who once participated in a search states that Captain Osborne is in possession of rough treasure charts. Captain Osborne often questioned him concerning the treasure and hinted that he contemplated a search. The British Government sent an expedition to the islands in 1930, but the treasure was not found.

Lloyd’s agents throughout the world have been instructed to watch for the North Sea trawler Girl Pat, which the Admiralty declares will be a pirate if it is proved Hint the skipper and crew of four seized her, and then it will be the duty of every ship flying the British flag to assist in apprehending her. The trawler, equipped with the latest Diesel engines, left Dover on April 4 and put in at Corcnbion (Spain) on April.l2. It left nine days later, after extensive repairs, not stating its destination. Its owners, the Marstand Fishing Company, notified the underwriters on April 27 that they regarded the ship as a total loss. They explained that they engaged the skipper a few months ago and he picked his own crew, with the exception of the engineer, whom he left at Dover. The owners state that they have come to the conclusion that the master, George Black Osborne, and the crew have made off with the vessel.