STORY OF GIRL PAT’S VOYAGE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 11

STORY OF GIRL PAT’S VOYAGE

Mate Left Behind at Dakar NAVIGATION WITH AID OF SIXPENNY ATLAS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received May 2S, 9.30 p.m.) London, May 27. A message from Dakar states that though the authorities at English. French and West African ports have been requested to detain the missing trawler Girl Pat, she has sufficient fuel for 2000 miles. Quantities of provisions and water obtained at Dakar were not paid for, and nothing further may be heard of her for a month. The “Daily Mail’s” Dakar correspondent says that the Girl Pat is now believed to be heading for Cape Town. When she called at Dakar Osborne, the captain, came ashore and told the harbourmaster he wanted to restock the vessel with food and have her engines repaired. The authorities were discussing what action could be taken when suddenly the trawler slipped out to sea again, leaving behind the mate, Harry Stone, also unpaid bills. Stone, interviewed, said: “When we set out from Grimsby we did not go fishing as supposed, but made straight for Dover, where we put the engineer ashore because he was becoming restless The engines broke down soon after leaving Calais. We managed to patch them up. but they broke down again and we were forced to use sail. Tlie vessel called at Luges. Spain, v. here we bought a sixpenny atlas, with the aid of which we managed to reach Vigo. We then went to Concubion, where we stayed 15 days and had a grand time. The maritime authorities lent us money and we slept all day and st,ent the nights in cafes. “We then struck some uninhabited islands and stayed on one for three lays mending sails, after which we hugged the African coast to Cape Blanco, where we renewed provisions. but these were dll stolen, also part of the vessel’s equipment, while we were ashore. We tried to get more food at Port Etienne, but were unable to do so because we had no money. All we bad aboard before calling at Dakar was three bottles- of water, a little wine and a tin of milk for five men. I am through with adventures and am glad to be out of it.” Stone is reported to have told the Dakar port officials that the crew intended to sell the vessel and divide the money. UNDERWRITERS MAY PAY (Received May 29, 1.5 a.m.) London, May 28. It is understood that, a majority of underwriters have agreed to settle the claim for £3600 for the total loss of the Girl Pat as the expenses of the attempt to recover her are mounting up and the legal process at any port to which she puts in will necessarily be slow and expensive. If she is recovered before settlement of the claim, the owners will take possession, otherwise she will be sold, the proceeds going to the underwriters as salvage.