SEAMAN LIVES IN TREES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1936, Page 10

SEAMAN LIVES IN TREES

CRUSOE ON AFRICAN COAST. DC R BAN. Juno J 2. There was something of the Rob inson Crusoe about the- seaman of tinAmerican freighter. Robin Adair, which recently returned to America from East .Africa via the Cape. On the last, tri)) of the vessel tbiman. descried the ship at Mombas and to escape detection wont into the interior to hide. Having a little money and finding on his reporting in's presence to the: local authoritier after the ship had sailed, that he had a very cold reception, he again re i iined to the wilds, the main articles in his pack being a small gun and a hammock.

As ho was able to buy eggs al Id a dozen, and fowls al 2d each from Irk'iidly natives, he had no difficulty in feeding himself, and at night, to I iclect. himself from the- lions and other wild animals with which the l:u‘h teems, he slung his hammock in the top of tall trees, lie was frequently awakened by inquisitive monkeys and olten saw lions prowling about bc-iieath him.

Eventually his money gave out ami tie awaited the opportunity’ to give himself up io the captain of his shin on its return to Mombasa. 111-luck seemed to dog him. for when his ship reached Capetown on the voyage back to America, he was once again found lo be missing from his ship and was eventually discovered in a semi-dazed condition on the side of ’fable Mountain, with a blood-sodden coat as lhe result of a compound fracture of the arm.

lie was taken to hospital in Capetown and his ship sailed without him.