SEA CAPTAIN’S DEATH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 117, 17 April 1934, Page 8

SEA CAPTAIN’S DEATH.

DID NOT REALISE ILLNESS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 17. A story of a sea captain who failed to realise he was a sick man and died while his ship was being rushed to the nearest port in an effort to save his life were told when the British tramper Fife arrived from Java. The captain was Mr A. Thomson, who had command of the ship for two years. He complained of feeling ill on April 4 when in Torres Strait and the next day his temperature was 104. The Chief Officer, Mr H. D. Rudd, decided to put in to Port Moresby lor medical aid and also obtained medical advice by wireless from Cooktown, but the captain’s temperature fell rapidly and, believing himself to be recovering, he countermanded the order and put the ship back on her original course. Next day his temperature was 103 and eventually on April 7 the Fife was again taken off her course and headed for Townsville, which was 30 hours away. Two hours later the captain died and lie was buried at sea on April 8. The Chief Officer took over the command and brought the ship to Auckland. The Fife was formerly named the Penybryn. It will be recalled that Penybryn was instrumental in rescuing many of tho passengers and crew of the mail liner Tahiti when she sank in the Pacific.