LOST FROM A LINER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOST FROM A LINER

MYSTERY OF MAJOR'S FATE THEORY OF ACCIDENTAL FALL When the steamer Asturias reached Southampton,- on a voyage from Buenos Aires, officers stated that they were baffled by the strange disappearance of Major E. S. Pilkington, aged 63, retired glass manufacturer, of Wroxton Hall, Banbi.ry, -when the vessel was off the South American coast. Major Pilkington had been on a tour of South America. Ho had crossed the Andes, climbed one of tho high peaks,

and had joined the Asturins at Buenos Aires. lie was missing during church service on the liner on Sunday morning, Juno 5. The only trnco found was a book on the deck where tho major had been sitting. Mr. R. M. Wilson, a friend of the family, and Major I'ilkington's executor and trustee, met the liner when she berthed. Mr. Wilson was told that Major Pilkington was last seen alive sitting on a capstan 011 deck, reading a novel. Mr. Wilson advanced the theory that porpoises indirectly caused the major's death. " I am certain," Mr. Wilson declared, " that Major Pilkington'.s disappearance was due to an accident. He had no financial or domestic troubles, and before he left for South America he wrote home that he was looking forward to returning to England. He intended to bo present at a meeting of tho memorial to Earl llaig at his old school, Clifton College, Bristol. " Tho major was an extremely wellbuilt man, more than 6ft. in height, and I think it possible that he might have overbalanced when leaning too far over the side to look at a porpoiso or some other object." Major Pilkington leaver a widow and two sons. He served in the South African War.