STOWAWAY'S CABIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

STOWAWAY'S CABIN

GOOD TIME FOR A MONTH This is the story of a man who stowed away on a liner homeward bound from Australia, conducted himself as an ordinary passenger for a month, and was betrayed by a gale. He is Arthur Hamer, aged 23, a farm worker, of Preston, Lancashire, who emigrated to Australia, was unemployed for three years, and decided to come home. Hamer walked on board the liner Bnrrabool at Adelaide, selected a cabin and went to sleep. Unable to take a seat in the dining room for fear of being discovered, lie lived on afternoon tea and sandwiches which were handed round between meals. He took part in deck sports and was generally accepted as a passenger for more than a month.

Discovery only came when the liner was approaching the Bay of Biscay. A gale sprang up and orders were given for portholes in all cabins to be closed. A steward went to the cabin in which Hamer was sleeping, and found, to his amazement, that six people instead of the scheduled five were there.

Hamer was not allowed to land when the liner reached Plymouth, but was put ashore at Hull, where detectives were waiting. In the police court he was fined two guineas for travelling as a stowaway. The magistrate, ,in order that he might get to his home, granted him time to pay.

When Hairier mentioned that lie had only ten shillings and would ride to Halifax and walk the rest of the way. the magistrates, officials, reporters and police officers subscribed enough money to enable him to ride all the way home.