VOYAGE IN TUB

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 20

VOYAGE IN TUB

YOUTH'S ADVENTURE MANY FRIENDS GAINED OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT The youthful " K. H B. Hjelmstrom, who deserted from the Swedish barque C. B. Pedersen in a wooden bath, arrived at Sydney on August 7 by the Taiping. "Now I know what most people know about me," Hjelmstrom said. "1 broke tho immigration laws. When tho old tub carried mo safely to Stephens Island I did not have to use my gun on savages. 1 met friendly people, who spoke English. Anyhow, it was just as well, as my cartridges wore soaked with sea water. "After 1 was brought before the Court at Thursday Island, and was put on the Taiping, I had further evidence of what fine people tfie Australians are. Captain Frame and everyone on board have been my friends, and Captain Frame even took me for a trip with tourists to Barron Falls." Many offers of employment hare been made to Hjelmstrom if he is permitted to remain in Australia, instead of being deported. One was from Mr. J. S. Haddin, manager of tho Camden Park Estate, a passenger on the Taiping, who said that he had had long talks with Hjelmstrom during the voyage from Thursday Island. Pending advice from Canberra. Hjelmstrom has been handed over to the Consul for Sweden in Sydney. Friends Made on Voyage Probably the most popular of the passengers on the laiping was the "bath-tub sailor." This was not because of his exploit, but because of his fine personality. Nearly every passenger shook hands with him, and wished him "good luck" in Australia before they disembarked.

Hjelmstrom said that he would achieve his life's ambition if he could stay in Australia and work on a farm. He is 22 years of age, and when ho landed in his bath-tub at Stephens Island he had most of his worldly possessions. These were three cotton singlets, two pairs of dungaree trousers, an oilskin coat, and a lumber jacket. The youth's other stores in the bathtub were four dozen boxes of matches, a double-barrelled shotgun, and 50 cartridges, tinned food sufficient for three weeks, and a bucket. He needed the bucket to bail out the bath-tub, which leaked badly during its three miles' journey from the barque to Stephens Island. The gun and the cartridges he took in case he met savage natives. When Hjelmstrom reached Sydney the 15s he had when he escaped had grown to £3, and he was fashionably dressed. He was wearing an overcoat, socks, and a tie which had been given to him by Mr. C. G Sundstrom, a suit bought in Brisbane with money subscribed by the Taiping's passengers, a shirt presented by Captain A. Frame, and a pair of tan boots which a policeman gave him after he hfid been sentenced at Thursday Island. Nautical Forefathers Hjelmstrom's ancestors have been connected with the sea for 150 years, and his father wanted him to be a ship's officer. For this reason he was signed on as an apprentice on the C. B.„ Pedersen. But when Hjelmstrom was finishing his college education he read books describing Australian life which developed in him a longing to live in Australia. During the protracted and eventful voyage of the C. B. Pedersen to Melbourne the adventurous youth decided to devise ways for remaining in Australia. Being a powerful swimmer, be had hopes of becoming a diver for pearls until he had saved enough money to go to Australia and buy a farm.