CALL FOR HELP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 2

CALL FOR HELP.

BOTTLE WASHED UP. HOAX OR WRECK? (Feom Our Own Correspondent ) SYDNEY, July 25. The Navigation minorities are always in difficulties when a bottle with a call for help is washed up. It has been proved in the past that there are people with minds so puerile and warped as to delight in any sensation caused by the finding of such a missive which they have written as a hoax, notwithstanding (the inevitable result of undermining confidence in genuine notes. Such a note was last week washed ashore at Semaphore Beach; Port Adelaide, and the question of its authenticity or otherwise is causing the authorities much concern. If it be genuine there are human beings possibly in dire distress, and the responsibility of saying that it is a hoax is very great. On the face of it it bears the impress of truth. It is just a small piece of worn brown paper which might even have been portion of the padding of a sailor’s hat, and the wording pencilled' in printed characters completely filled it. They ran: ”10/1/23 £IOOO it' found. Help. We are wrecked near Thursday Island. Pleaso help if possible. God speed. J. MDonald.'’ The authorities admit the possibility of the ge.iuineps of the rote, but suspect a hoax Cap'.ain Henry, Deputy Director of Navigation at Port Adelaide in support of this belief emphasises the fact the the missive was pencilled in. hand-printed capital letters, as was also the supposed name of the (sender. The vioinity of Thursday Island and Torres Strait, lie said, was studded with islands. Theno were always large fleets of pearl luggers m the straits. but° not word had been received of any vessel being in peril there. The early belief that the message might refer to the Douglas Mawson was soon discounted by the fact that none of the name of M’Donald was on board.