THE “BATHTUB SAILOR”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22903, 10 June 1936, Page 5

THE “BATHTUB SAILOR”

CLAIM FOR WAGES ; PREPARING AND SAILING YACHT (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, June 9. A claim for wages totalling £25 was made l against Ernest H. Davis by K. B. H, Hielmstrom, a student, of Christchurch, and Arthur Higson, dark, of Auckland, in the Magistrate’s Court. Hjelmstrom, a young Swede, gained notoriety as the “ Bathtub Sailor ” last June when he deserted from .the barque C. B. Pedersen in the captain’s bathtub while the vessel was anchored off Stephen's Island, Cape York Peninsula. Hoisting a crude sail in the tub he reached Darnley Island, but was subsequently handed over to the authorities as a prohibited immigrant. ' He later, came to New Zealand as a member of the crew of Mr Davis’s yacht, the Moerewa, and is now studying agriculture at Lincoln College, Canterbury. ■ In their statement of claim the plaintiffs allege that about October last .year they, by their agent. C. E. R. Webber, agreed with Captain Pierptti,- as agent for the defendant, to work in preparing the defendant’s yacht, the Moerewa. for sea. and in sailing the yacht from Brisbane to Auckland. The remuneration agreed on for their services was stated to be £l2 10s each, and they claim that the defendant has wrongfully -refused and neglected to pay this sum. Mr Hampson. who appeared for the plaintiffs, asked for an adjournment until after evidence had been heard at Christchurch on June 30. and the case was adjourned until July 9.