Craving for Thrills

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 19

Craving for Thrills

Young Stowaway’s Grim Ordeal

MMHRjHEI short life of Matthew Baddeley, the youth of 18 who crossed the AtWfilrar lantic as a stowaway '(fflfnMrYW ' n the liner Lancastria, 'wl has been one of craving for adventure. He was found recently half-frozen, hidden in one of the liner's lifeboats. He had always longed to see the skyscrapers of New York, and now he has a splendid view of them — from the hospital on Ellis Island, where he is being treated for frozen feet. He is expected to be sent back to England. Baddeley's home is in Winsford, Cheshire. A desire for roving seized the youth soon after he left school, and at the age of 16 he tried to get to sea. His father found papers relating to a shipping firm, however, and he prevented his son from going. About 12 months ago Matthew left for London to attempt to secure a ship, and he was eventually brought hack by his father.

After that, apparently, he settled down to work as a chauffeur with a Liverpool man, who tok , him for a motoring tour on the Continent. Baddeley thought he had at last realised his greatest ambition, but he was again doomed to disappointment. His passport was found to be not in order on reaching Paris, and he had to return. LINER TEMPTATION He visited Liverpool recently and there saw the Lancastria at the landing stage. He found the temptation too great to resist, and slipped quickly aboard and concealed himself in a lifeboat. He had no food or covering, and his method of keeping alive was to steal out at night and seize whatever food he could find. It was not much, and eventually he had to make his presence known. His hands and feet were frozen and he was in a pitiable and almost speechless condition. He was given place in the sick berth, and skilful medical attention has resulted in saving his life.