SAILORS' LUCK.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143771, 20 April 1912, Page 4

SAILORS' LUCK.

SOME REMARKABLE INSTANCES. The loss of the Koombana brings to light many instances where trifling incidents and a chance change of plans have proved matters of life or death. There is a ship’s steward now living in Fremantle (says the Melbourne Age) who was given employment on the illfated Waratah just before that vessel sailed from Melbourne on her last voyage. At the last moment something occurred to prevent him joining the ship. Rather more than twelve months ago he was in search of work in Queensland, and obtained a place on the Yongala. Owing to a domestic, event he did not make the fateful voyage. A few months ago ho reached Fremantle and was negotiating for employment on the Koombana. when a more lucrative position was offered to him in a Fremantle hotel, and fortunately for himself he accepted, it. Mr. Norman Jamieson, chief officer of the Koombana, who was a Williamstown resident, was formerly chief officer of the Yongala. He changed to the Grantala immediately before the Yongala sailed on her ill-fated voyage. From the Grantala he transferred to the 'Koombana, and twelve months to the day on exactly the opposite coast of Australia to where the Yopgala foundered, ho apparently lost his life. Air. Gunn, until recently second engineer of the Koombana, may congratulate himself on a lucky escape Desiring a temporary change, he arranged a transfer, with Air. A. Wassell, of the Echunga, a cargo steamer trading between Fremantle and the eastern States. The transfer was made before the Koombana’s last voyage, and Mr. Wassell’s name is In the. list of missing.

Fat© also was kind to a fireman named M. Barrett, who may thank his own indulgence in strong drink for saving him from a watery grave. He appeared before the Fremantle conrt on March 12 on a charge of drunkenness. Ho was discharged with a caution. To use his own words, tho company “sacked”- him, and he consequently missed the trip on the Koombana. Some of his belongings, he has stated, were on the vessel. Five of tho dock hands on the Koombana were until recently members of the Fremantle Lumpers’ Union. A sixth signed on just before tho vessel sailed on her last voyage. He, however, had a disagreement with the second, officer, and left tKe boat just as she was casting off her moorings. Ho is thankful, for that disagreement now. Two .inspectors of tho Agricultural Department of Western Australia were lucky enough to just miss the voyage. They had arranged to leave for the north-west by the" Koombarta, when the department decided to make an inquiry into the necessity for their proposed visit, and the cost of it. As a result the trip was cancelled. , It is stated that one of the passengers for Broomo carried with him £2500 in cash. It was his intention to make extensive cash purchases in the northwest. •