ALLEGED THEFT OF TRAWLER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20514, 4 September 1936, Page 9

ALLEGED THEFT OF TRAWLER

SEQUEL TO VOYAGE OF GIRL PAT MASTER AND BROTHER REMANDED United Press Association—By Kleetne Telegraph —Copyright (Received September 3, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. Captain G. B. Osborne, master of the Grimsby trawler Girl Pat, and his brother, Jim Osborne, a member f the crew, arrived in London to-day from Georgetown (British Guiana) ahd were handed over to Scotland Yord officers. Both men were later remanded until September 10 on bail of £5OO each on charges of complicity in stealing the Girl Pat, the property of the Marstrand Shipping Company, from British waters.

Battered and worn after ten weeks’ sailing the high seas, during which she covered over 5000 miles, the fugitive Grimsby trawler Giri Pat was captured and towed into harbodr at Georgetown (British Guiana) on June 19 last by the Government steamer Pomeroon. The meh who were on board the Girl Pat were: George Black Osborne, captain (32); Jim Osborne, able seaman (31), his brother; John Hector Harris, able seaman (31); Hbward Stephen (17D, cook. Following is a diary of the vessel’s wandering and reports about her or ships that were thought to be the Girl Pat:— April 3.—Brief visit to Dover. Engineer left behind. April 11. —Called at Corcubioh oh the north-west coast of Spain. April 24.—Left Corcubion. May 17—Sighted off the Grand Salvage Island, 200 miles from Madeira. May 23. —Reported from Dakar (West Coast of Africa). Girl Pat had called there and left, after taking on food and water. Chief officer of the Girl Pat,who was left in hospital, stated that the ship had been raided by Spaniards off Cape Rio de Oro. June I.—Vessel stated to have been keen hear Bissados Island, off Portuguese Guiana, south of Dakar. JUne 10.—Reports that Girl Fat had crossed the Atlantic and was flying distress signals fifty miles from Cayenne, French Guiana. June 16.—Girl Pat Was stated to have been wrecked oh a small island in the Bahama group 180 miles liOfth-east of Cuba. Subsequently the boat was proved not to be the Girl Pat. June 18. Georgetown (British Guiana) wired that the Girl Pat was sailing into port, but, unable to progress against receding tide, had anchored for the night. Chased and caught following day.