A NARROW ESCAPE

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 335, 9 May 1885, Page 3

A NARROW ESCAPE

Anticipating some fun, we despatched a "special" to board the Zealandia on the night of her arrival and await developments. Our special is a man of ferocious aspect, his ferocity having been acquired during a lengthened experience as an interviewer, in which capacity, as the Evening 'Enery can no

doubt testify, a. resolute eye and a determined look are frequently indispensable to the successful elicitation of facts. In addition to a brigandish expression of countenance our representative has a confirmed habit (common to all newspaper interviewers) of dodging his head while talking, in order to evade possible bootjacks and other pointed replies to questions. But this by the way. Well, this useful member of ourjstaff got down to the wharf just in time to hail the Customs launch then going off to the big steamer. The captain of the latter taking our " special,'- from his dictatorial manner, to be some very particular big gun indeed— the Commissioner of Customs, at least— merely said, "Come along, sir," when he was hailed, and O.S. came along accordingly. The tide was low, and the deck of the launch was lower, as seen from the wharf ; the only means of getting aboard was by a rope, and down this, hand overhand, the pressman, ever alert where duty calls, had to go. He said it wasn't pleasant, but time and tide and the Customs launch wait for no man, and there was no time to lose. Arrived alongside the 'Frisco boat, an officer of portly build and awe-inspiring presence was discovered keeping watch and ward at the gangway. He eyed our special suspiciously, and on learning his business looked incredulous. He evidently thought the story was too thin, and concluded that the newspaper man was an emissary of the TJnion in disguise sent to spread disaffection among his crew. Having apparently satisfied himself of the correctness of this hypothesis, he ordered "our own." to be instantly conveyed ashore. Thankful to escape thus easily, our representative was brought back to the wharf deeply impressed into the importance of the IJ.M.1 J .M. Co.'s officer, and fully alive to the awful risk to which he had exposed himself in the interests of the readers of this journal.