THE GIRL PAT.

Wairarapa Age, 28 May 1936, Page 5

THE GIRL PAT.

STRANGE STORIES RECEIVED FROM DAKAR. SUDDEN DEPARTURE MADE. FOR UNKNOWN DESTINATION. . LONDON, May 26. Lloyd’s have been informed that the missing trawler the Girl Pat is at present at Dakar. Conflicting messages from Dakar deepen the mystery of the Girl Pat. Lloyd’s have been advised that the vessel arrived there without food or water and with no apparent means; and that the mate was sent to hospital.

Other sources state that the ship suddenly left Dakar for an unknown destination. EVENTFUL VOYAGE. SHIP ASHORE AND FOOD STOLEN. (Received Wednesday, 7.35 p.m.) l LONDON, May 27. The “Daily Mail” says the Girl Pat arrived at Dakar on May 23 and unexpectedly left on May 26, without officially clearing the port. According to a Lloyd’s message, the skipper, Osborne, stated that he wished to’ try the vessel’s engines. It is reported that before reaching Dakar, the Girl Pat went ashore on Cape Blanco, where the crew landed to seek assistance. On returning to the ship they found that someone had stolen their food supplies.

(Lloyd’s agents throughout the world have been instructed to watch for the North Sea trawler Girl Pat, which the Admiralty declares will be a pirate if it is proved that the skipper and erew of four seized her, and then it will be the duty of every ship flying the British flag to assist in apprehending her The trawler, equipped with the latest Diesel engines, left Dover on April 4 and put in at Coreubion (Spain) on April 12. It left nine days later, after extensive repairs, not stating its destination. Its owners, the Marstand Fishing Company, notified the underwriters on April 27 that they regarded the ship as a total loss. They explained that they engaged the skipper a few months ago and. he picked his own crew, with the exception of the engineer, whom he left at Dover. The owners stated later that they had come to the conclusion that the master, George Black Osborne, and the crew had made off with the vessel).