FIGHT WITH OPOSSUM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 October 1924, Page 15

FIGHT WITH OPOSSUM.

SHIP’S ENGINEER TERRIFIED. “WILD ANIMAL’S” SAD FATE. , . SYDNEY, Sept. 25. To appreciate the humour of a frantic battle which raged one night last week between the officers and crew of the overseas' steamer Nowshera, while berthed at Brisbane, and an opossum, it must- be explained that the latter is about the most harmless and docile of all the sfnall marsupials that constitute an important section of Australia’s unique and wonderful native fauna. The opossum is a favourite bush pet, but, as the present fiory illustrates, it has a passionate distaste for unnatural surroundings, and when confined in a city or other uncongenial surroundings it will display much 'ingenuity -and' remarkable instinct in its efforts to regain its native bush.

Of all places, the forecastle of a steamer mav well be imagined to be the most distasteful that would be chosen for this harmless little creature, and thus it happened that in the silent watches, one which was confined a-s & pet on the steamer Palma determined, while that vessel lav alongside one of the Brisbane wharves, to make a brave bid for freedom. It climbed over the stern of the vessel, ran along the rope connecting the vessel to the wharf, until it came to another rope, almost at right angles. It was at- this critical moment in the career of the opossum that an error of judgment proved to be its undoing. Instead of going 'straight forward, it climbed up this rope, which was attached to the how of the Nowshera. berthed alongside. Soon it found itself on the deck, and made off towards the gangwav of the vessel. Elven at this stage the reckless opossum could have- gained the wharf and saved his life, but it must needs nry into the cabin, of one of the enpin : aers. who lav sleeping peacefully in hi" fior>k, and in a moment o-f abysmal folly the opossum lumped plump on the engineer’s tender bosom. The how] which awoke the captain, officer® and crew of the Now" her a and startled the watchman on the wharf, scared the opossum, which rushed into a corner. In vain. The whole fillip’s company, armed with all kinds of weapons, came to the assistance o-f the engineer, who announced that a wild animal fr~m the hush had attacked him. .All kinds of missiles were flving at the pair of frightened eves of the opossum, which shone in the po-r----ue” 'd the room, until the little animal lay mortally wounded.

N°xt morpin o ' a visitor who arrived at the vessel found caritain and olfi°ers fast asle n r> .after their victorious battle overnight, and. having heard tale, the visitor denar ted to the Palma, where he told the can tain of the opossum’s fete. The explanations which followed lasted until both vessels left the port next day for overseas.