FAIR STOWAWAY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1931, Page 3

FAIR STOWAWAY

LOWERED INTO, PILOT-BOAT. incident on sierra. . AUCKLAND, November 22. “The purser would like to see you iii his office, lady.” The voice of the fourth officer of the Matson steamer Sierra was polite but firm, and the young woman, who had been watching the suburbs of Sydney slip by as the ship sailed out of the harbour,’, bad no choice but to go below, A few questions were asked in the. purser's office-, , and half an hour V-iatei-the young ‘ woman, with a lifptjeß around her waist, was lowered into the pilot’s launch at' Sydney .Heads. • . The story of the woman -stowaway was told when the Sierra arrived at this morning. When the Sierra moved out from her berth the young woman, who had not paid • hei fare, was mingling with the other pasS6ii£)6i’Sj and hor actions in no \\ ny suggested that she had not a perfect right on board. But ships' officers a i4 not unaccustomed to private detective work, and before the ship was far down he harbour they had thei 1 suspicions about the fair passenger, whom they' judged to be only a few ! weeks over 20. She was asked to j step below and in the purser s office she admitted that .she had neither, ticket nor ffioney. Alter this confession

she started to cry! Although the. young woman offered no explanation the purser gained the impression ' that she wanted to get to Sail Francisco. ■ She was informed that she would immediately be ’ put ashore. At' first, she did not demur, but when ■'requested .to put on a lifebelt in base : of-accident when she was descending the'”" Jacob’s ladder to the tossing' pitot' 4 boat 0 she protested violently. * ' ■ . r: Despite ' her protests 'ii lifebelt was slipped over her head, and the quartermaster dodged her kicks as • he fastened it om •’ A rope Wat slipped under- her iarmpits,' as - a ,■ turthei piccaution against, accident, and ; the Woman was then lowered down the rope ladder to the pilot launch, which was bobbing about in the swell. By the time she had been put safely aboard the launch the young woman had got over her disappointment, and as the steamer drew away she favoured the officers who had outwitted her with a wave of her hand.