STOWAWAY ON AWATEA

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 395, 31 March 1937, Page 4

STOWAWAY ON AWATEA

FUNNEL AS HIDING-PLACE

Ten Pound Fine Inflicted.

Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, March 31. Reginald Augustus Sussmilch, a barman, aged 21, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, charged with stowing away in the Awatea at Sydney. He pleaded guilty, and -was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment. Sussmilch was found on deck on Saturday night last, and was given accommodation to a tourist, class cabin of the Awatea. It was intended to hand him over to the police when the vessel arrived at Wellington yesterday, but after coming down io breakfast —and eating a hearty meal •—he hid himself. In spite of efforts of police and Customs officials who searched cabins, wardrobes, bathrooms, lockers, lift boats, shaft tunnels. engine-room, and the space round the steering gear, the whereabouts of the stowaway remained a mystery.

Both gangways were watched until the man was arrested. It appears that he chose for his hide-out one of the ship’s stacks, as he was covered with soot. Just before ho was arrested he was seen escaping by a group of stewards, who immediately signalled the police on the wharf.