JOHANSEN'S PLUCK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 306, 19 May 1913, Page 6

JOHANSEN'S PLUCK.

ISKINUS snip TO l'OllT. (Sydney Sun). Fremantle. May 7. William Joliansen went to sleep on the night of April 2!)tU practically an unknown Norwegian fishi rnmn. Before the next day had closed he was master of a 1300-ton barque. In seven days' time he was a hero. His feat is a remarkable one. He was picked up by a boat's crew from the Norwegian barque Victor, and asked to navigate .that craft to Fiemantle, as everyone aboard was ignorant of navigation. Joliansen knew that he would come n contact with some scourge of the deep sea. The captain, chief mate, and a seainon had died from some mysterious ailment, and other seamen were dying in their bunks. He must have been fully aware that with a decimated crew and bad weather looming up lie stood a good chance of disaster. Yet lie blithely clambered aboard, per manrope, and assumed command. And he, brought that craft safely to port in J seven days. His pluck and enterprise has excited the admiration of everyone. and it is evident that he is due for a big reward as a salvor. Discussing the salvage of the barque, the chief harbormaster at Frcmantle, Captain Irvine, observed that the amount of salvage payable in respect to the piloting of a vessel was a question which would be settled either by agreement between the owners of the vessel and the fisherman interested, or bv arbitration, before the judge of the Yi'-e-Admiralty Court. lie added that iToliansen's action, in boarding the ship after being told that several of the crew had died, and that others were dying in their bunks, was certainly .to be commended. There was 110 doubt that his bringing her safely lo Fremantle in such circumstances was deserving of a very substantial reward.