Eloping Trawler

Out of Great Grimsby on the Humber, England, plies a fleet of some 500 tiny motor trawlers on two or three week trips to the North Sea fishing grounds. Last week one of these little tubs was involved in an extraordinary adventure which set maritime England agog with curiosity.

Last April 1 Marstrand Fishing Co. at Grimsby ordered Captain George Black Osborne and a crew of four to "test the engines" of Girl Pat, a brand new 130-ton motor trawler with auxiliary sail. Once outside the harbor, Girl Pat made a beeline for the south. Two days later she put in at Dover, dropped the engineer, picked up another, set out again at once. On April 12 she appeared at Corcubion, Spain, badly damaged by storms. Going ashore, the crew had her repaired, bought $1,175 worth of provisions, sent the bill to the owners at Grimsby. On April 21 Girl Pat again puffed out to sea.

When the bill arrived Marstrand Fishing Co., greatly excited, notified Lloyd's. Lloyd's outlawed Girl Pat, notified its agents along the Atlantic and Mediterranean to watch for her, then came to the conclusion it would be cheaper to pay the -L-3,000 insurance than to run the tiny craft down and bring her back. Hence, no orders were issued to hold Girl Pat.

She, meanwhile, was rolling slowly down the African Coast. She went aground on Capo Blanco. The crew went ashore for assistance, returned to find thieves had stolen all their food and clothing. Somehow they floated Girl Pat again. Last week they wallowed into Dakar, French Senegal, for supplies. The French port authorities debated nabbing her but decided to wait for definite orders. Before these came, Girl Pat slipped out of the harbor in the teeth of a gale. Behind her in the hospital she left her mate, who said nothing.

In England, Skipper Osborne's wife was ill with worry, could think of no reason for the wild trip unless he was heading for New Zealand, where his brother has a fishing fleet. A friend said he had been asked to go, that Girl Pat was bound for the West Indies where Osborne intended to sell her before seeking adventure in the U. S. Other rumors: Girl Pat was searching for buried pirate treasure; she had become a love nest, and feminine laughter rippled through the portholes. Last week as Girl Pat vanished over the horizon an amateur radio operator claimed he picked up the following message: "On board Girl Pat, somewhere on the Atlantic. We are honest and peaceful men, and now we are free."

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