The Editors' Maillag

How Womsiwor Became

A Tycoon

One of the wartime US service men who still maintains an interest in the Pacific through the PIM, is Leonard Shields, now a commercial photographer of Brooklyn, NY. Re cently he wrote to give us some more information about Herman Womsiwor, the NNG business tycoon {PIM, August, 1960 and p. 19 this issue).

Womsiwor is now, at 32, the owner of timber interests and early this year spent several months in Japan negotiating for the salvage of sunken ships in Biak waters. He speaks several languages, including English and Japanese. He was in his early teens when the Pacific war broke out and after the liberation of Hollandia by the Americans, he attached himself as interpreter to Mr. Shield’s unit—the 36th Photo Ren Squadron, which was part of the sth Air Force. He was particularly useful when there were Japanese prisoners to interrogate. This was one of the reasons why, when the unit went from Biak to Japan, Herman went along too (the August story was that he was smuggled out in a soldier’s kitbag as a “mascot”.) However Herman got to Japan, the fact is that he stayed there for some time learning how things were done abroad and when he returned to Biak he went into business for himself with more success than any other NG native, Australian or Dutch, has yet accomplished.

The End of the

Doris Crane

Captain Fred Klebingat’s story and picture of Doris Crane, “the most beautiful schooner ever”, on page 40 of April PIM, revived memories for Captain N. W. Mac donald, of Suva, who was in at her death.

Captain Macdonald was Chief Officer on the old Niagara at the time, and they were about 350 miles NNE of Honolulu, out of Van couver, when they made contact with the unlucky Doris Crane early in 1927.

“The second mate was keeping the 4 to 8 bridge watch,” Captain Mac donald writes, “but at 4.15 a.m. he called me to point out a brilliant in termittent light, hull down on the

eastern horizon. About 30 hours pre viously we had been in company with a squadron of American de stroyers, that were having Fleet exercises, and using their searchlights extensively at night, but we decided that this could be a ship afire, and not a searchlight.

“We called the captain, who altered course to investigate. After running for about 20 minutes toward the light, there was no mistake—it was a ship ablaze from stem to stern.

“Great bursts of flame were reach ing to the mastheads, and billowing away in thick black smoke, (She carried 300 tons of copra.) “We reached the schooner just as day broke, and saw a very small dinghy, on a long painter, made fast to the Doris Crane’s stern. It con tained the crew of about 10 men.

The Niagara picked up the boat and crew. Apparently the fire broke out after an explosion in the engine room; the engineer had been badly burnt, and was taken into the care of our surgeon who looked after his injuries.

“We could do nothing with the burning hulk, except report by radio to the authorities. Niagara then reset her course for Diamond Head, and next morning landed the crew of Doris Crane at Honolulu.”

Norfolk Island's

Gilbert and Sullivan

An item on Norfolk Island Coun cil affairs reported by one of our Norfolk correspondents in April (’’General opinion is that the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera regularly being performed at Rawson Hall is rapidly developing into a tragedy for Norfolk Island”), brings a letter from Mr. F. J. Needham, in his capacity as President of the Norfolk Island Council. Mr. Needham was re-elected as president for a second term last month, for which we offer congratu lations.

Writes Mr. Needham: Sir, —After reading your accounts of Norfolk Island affairs over the past 12 months, I am wondering whether all your correspondents paint such fanciful pictures of their terri tories.

Your readers may be interested to know that the “Gilbert & Sullivan Comic Opera” reported in your April issue, received such applause from the public at the recent election that

the cast now consists of seven Norfolk Party members and dependent who, incidentally, against the Minister’s pro when President of the font visory Council.

Undoubtedly, the “Mika disappointed. Your “Nanki-pi pecting the sack, and “Cot gone home to his “Catisha”. ] Hasluck has great difficulty in the chorus dance in time “Here’s a How-de-do”.

When your “Nanki-pu” down to earth, he may un< Norfolk Island a little better port the situation as it exi just follow the line of th

“Cyclops Weekly”, Perhaps 1

will hear of “human rights” the will of the people estabb the basis of authority on Island.

PS (I hope some of your can remember their Gilbe Sullivan. The Norfolk Island istration keeps our memor fresh).—Yours, FIN.

PIM relies on its Norfolk c from not one but three spondents, and also regulai Norfolk News (the Cyclops of Mr. Needham’s letter) w a roneod news sheet publishec Administration.

Mr. Needham will see on of this issue that our corresp are still up to their old ti

painting fanciful pictures. T

tures they have been paintir last 12 months have all sho there has been serious dissen Norfolk over the Council’s and regular readers by no probably gained a clue th Needham represents one side will continue to interpret, as report, the news, as it has d ! 30 years.

Mr. F. J. Needham.