Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 496, 14 January 1902 — SAILING SHIPS VS. STEAMERS [ARTICLE]

SAILING SHIPS VS. STEAMERS

CJPIAIB WEEBOS lUKS OJ TARS vaster of eureka has no use FOR SOFT-HAND MONKEYWRENCH SAILORS. Captain Weedon Was "At Home" on Sunday, and Entertained Visitors With Reminiscences of His Life. —Steamship Men Must be All Round and Good Sailors. Captain H. Weedon of the steamer Eureka, better known in Honolulu as the master of the crack bark Marion Chilcott was “at home Sunday afternoon and entertained a number of friends. Chief Engineer L H. Herlfhy ably assisted the captain in doing the honors of the vessel. While silting on the upper bridge, enjoying the cooling breezes of Honolulu bay. and admiring the beautiful scenery which offered itself to the eyes of the visitors over the buildings of the city, Captain Weedon related some of his experiences which proved very interesting to his hearers not initiated in the mysteries of the deep. Sailing Ship's Future. The conversation drifted towards the future of the sailing ship, and in their defense Captain Weedon waxed • liKjuent. A sailing ship has been his home for the greater part of his life, and now from the bridge of a steamer he looks sympathetically at the forest of masts around him and says: “It would seem somewhat out of place for an old sea dog like me to advocate doing away with the oldfashioned seamanship, yet I must confess that before I joined a sailless ship 1 had gotten the idea that almost any kind of a sailor would do for a modern steamer. “I have found out, however, since 1 took command of a steamer that jack is wanted as badly on a steamer as on a ship moved by sail power alone. In the old days, if a man jumped to tend a line, the officer on deck simply looked at his rating marks to satisfy himself that thp| thing would be done all right, but I soon realized that in these vessels it is not like in the olden times, and that it is necessary to know each man individually before trusting one to lower a boat, make a line fast or i do any one of the numerous things along seamanship lines that are constantly coming up in sailless ships. Officers Are North Countrymen. “Ask any shipping commissioner : and he will tell you that the majority of officers in charge of the American merchant marine are north countrymen. Why? Because they were brought up from their youth at sea. and possess the knack of doing things that can only bo gained by growing up in it. "Long cruises at in a sailing ship, are one of the best methods of making one love the sea When making a cruise of this kind many disagreements may happen to cause a youngster to wish it was over, but in looking back all that seems to come to one's mind are the pleasant memories and the longing to go again. Sailing Crews Needed. Numerous incidents in the annals of the sea go to prove that an all around sailor is necessary on board any kind of a vessel. Now. suppose, .in o.tr wav bai k to Seattle, we met with a sailing vessel in distress on account of the sickness of the crew. Suppose they were all down wtith fever, or scurvy, or some other kind of sickness. 1 will have to send a crew to take the vessel to the nearest port, which may happen to be several hundred miles away If they are saiiors. acquainted with all the details of seamanship, they will think nothing of the change, and will bring the vessel safely into port. "I am afraid that if the crew had to be picked from a lot of soft hand-monkey-wrench seamen that vessel would have a hard time making any other port but Davy Jones' locker.” The Eureka will finish discharging her cargo for Honolulu some time today and will sail for Kahului tonight. Mr. L. E Beebe, local agent of the Glove Navigation Co., will go to Kahului on the vessel.