CALLIOPE'S MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 7

CALLIOPE'S MEN.

LATER DISTINCTION. A STRIKING LIST. SHIP STILL IN SERVICE. (By LEE FORE BRACE.) The story of the escape of H.M.S. Calliope from the Samoan hurricane of 1889 would be incomplete without mention being made of what happened to the ship in her old age, and what fortune attended her officers. The gallant Calliope remained in active service until 1900, being attached to the Channel Fleet, and acting as a special training ship. From 1906 until 1908 she was placed in the reserve. Her boilere and engines were in first-class condition. In the latter year she made her last traverse on the deep waters by being towed up to the River Tyne, where she was permanently berthed alongside shipbuilding yard at Elawick, Xewcastle-on-Tyne, being commissioned as drill ship and headquarters of the Tyne division of the Royal Naval Reserve. During the years of the Great War many hundred officers of the mercantile marine received special training on her decks. In 1918 her name was changed to Helicon on the launching of a new light cruiser named Calliope.

Memories of the Day. Her sea-going days are now finished for ever. The old ship is to-day painted a battleship grey, partially roofed over, her boilers and engines removed, and lecture rooms built in their space. With only her staunch lower maste standing, it is difficult to recognise the former trim corvette that made history. In her present ward room—it was once Captain Kane's cabin—neatly encased in a glass cabinet, is preserved the ship's log book covering the epic, and the private journal kept by Midshipman Wilmot S. Nicholson (now rear-admiral), in which he graphically described the events of the great hurricane. The identical telegraph which was originally on the bridge of Calliope and which rang down

to the engine room the order for "full speed" on March 16, 18S9, is still to be seen, while in large brass letters, always kept as bright as gold,, upon the oldfashioned teakwood hand steering wheel under tlie break of the poop appears the legend, "Samoa, 1889." Wae there ever a better battle honour among all the long line of the King's ships?

Being built of the best Scottish iron (in the days of Calliope's youth they built ships to last), the old warship is still in magnificent order, being good for many more years -service.

Everyone of Calliope's officers who helped to thrash her out of Apia Harbour gained distinction in the service. Captain Harry Coey Kane became a viceadmiral in 1897, and retired to the reserve of officers in 1899, ten years after his celebrated exploit. An admiral in 1007, lie had conferred on him the Knight Commander of the Order of the B;ith in 1911, on the occasion of the coronation of H.M. King George, in commemoration of his gallantry aboard Cailiope 22 years before. Admiral Kane died on January 30. 1917, and his old ship displayed her colours at half-mast during his funeral.

Fell in the War. Many of the other officers who served on Calliope during the hurricane have gone the way of all flesh. Lieutenant Harry Pearson, her navigating officer during her commission as flagship of the Australian flying squadron, is still living on the retired list. Of her midshipmen who served in her during the Samoan episode several a-ttained high rank in the King's service. Mr. Wilmot S. Nicholson is now Vice-Admiral Nicholson, C.8., on the active list. Another, the Hon. H. L. A. Hood (a direct descendant of the great admiral of the same name) was killed at the battle of Jutland, as a rear-admiral with his flag flying in H.M.S. Invincible, when leading his squadron into action. Midshipman Frank Brandt perished as captain in command of H.M.S. Monmoutli at Coronel, when fighting against impossible odds with Von Specs •squadron. Midshipman John C. T. Glosaop commanded the Australian cruiser Sydney durinc her victorious action with the Emdcn «t Cocos Island, and was eventually promoted vice-admiral. He died recently. Mr. Cecil H Fox is also a flan-officer on the retired list. He was in command of the light cruiser Amphion when that vessel was sunk by German mines in the North Sea in August, 1914, and" he, too, subsequently received the C B for his splendid war eervice.

J Engineer-Lieutenant William Milton. I R.X., chief engineer of Calliope, who I personally stood at the engineroom i throttle for eighteen hours during the I escape, is now an engineer rear-admiral I on the retired list.

Of her petty officers and men, few of these gallant fellows are now left with us. C. P. Brown, rated in 1889 as "Boy" Brown, is now known up and down the Seven Seas as "Calliope" Brown. He ■served all through the war years aboard his old ship as a chief petty officer instructor. Many hundred Merchant Marine officers, R.N.R., were taught 'by him how to do things in "Xavy style." Many a time has he related to an appreciative audience how he helped to firive Calliope "to Hell or safety."