HOME FOR HIS WIFE’S BIRTHDAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 95, 16 January 1935, Page 10

HOME FOR HIS WIFE’S BIRTHDAY

Dutch Sea Captain’s Vow

ROMANCE WITH HIS IRISH COLLEEN

A Dutch seafarer, Captain .1. Groothoff, who arrived in the Wanganella last night from Sydney, is in a great hurry to get back to the other side of the world. lie has promised to be in Ireland by February 21, the birthday of his Irish wife. Groothoff. who is still a young man, served 27 years in the Royal Packet Navigation Company, the premier shipping line of Holland, and has left the service in accordance with the ccmpany’s policy of retiring its officers at the age of. 45 to make room for the generation of sailors coming forward.

Another reason for the captain's haste to return to Ireland, he told a representative of "The Dominion,” is that he is anxious to get on with the planting of the new season’s potatoes at his home overlooking Dublin Bay. Captain Groothoff. has just completed a voyage as a' passenger in the famous Finnish barque Passat, from Copenhagen to Port Victoria. South Australia. The love of the sea. which never dies in a sailor, called him away from his happy little home and his cabbages and , potatoes. His wife allowed him to go on one coildition — that he came back 'in time for her birthday. "I wouldn’t fail in my bargain for anything in the world.” he said in explaining that, much as he wished to see New Zealand, he was able to make only a fleeting visit and was to sail from Auckland in the Rangitata on Friday, reaching Great Britain with three days to spare. s

Sailor and the Colleen.

When Captain Groothoff first met the girl who was to become his wife she was a colleen passing through Holland in 1905 on h’er way back from college in Switzerland, and he a cadet in a nautical school. Romance developed quickly, but the war and Captain Grootlioff’s service out East with his company intervened before their marriage was possible in 1919. The pretty Irish girl became a nurse with the Bri-, tish Army while he, as a neutral, served his company on the China Coast, in the Malay Archipelago, and in the East generally. He rose in the service, and on attaining the rank of captain felt qualified to marry his “little Irish nurse.” For 11 years they made their home in Singapore, and on Captain Grootlioff’s retirement three years ago they bought a place in Dublin. There the captain gardens as a hobby. He is proud of his home and the potatoes, cabbages and. tomatoes he grows. Voyage of the Passat. The Passat, with Captain Groothoff acquiring his first experience of sailing ships—“l am a steam and motor-ship man all through,” he said—-set sail from Copenhagen on October 17 in ballast with hopes of picking up a cargo of wheat for the return. The voyage was stormy in parts, and ’occupied 83 days before the Australian coast was sighted. Christmas Day was celebrated 200 miles from Amsterdam. The captain explained this by mentioning that the Amsterdam happened to be an island in the Indian Ocean. His wife had provided him with a 71b. plum pudding, “but,” said the captain, “it ought to have been a 201 b. one.” There was merrymaking of a description only known aboard a sailing ship. The average age of, the crew of 31 all told was 22 years, 11 of the complement not before having crossed the line, so Neptune’s ancient and.honourable ceremony was performed with full saling ship ritual. On the way out Captin Groothoff collected “colour” for articles for newspapers for whom he writes. Promise Impels Haste.

Arriving in Australia cnly last Thursday, Captain Groothoff, with his promise to his wife steadily before him, had the slimmest chance of catching the Wanganella at Sydney. But he did it with a quarter of an hour in hand. He secured the only motor-ear in Port Victoria and the services of its venerable driver for the 120 miles dash to Adelaide before the banks closed at 3 p.m. On the way the driver said the ear had done 100,000 miles, the passenger remarking that he quite believed it. It was a frantic run to Melbourne and Sydney, and the captain believes he made a record journey. During his term ot. the China coast Captain Groothoff learned much of the ways of Chinese pirates His ship was never molested, however, because of the safeguards provided by life company. These consisted of a detachment of 16 armed men under an N.C.O. T.ie bridge was enclosed like a wild animal’s cage for the officers’ protection. On one occasion just out of Singapore the captain observed that members of his crew were throwing certain objects overboard. At revolver point he interrupted the goings on. As a result a gang of opium smugglers was appre-

liended. Captain Groothoff beiu? awarded a bonus of 1500 dollars for his assistance. “Half my native crew turned out to be smugglers and the rest Government spies,” be said. “Spying on opium runners is a dangerous game, and many a Government agent was found with a knife in bis back—‘accidentally.’ of course.”

Part of Captain Grootboff’s job in the East was the conveyance of Chinese coolies to and from tobacco plantations in Malaya. At times he had no fewer than 2200 as passengers, •><> small responsibility ;n view of the cangerous navigation of the coast. Yet lie never had an accident in Hie years of his command ami on his re-

tirement was presented by his owners with a handsome gold watch in recognition of his service