“OLD CHARLEY” DEAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1929, Page 6

“OLD CHARLEY” DEAD

WEIRD TALES OF THE SEA.

“Old Charley,’’ former resident pf Shanghai and one of the oldest anc most famous sailors of the world, is dead. Old Charley was never anything but an able-bodied seaman, but his friends in high shipping circles, as well as amongst ordinary seafaring men, were legion, and to be found all over the world. They tell of Old Charley that he had the entry into the ,private offices of

presidents of great shipping concerns;

that ashore he hobnobbed with masters of big liners, prominent importers and exporters, but that 'at sea he was just a sailor and knew his place. News of the death in Portland, Oregon, of Old Charley was received in Shanghai the other day by Mr William P. Hunt, former local Agent of the United States Shipping Board, and now Vice-Presjdent- of a local steamship company, says the “Straits Times” of February 19. Mr Hunt knew and liked the aged “salt” and often listened to his strange tales. The death of Old Charley ended a

career of 55 years at sea in vessels of every description, entailing voyages to all navigable waters in all parts of the world. Old Charley spoke nine languages and sailed on British, American, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Scandinavian, French and other vessels, always as a sailor. He took up residence in Shanghai ip 1909, remaining there for nearly two years between voyages. In his lifetime he made many visits to this port. Weird and wonderful tales Old Charley could, and did, tell of the sea. His favourite salt fale and one that thousands of persons have listened to with interest was of “Irish Mike” and his parrot. Irish Mike was a sailor with Old Charley on a fruit steamer plying between Central America and New Orleans years ago. Mike had a parrot which could

swear in three languages, and of which Mike was mighty proud. The two were inseparable, so the story goes, but were parted by an accident. Three days out from a Central American port, the tale of Old Charley runs, Mike appeared on the after-deck with his parrot. The parrot perched on the rail and indulged in a bit of international swearing, while Old Mike walked up and down for exercise. Several sailors were tossing a ball to and fro on the deck. Came a wild toss, a shrill squawk from the parrot, and the bird was knocked into the sea. Mike Jet out a roar and prepared to leap to the rescue. A warning shout from the other sailors stopped him. As the parrot struck the water the sharp eyes of a seaman spied the white stomach of a shark shooting upward. In another moment the parrot disappeared. The shark swallowed him and dived.

Mike was wild with rage. He took a solemn oath in nine languages that he would revenge himself oh that shark. For days after he was glum and cross, standing for hours on the after-deck, peering into the blue waters, praying for a sight of his enemy. Other sharks came and went, but not the one Old Mike sought. Two years passed. Irish Mike grew grimmer and greyer but waited patiently. By that time both he and Old Charley were shipmates on an oil tanker plying between the Orient and the United States.

In the words of Old Charley: “I well remember, mates, it was about 3.30 o’clock on a sunny Saturday afternoon and we were five days out from Yokohama en route to Honolulu. Irish Mike as usual was on the after-deck, peering info the water. Suddenly I heard a mighty yell, and Mike whipped out his long knife and jumped overboard.

“He had sighted the very shark which swallowed his parot!” Old Charley earnestly declared that a thrilling battle between an enraged human being and man-eating shark, far out in the ocean, followed. Three times the head of Irish Mike disappeared beneath the sea, but three times it appeared again. Hi's long steel knife struck home again apfl again. The shark fought desperately and the water was stained with blood. The tanker was stopped, a boat lowered. ' lighting like a maniac, Irish Mike killed the shark, and it was taken aboard. Hipped open with Mike’s keen knife, out hopped thei parrot and swore! Old Charley, sponsor of the tale, died from pneumonia, according to information received by Mr Hunt- More than 3,000 persons attended his simple funeral. Those present included, executives of several steamship concerns, masters of ships in port, seamen and prominent merchants of the city, all of whom knew the old sailor.

Old Charley was shipwrecked fourteen times in his long life ajt sea, and is .credited with saving 22 lives, , including those of pipe wpmep. He mar-

ried six times, two °t his wives divorcing him and the rest dying. Seafaring men of Portland are preparing to raise p fund with which io purchase a tombstone for Old Charley.