ON A WINDJAMMER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12399, 12 November 1934, Page 3

ON A WINDJAMMER.

“JOSEPH CONRAD” FLYING THE RED ENSIGN. A TRAINING SHIP. LONDON, Sept. 10. The Red Ensign, which lias not been flown by a British- merchant man since. the Garthpool went ashore on Bona ..Vista. Island,, off Gape Yer.de on.' Artoistice Day,-' 1929, is again snapping from the peak of a windjammer, the Joseph Conrad, and Allan Villiers, her q journalist-author owner, has put it there. He bought the vessel from the' Danish Government earlier this year.. She had been tho iron-built, full-rigged ship, George Stage. Mr. Villiers lias fitted her as a training ship for British boys (he ’finds it hard to dissuade British girls from competing with them), and is sailing her to the West Indies. Writing to a friend in London, he says:— »

“Hero I am, at home in the saloon of the-good ship Joseph. Conrad, with- tho Red Ensign flying from the peak of a full-rigged ship for ' the first time in years. We hoisted the colors at 3 p m., on August 29, tlie Danish' colours having been . hauled down; and a gang of Danish ‘admirals on the wharf at the Navy Yard didn’t look too pleased. “We get out of here (Copenhagen) Sunday midnight or dawn Monday, towards Harwich, and hope to bo there in about a week if the Lord is kind to us. This-is a.great ship; I’ve a good cook, too.”

WINDJAMMEIt DANCE. As Max Murray, another Australian journalist on this side of the world recalled some time ago, what was probably the last dance given aboard a square-rigged ship was held on the Garthpool when she was in Australia before her final voyage. There is still extanL a fine picture of her at anchor at the p'-cr at- Newcastle, New South Wales, ■ painted by Norman Lloyd the Australian artist now in London, who is shortly Holding a further exhibition of his paintings. The Garthpool was the last of tlie fine fieet of six sailing vessels which Sir William Gari.hwaite bought and rechris toned niter the war—the Garthgarry, Garthpool, Gartliwray, Garthforce GarUmeil, and the Garthsnaid,

The re-christening was regarded with misgivings by sailors, who deem this process unlucky with regard to sailing-ships, which arc known to possess individual souls. With a steamer it does not matter.

DEFIES SUPERSTITION. It will bo noted that Mr. \ illiers has defied the superstition with the Joseph Conrad; but the appositeness of this name for a ship owned by an author should avert tho spell, J spell there be After the Garthpool was wrecked, her figurehead was washed ashore. The superstitious natives of the locality (of mixed negro and Portuguese blood) raised it to the dignity of a local saint and paid it semidivine honours. Sir William, visiting the scene, eventuality bought it back, sanctity and all, for a reasonable sum. Sir William, by the wav, is the founder of the Sea Lions Training Ship Society; but Mr. "Villiers lias drawn abend of him in securing a training ship. It is doubtful whether there will be room for two of them.