A MODERN DRAKE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 December 1927, Page 5

A MODERN DRAKE.

HOME MADE SCHOONER. CORAL TREASURES. • LONDON, Dec. 23. A new Drake has put, in to the port of London to rest and refit 'after two years’ voyaging of 20,000 miles on, if not. the 'Spanish Main, at least the equatorial seas. (He is Captain J. Drake, master of the eiglit-ton schooner Pilgrim, which is now at Westminster Bridge. v

The Pilgrim breathes romance and adventure as soon as you step on its weatherbeaten timbers. 'The miniature hatchway leads to the compound cabin, with its display of sponges, shells, and decorative seaweed. Palmlike' branches of coloured seaweed camouflage the lockers, and the skipper's bunk is hidden away behind a display of tropical shells that would be envied by a fashionable bric-a-brac shop. “I collected this little lot,” said Captain Drake, “because I must pay my way, and I find folks buy ’em. Ye he continued, with an embracing wave over his craft, “T built her meself out of odd bits of wreckage I picked up and other timbers I had by me. An’ now she wants a polish up, and T want a rest, so I’m selling the pretties for the funds to start off again. “I started off from Puget Sound, Washington, two years and four months ago. I worked my way down the islands, I sailed through the Panama Canal to the West Indies.

“I was hanging round there for a long time catehin’ them fellers,” indicating the beautiful shells, “an’ then I put into Bermuda to get ready for the trip to the Azores. “She wasn’t difficult to handle, though we had rough weather during the 53 davs while I was crossing Then I made straight for Plymouth, and came on to London.