FORTY-TWO YEARS AT SEA

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 June 1939, Page 8

FORTY-TWO YEARS AT SEA

EXPERIENCES OF CAPTAIN ADCOCK

To have served for 42 years at sea is surely something out of the ordinary but when 25 of these have beeu spent in command of different vessels, it is something of which few seafaring men can boast. Such, however, is the record of Captain Frank Adcock, who is at present in Palmerston North visiting his brother whom he has not seen for 24 years.

Captain Adcock served from 1896 to IS9B aboard the training-ship Convey, after which he completed his apprenticeship in two sections of 18 months each, between which he “took to shore” for a period of four years, taking a course of engineering. He was one of the first men to complete a course of apprenticeship aboard a steamship, his predecessors having to train on sailing-ships. For several years he was on the Indra Line, loading cargoes from Loudon to Australia via the Cape of Good Hope and returning to England via Cape Horn after loading up again in New Zealand. After 11 years out he was appointed captain of one of the ships, at the age of 30. A year after this the company was bought by the Blue Funnel Line, the transfer occurring during 1 ft the war.

At one period of the war Captain Adcock was on the “run” between Canada and France, being in charge of a cargo boat. He related that one day the officers nd himself were all on the bridge taking sights to obtain their position, when looking over the side, ne saw the periscope of a German submarine only a few yards from the side of the ship, apparently too close to risk firing a torpedo. The ship was immediately turned hard around and the engines set at “Full Ahead.” The only armament on board was a 12-poundei, which was concealed, but there was no opportunity to use it as the submarine disappeared without attacking. It was found when the ship reached port that the propeller boss was cracked, and it was thought that perhaps the propeller bad struck the submarine and sunk it. Asked what he thought of the Awatea, in which he crossed the Tasman. Captain Adcock said that the rumours that she vibrated were untrue, and that it was a very fine ship. Captain Adcock left his ship at Melbourne, where he will rejoin it in about, ten days’ time.