MILLION MILES BY SEA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17328, 17 November 1916, Page 8

MILLION MILES BY SEA.

A NOTABLE NAVIGATOR

NINETY TIMES ROUND THE

WORLD

CAPTAIN GREENSTREET, OP THE

REMUERA

The words, " a million miles by sea," and "round, the world ninety times," sound characteristic of a Jules Verne novel. It is Captain Herbert Edward Greenstroet, of the linor Remuera now at Lyttelton, who can moasure his experience of the sea with these two rather startling phrases. In the early days a man who had sailed around the world was deemed a hero, but now Columbus, Anson and Drake fade into insignificance before such a record as Captain Greenstroet presents. tie makes no claim to originality. He has just been 'where otheis have, gone before. This is perhaps why this veteran master's sea life has been largely devoid of excitement. Ho has never been shipwrecked. Ho has run no risk of being cooked in a cannibal stewpot or of bomg compelled to walk the plank to the tune of '"Fifteen men on the dead mans chest." A " WORCESTER " BOY. It was in 18015 that young Greenstreet first went to sea, beginning his sailorlife on the deck of the training ship Worcester. Two years in that 1 anions old school-ship admirably fitted him to become a seagoing midshipman, and in this capacity ho joined the- clipper Holmsdale. This ship was first employed in tho colonial trade. For three years ho served on her, during the latter purt of the time going to China and Japan. With still six weeks to serve before he could sit for his second mate s certificate, he sailed on a North Atlantic voyage on the Miramichi, bound to tho port of that name. This ship was owned by Mr Strang, some ot whose sons aro now resident in the Dominion. lb was in London that captain Greenstreet obtained his second mate's ticket, and the Galatea, of Liverpool, a 1500-ton iron ship, was the first vessel on which ho served a.s second officer. Three long voyages wero made in this vessel, during which the young officer had the misfortune to break his leg. It was a blacksmith aboard who set it, and so well was the job done thatno further attention was needed when ho arrived at Ran Francisco. ■ Tn 1876 he passed into the employ of tl\o New Zealand Shipping Company, his present line. It is unnecessary to follow in detail his years of service in this company. Tt is now" forty years since lie joined, the sailing ships on which he served being the Waimea and •Waitangi. His first command was the iron barque Mala lira, the first vessel owned by. the New Zealand Shipping Company to be fitted out as a carrier .of- frozen -mutton from New Zoaland. This little packet had refrigerating- Epace for -1000 sheep. Today the modern frozen meat ships think nothing of landing 100,000 carcases. FROM SAIL TO STEAM. It was while be commanded the Mataura that he was asked if he would like to go into steam. This was tho opening to which all young officers of the time aspired, and Captain Greenstreet, realising tho fact that tho steamer was going to take tho place of the sailer, said "Yes," aud joined the Aorangi as second mate. This was one of the live first steamers built by tho New Zealand Shipping Company. Ho was afterwords.promoted to •chief mate, and then came his first steamer command. Ho took charge of the Ruapehu, and made nine round-the-world voyages in her. Other steamers of which ho has had command aS - o the old Riuiutaka, the Ruahiuo and Papanui, and tiie Paparba. Ho then went to the new Rimutaka, and to his present command, the Remuera.

RESCUES AT SEA.

Free from disaster as has been tho record of the captain, he nevertheless recall*, tfeivvral instances marked by gallantry of tho highest order. Once when his steamer was outward botind from England, a girl passenger in the steerage jumped overboard. Another passenger saw her floating by tho storn, but instantly realising the possibility of a panic, walked quietly to tho officer and told him that there was a woman in the water. She was some miles behind by this time, but the ship whs put about, and some time spent in searching for the girl. Just as tho search was being given up sho was 'sighted floating face upwards. Sho had apparently kept herself floating for twenty minutes by keeping her hands below water. A professional swimmer went in after the girl, and a boat being lowered, they wore both picked up. Captain Greenstroet recalls n very gallant rescuo effected by a steward named Dan Peurce. A woman , fell overboard near the Equator, ' where plenty of sharks might be expected: But Pea roc simply said, "I'm after her," and running aft, ho leaped over the stern. A bolt was thrown, and with it he swam along the wake of the ship until ho leaclied the woman. Me got behind her, pulled her beneath the surface and clapped the lifebuoy over her head as she rose. Captain Greenstreet had meanwhile brought his ship about and lowered a boat, and both were picked up. Captain GreensLreet is a* close friend of Captain ltoald Amundsen, rlu; discoverer of tho South Polo, and among his most valued possessions is a map drawn by Captain Amundsen, showing his route to the Pole and signed by the great explorer himself. Captain Greoustreet's ton was chief officer of Scott's exploring ship, the Endeavour. That Captain Greenstreet is popular aboard is shown by tho following incident. While an Auckland "Star" reporter was waiting to see the commander a greasy fireman poked his head out of a dark-looking place and asked, f'What do you want?" Tho reporter told him, and after a littlo talking asked him how lie liked his ship. "The ship's fine and the old man he's a brick." With this tho coal-black face' disappeared and the reporter was left to interview " the brick."