LITERARY SEA CAPTAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18317, 6 February 1923, Page 8

LITERARY SEA CAPTAIN.

LINK WITH CLIPPER SHIPS. DEATH OP CAPTAIN HEDpLE ! [BY TELEOBAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' .. . CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. The death occurred at • Melbourne - a few days - ago of /Captain ■ Robert / Moodie Heddle.. He commanded the Commonwealth Government steamer Hobson's Bay on her maiden voyage to Australia, but on her last trip he was forced to leave the vessel on account <of ill-health. :', Captain Heddle was ;: well known in Lyttelton and Christchurch. For some years:before the war, he was in command of the Melbourne Steamship .Company'* 'steamer, Melbourne in the Newcastlo-Lyt- ■ fcelton coal trade. /. Captain Heddle ' served •his apprenticeship in the Aberdeen clipper 'ship Yollaroi, '/in,/ the .Australian; trade. Subsequently, 'hi* served as second mate and'chief,, mate in several of the famous Loch line clippers, arid ultimately held a command in that .line. He was master of the Loch Nsas\ for several years, arid subsequently of tho Loch Ryan. -,'''":■/■■■ ■'" ;J \' : -:. When the owners of the Loch line sold their ships, ptain Heddle joined the service of the Melbourne Steamship Company. During the war he entered the employ of the Commonwealth J State Line, and was master of the Bborala. Last year he took command tof the new passenger liner Hobson's Bay, 13,850 tons, in which ho made three voyages. Captain! Heddle/was a thorough seaman of the sailing-ship school, j ',1 Captain Heddle also had considerable j literary/ ability; He was a frequent,' contributor of verse to the Bulletin and other journals. :As a prose writer'on sea topics, Captain Heddle possessed a ■ facile pen. aHe contributed a number rof articles on the clipper ship days to ' Australian and' New Zealand papers. v -