SHIP OF ADVENTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 9

SHIP OF ADVENTURE.

TOURISTS AS SAILORS.

A FOREIGN LEGION.

FILM PROFITS EXPECTED.

Of all tho strange cruises in the seas that have begun this year, one of the strangest is that of the American threemasted ex-whaling ship Narwhal. The vessel is now at Noumea, and the officers of the French mail steamer Pacifique, which arrived back in Sydney last week, boarded the little craft at the French port. The captain of the Narwhal told the officers that it was likely that he would take his ship to Sydney next. According to the men of the Pacifique, the crew of the Narwhal is one of the most remarkable that has ever set sail. They are all amateurs, and represent many nationalities and malTy professions. The voyage was arranged by adventurous spirits, but with the object of making it pay if possible, by the proceeds of cinematograph films. Each man contributed capital towards the cruise, and although they signed on as sailors, they are actually tourists. The expedition is in charge of Mr. Murry N. Fay, who is director of a cinematograph society at San Francisco. During the war he was in the* American Flying Corps. There are nineteen others aboard the Narwhal, which is commanded by Captain Charles Arey, who is also vicepresident and treasurer of the expedition. He has been at sea for 25 years, and is well-known in Sydney. During the war he was a lieutenant commander in the American Navy. The others of the expedition consist of English, Americans, and old colonel of the Russian Army, M. Wladimir-Ayvaz-aglon, who was attached to . the military office in Japan, and during the war was decorated with the Russian Legion of Honor, a Swiss, a New Zealander, and an Irishman. Nearly all served with the English and American armies in the war. Despite their different professions, most of them are now capable sailors. Before the war two of the crew were with an insurance company, one was an agricultural engineer, one a mining engineer, one a professional base-bailer, and there are two army officers, two commercial travellers, and a gas engineer. Two young men are diplomatic students from Harvard and Liverpool Universities. Mr. Stermer is a graduate of the Carnegie Institute of Technology, who is officially representing the Museum at Honolulu. It was agreed that all should sign on a* sailors under the captain and a second officer. Captain Airey thought that probably such a cruise to the South Pacific could be made profitable. He advertised for qualified men, and soon there were many men and women offering. Women, of course, were refused, the captain said. A company was formed with a capital of £5000 and the Narwhal was purchased for £1500. The Narwhal was built in 1883, and has been engaged in the whating trade. Many of the tourists put their last penny into the project. They saw a reasonable chance of profit, and made contracts to finance for the films.