Modem Captain Kettle

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 15 (Supplement)

Modem Captain Kettle

TWO splintered ribs and the scar of a nasty bullet wound in his side are permanent souvenirs of the latest escapade of a 70-ycar-old Merseysido skipper, whose adventures rival those of the famous Captain Kettle himself. Tho skipper, Captain H. H. Cossentine, of Wadham Road, Bootle, arrived homo lately after spending weeks in a crude hospital at Ferrol, Spain, where his companions were wounded Franco soldiers. "I think 1 shall stay ashore for a time," Captain Cossentine told a newspaper representative, although he hastened to point out that if a suitable ship offered he would sooner be afloat. In July, Captain Cossentine took over command of tho s.s. Caper, 1500 tons, boarding her at Marseilles to run tho Franco blockade with a cargo of beans for Gijon. "The crew went on striko against tho proposal to run the blockade," he commented. "I dismissed them and got a new crew of 14 mixed Russians, Greeks, Italians and Rumanians, with myself the only Britisher." Two officers of the non-intervention control wore carried as the Caper left Marseilles and passed safely through the Straits of Gibraltar. • Shot Across Bows "About 22 miles from Gijon, ten miles offshore," declared Captain Cossentine, telling his story for tho first time, "I heard the report of a gun, and a shot whizzed across my bows. "Knowing full well I was outside the three-milo limit, I ordered 'Full speed ahead.' "Then a shot whistled over the mastheads, and two warships, flying the Franco flag, hove in sight and signalled mo to stop. I was boarded by armed guards, and an officer asked if I were aware I was in Spanish waters. "1 asked him if he needed the whole of tho Bay of Biscay." Under escort, tho Caper put into Hibadoo with armed gpards. After a fortnight steam was raised, and with two warships in company, sho left and put into Ferrol. Six guards wore placed aboard. 'lhe next day I was in the chartroom when I heard a shot," Captain Cossentino related. "Shouting started.

and I saw the guards racing toward the bridge, firing their rifles. "A few feet from the chart-house door ono of tho crew was lying sprawled." In his efforts to rescue the man—who subsequently died—Captain Cossentino was hit. The bullet struck him in tho breast and passed down his side, breaking two ribs "Streaming Blood" Forced to take cover, he struggled back to the chart-room. "I was streaming blood," he declared, "and made for my cabin. There a bullet knocked out tho light and buried itself in tho bulkhead. "I spent tho next twenty minutes under the table. "When tha excitement died down the | bosun and cook were found dead." Captain Cossentine's theory of the incident is tint the guards, for no reason at all, panicked and let off their rifles blindly. So much so that the ship was riddled with bullets. The captain spent 42 days in an improvised military hospital, and then was detained in a hotel 38 days until Ins ship was released by Salamanca. "The authorities did everything they could to atone for the outrage," he declared, adding that while he lay in hospital a, huge picture of Franco was brought to tho bedside. "This was a very subtle way of finding out my sympathies," he explained. "Of course, they very nearly went mad with joy when 1 wrote, 'Viva Franco.' That move ensured me every comfort the hospital eoul 1 give." Thirteen Years Ago Meanwhile, the Caper was unloaded of cargo, and stripped of all fittings and linen and crockery. The ship's papers, too, were lost. In this state she was sailed away by Captain Cossentine. And this adventure happened thirteen years after this real-life Captain Kettle had "given up the sea for good." At 57 ho decided to settle down ashore and live out the remainder of his life quietly with his charming Greek wife, whom he met in Constantinople. I For nine years Captain Cossentine resisted the call of tho sea and took a delight in looking after tho little Nhop in which he had invested his savings. But finally he gave in. The shop changed hands, and the captain, once more wearing his gold-braided cap, stooil on the bridge of an ocean-going steamer