CAP PILAR HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23159, 4 October 1938, Page 9

CAP PILAR HOME

A YEAR'S VOYAGING HAPPY NEW ZEALANDERB CAPTAIN'S BABY DAUGHTER ~ [fhom oub own correspondent] FALMOUTH, Sept. 10 The five New Zealanders —Messrs*;: W. B. Sutherland. D. Alexander, Clayton, A. McMaster (all of Aucfct. land) and E. S. Talboys (Paeroa)—v who sailed from Auckland a year agd| in the 300-ton barquentine Cap Pilar,were full of enthusiasm for their longi, voyage when they reached Falmouth, this week. Bronzed and looking thai picture of health, they had many interesting tales to tell of their experi«i ences. ' Mr. Sutherland said that tho voyagflj throughout had been delightful. Thai ship's company, numbering in all 25, had been thoroughly happy together and one of the most popular had beeqj little Jessica Jane Seligman, daughter, of the captain, Mr. A. Seligman, whoi was born in Auckland. She had been; remarkably healthy throughout thtf) trip, and never seasick. At the Marquesas she made one olf her many "conquests" here, and the] name given her by the natives wag| "Queen of the Island." A native nursaJ was sent on board every day to takoj charge of her. The island was equally, as attractive as the others visited,i but rather more dangerous. Theraj were coral-bound lagoons, and on ona> qccasion the Cap Pilar was nearljt aground. Skilful Seamanship Skilful seamanship saved her, how*, ever, and her bow was pointed for tha) long 43-day sail to Callao, the porti for Lima, in Peru. .;; .£ The weather was fine and steady progress was made. Toward the end of. the six weeks, however, food and watei' began to run low, and rationing warf necessary for the last few days. Land, was hailed with delight, and at Lima,. Mr. Sutherland declared, the most; beautiful city of the whole year's trip? was discovered. Having found their land legs again] many of the crew left by railway forthe Andes. The line is one highest in the world, and at times climbs to nearly 17,000 ft. Huanuco, "a> small Indian town, was visited on aj Sunday, market day for thousands oi Indians, who swarmed through thai streets selling their wares. Before re-< turning to Lima the ship's company was engaged in a pitched snowball, battle! _ . . On board again, the course wa<] set for the Galapagos Islands. Thffl Chatham Island and Seymour Island! were visited among the group.

A Thunderbolt - The next step was Panama. Thff, ship's company will remember theil, 1 arrival for many a day, for, as anchor, was being cast, the Cap Pilar was\ struck by a small thunderbolt. Alii hands were busily engaged furling sail, -at the time, and the bolt fell as th% anchor touched bottom. Four or fivat of the crew were shaken, and one, who had a foot on the anchor chain, felt a slight shock. But the Cap Pilar was not damaged, and nobody was in-". / jured. . . . • . ' The Cap Pilar was towed through, the Panama Canal, but "a halt wa® made in the Gatun Lake, wherd anchor was dropped for two days tat i allow the ship's bottom to be cleared • of the salt water weed that had grown profusely since the overhaul Auck«> land. . " From Colon sail _ was,- set -for' King*, ston, Jamaica. Winds were contrarj 1 and eventually Montego, on the no?tho west coast, was reached. From here a; •party set off over the island to Kings* town, where it was learned thati trouble had occurred *; among " natives. On returning to Montego thej captain was informed by the chief or police that rioting was expected, ana, the crew was asked to volunteer ail special constables." . - Twelve of the men offered their ser-. vices, and were on duty for four days,! carrying rifles. One or two riots dip, occur, homesteads were set on firp and roads were barricaded; Nosing her way northward again, the vessel -sailed on through thu Yucatan Strait into the Gulf of Mexicd and then through the Florida Straits,.; where more shipping; was seen thatfi at any other period in the voyage, up' to New York . . • It is the intention of Mr. : Seligman to sell the Cap Pilar, but if there arei no offers he will proceed with her to St. Malo, ; France ,_ where she. mU. be/ laid up for the winter. ,