Captain David Reid

When He Piloted the Admiral

From Our Thursday Island Correspondent THE late Captain David Reid was for long the doyen of the Torres Straits pilot service.

It once fell to his lot to pilot an U.S. naval cruiser south from Thurs day Island through the intricate chan nels of the Barrier Passage. The im portance of his post was enhanced by the fact that there was an American admiral aboard, and Captain Reid, with the reputation of the pilot service at stake, determined on a record trip.

The cruiser was capable of fast steam ing and he let her go at something like twenty knots.

All went well till nightfall. About 7 p.m. a message reached the bridge.

“Admiral , of the U.S. Navy, pre sents his compliments to Captain Reid and desires to know if he is quite satis fied with the position of the ship.”

A reassuring answer was returned.

At 8 p.m. came another, couched in the same courteous style, “Admiral —, of the U.S. Navy, presents his compliments to Captain Reid, and will he kindly mark the exact position of the vessel on the chart and send it down to him.”

Captain Reid was quite confident and so, after consultation with the juniors on the bridge, another knot or two was added to the vessel’s speed. This was duly noted down in the Admiral’s cabin and may have been instrumental in the sending of a third message, receiv ed at 9 o’clock.

“Admiral —, of the U.S. Navy, presents his compliments to Captain Reid, and as he has a wish to leave his bones in the ancestral graveyard at Boston, Mass., he would be much obliged if Captain Reid would anchor for the night.”

No more attempts at record break ing were made on that ship.