Discord

The Spectre That Haunts Cruising Yachts

From Our Own Cor ,, ' ,, 'r>orH<'nt.

Papeete, July 2.

A N auxiliary sailing yacht, Cassida, arrived at Papeete recently win some scientists on their wav to worry the birds, fish, and bugs of Samoa. The purpose of her owner was to call at Pa peete. for a supply of fuel oil and proceed on the voyage.

No sooner had the ship dropped anchor in Papeete Harbour, however, than the spectre of discord—which almost invari ably haunts the wake of vessels cruising these waters—overtook her. Tribulation became the portion of the owner, the agent, the Consul and many others in authority.

The usual manifestation of disharmony aboard private yachts is the hurried landing of the owner’s guests and their speedy departure from the island to des tinations as widely separated as latitude and longitude wnll permit. On the Cassida it was the crew.

The U.S. shipping laws—framed w r ith benevolent intention become, in the hands of a turbulent crew directed by a “sea-lawyer.” formidable instruments for the disruption of peace and tranquility throughout the voyage. Of all the ports in the w’orld, Papeete is, perhaps, one of the w r orst places of call for a ship on which conditions such as these exist. The “sea-lawyer” and his merry men can

cause delay, trouble, and exasperation far

beyond the limits of human endurance; and they usually take full advantage of their opportunity.

The crew r of the Cassida used the full arsenal of their weapons. It is certain that had there been a mail steamer going from Papeete to San Francisco the owner and big guests would have left the yacht in tbo captain’s charge to be navigated to New York as best he might. The only alternative was to get rid of the more troublesome members of the ship’s com pany, substitute Tahitians, and make for the nearest United States seaport, i.e., Honolulu.

After many goings and comings and many days’ delay, permission was sec ured to leave ashore several sailors under bond given by the owner that they would be returned to the States (via Panama! by the first Messagaries Maritimes steamer. Other guarantees had to be driven that the Tahitian sailors would be duly repatriated at the end of their ser vice.

The only bright spot in the whole af fair was that the birds and bugs and fish of Samoa were granted a reprieve!

Another cruise which came to an un timely end in these islands was that of a stately white yacht which called at Papeete, in the course of a round tbe world voyage, some months ago.

The only passengers were the owner (a m’ddle-aged magnate from the United States), and two men guests of about ihe same age. We rather marvelled at me harmony which prefailed aboard after so long a voyage until a gossipy steward revealed that the sweetness and commun ity of a continuous inebriation (since the departure from New York) had prevented discord from raising its ugly head. The three, he said, drank champagne from beakers as large as Munich beer steins, and their Scotch high-balls required a full quart bottle of whisky for one round He added that ships following the yacht into Colon complained that they had to proceed at half-speed across the Carib bean Sea because of the congestion of empty bottles floating about!

Nothing extraordinary happened while the yacht lay at Papeete, and in due lime she departed. In less than a week, how ever, she returned, and the following bul letin was issued by the owner: He had gone ashore at Bora Bora (Lee ward Group), and no sooner had he set foot on land than a violent earthquake

had shaken the island. The ground flew up and smote him hip and thigh bruising him grievously, and breaking one of his arms in two places. * Inquiries at Bora Bora revealed that

no one living on the island had noticed any earthquake; but as the yacht-owner had his bruises and broken arm as evi dence, something of the kind must have happened.

That ended the cruise. The priceless arm which could sign cheques for mil lions was too precious to be tinkered with by surgeons other than the most

eminent. Orders'were given to steam with all despatch to San Francisco.

The fate which broods over yachts in the South Pacific had struck again.

Captain and Mrs. F. Allen, old resi dents of Apia, sailed from Western Samoa by the July Matua for New Zea land where they are now going to reside.