McArthur and Handley

An Appreciation by an Old Supercargo

IWAS deeply moved by the picture on the cover of September “PlM”—for the memorial shown thereon records the names of two of my very old friends, McArthur and Handley.

It was in January. 1903, that I first met Alex. McArthur, a young Greenock man, trading on the island of Nonouti, in the Gilbert Islands. “Mac,” as we called him, was a very popular trader.

Captain Isaac Handley first came to the Gilberts as second mate of the Bums Philp vessel “Ysabel,” in 1906, on his way to the Marshall Islands. Burtis Philp & Co. at this time were making their re entry into the Group after having been put out by the Germans some years pre viously. This German ejection was an infringement of an Anglo-German agree ment of the late 80’s, but BP were even tually compensated and allowed to return.

I was a shipmate of dear old Handlev in the “Ysabel,” the schooner “Louise J.

Kenny” and the s.s. “Muniara.”

Captain Handley was a lovable soul and a wonderful sailor. It was he who, as master of the schooner “Louise J.

Kenny,” took aboard, at Abemama, in January, 1908. the .two pirates Mortle manns and Skerret. Mortlemanns had murdered the captain and mate of the Chilian schooner “Nuevo Tigre” whilst it was on a voyage from Callao, South America; he then changed her name to “White Rose” and sailed west, eventually piling her up on the weather reef of Abemama.

It was only by chance that Skerrett, (who was in Mortlehianns’ power) finding that Captain Handlev came from the same county as he did (Westmoreland), saved Captain Handley’s life. Skerrett stated that Mortlemanns had murdered, his two former shipmates and that he wished Skerrett to join him in seizing the “Louise J. Kenny.” Captain Handley promptly arrested Mortlemanns and, on arrival at Betio, Tarawa, handed thei pair over to the Resident Commissioner. Mr.

W. Telfer Campbell, and Mr. George Murdoch, District Officer.

CAPTAIN HANDLEY probably knew more of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands than any other man. When Burns Philo & Co. had to leave the Mar shalls for the second time it was through the Japanese who. while professing friendship for Britain, yet intimidated the Marshall Island natives who sold copra to Captain Handley’s vessel. If caught trading, the natives were punished bv the Jans by having their thumbs tied above their heads to coconut trees. This eventually had the desired effect, and European ships found it impossible to trade in the Group.

Captain Handley was very well liked by the natives of the Marshalls, from whom he obtained valuable information about Japanese fortification of those islands.

This information Captain Handley no doubt passed on to the right quarters.

He was a loyal Englishman, fearless, and a true friend.

An old identity of Apia, Mr. Herman Krueger, died on August 29, at Apia Hos pital, aged 75. Mr. Krueger came to Samoa for the old DH & PG (the “long handle” firm) in 1897 and for many years was branch manager for the firm at Aleipata. In recent years he had been in the employ of the New Zealand Repa ration Estates.