Keller Mystery is Ended

Captain Haug Sums Up

AMIABLY exercised in his min by being called “an inquisitiv bloke” (October “Territoru Talk-Talk”), Captain Carl Hau wrote from Darmstadt, Germany, c March 3 to “give the gist of m inquisitiveness” about Captain Kelle (Writing in the December PIK Mr. H. C. Corrie, of Sydney, sa: that Otto Keller was killed i January or February, 1913, c the coast of Malaita between Foando and Quarrie, and that tM murderer was subsequently hange at Tulagi. Other people had d< scribed another Captain Keller. Tlf PIM finally said there must ha’ been two Captain Kellers).

Captain Haug writes that wh« he met Jack London at Sydney, 1908, London mentioned a Captai Keller whose schooner had gone the rescue when London’s Snai was on a reef in the Solomons.

Captain Haug continues: "IV friend Captain Fehr, who owned I Plantation in Bougainville but w expropriated in 1920, later told r of a curious coincidence. In 18£ when he was in the British fou masted barque Garnet Hill, one his shipmates was a Swiss sail named Keller. In 1920, when he h to leave Iwi, he took passage in coasting steamer; and, on the fii evening aboard, found that the caj tain was his former shipmate a: that he (Keller) had recognised li as he came aboard.

“I wanted to learn if the Kei;. of London’s story was the KeU who had been with Fehr in tl Garnet Hill, and to clear up t) question I wrote to PIM. T answers have cleared it up. Ja London’s Keller was killed in 19( The other Keller died in camp Singapore during World War 113 1171 TH regard to Markham and tr W Lily (“ Talk-Talk” in OctoT PIM), Captain Haug adds: think it is right to assume tM Markham bought his Lily frr Hernsheim, because the firm had schooner with that name. But did not buy Jack London’s Snc and rename her Lily, as alleged. T Snark was sold at Sydney for t trifle of £Stg.soo, in 1908, and far as I know Markham did not; to Australia until after 1910.

“I met London in Sydney at the Snark had been sold. Had I n him before I would certainly hu bought the Snark myself; she M cost Jack London 60,000 dollars building and for repairs at Honolv Charmian (Mrs. London) me later that the ship, re-ngged( a schooner, was recruiting in New Hebrides.”

Captain Haug concludes: “Itf good to give old memories an airr

Ind I am glad that the PIM note has given me the chance. . . If that iamned 1914 war had been avoided t would, I am sure, be living now n a cottage at Rose Bay or Wat sons Bay as I once planned to do. if the 1948 money reform had lot snatched most of my savings, : would have travelled to a part of he world where I lived in paradise srithout realising it.”