Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-20
Captains of Big Liners Ashore

&Thc qnlotest and most inconspicu.
nns man IN the world is the captain
of the big ocean liner when he comes
ashore. What a change to him from
Wild ocean scenes of stom aud peril
To prosaic life ON land; from posi-
tlon of utmost responsibility and auto
cratic authority tn the utmost rolaxa.
ton Ill
After tho inevitable worry and
strain OF the voyage with vessel
that cost millions It's passengers and
cargo the sudden transformation is
naturally very agreeable Even the
tiip up tho bay after entoring the
hnrhor has boon one of more or less
concern, lest some distaste might sud
denly come Unexpectedly from COLI.
sion, IN explosion or other mishap
without warning.
When At last the big shin is fast
TO her pier then for the first time
the vast responsibilities OF the voy,
age end. and the captain goes ashore
with light step. ms happy rs a child
His only remaining official task is Ia
90 to the Custom House and perform
the usual routine duties. sign the ~.
ccssary papers, etc Next he visits
The office OF the steamship compuny
Islands In his report. gets the news ~
| ccives in structions. and he is . free
man.
But what do captains do while in
port? Chiefly enjoy themselves IN
their own way. visit friends. go IN ne
theatre night or two week and per,
haps accompany an old acquaintance
TO his home in the country. but never
very far away from the ship. Answer.
Ing Invitations, and necessarily po
'itelv declining hundreds of the most
cordial and pressing requests II visit
friends. old aud new. Is nerhnns one
NJ the. captains social duties requiring
much diplomacy 1t has been said
that the cantains usually put IN nj
the best hotels and snend every hour
IN having a good time with friends
only to glad to entertain them. This
is not true Men educated in siren.
nous life of ocean wayfaring and hard
shin naturally seek n quiet recreation
With fiends whom they know very
well rather than the excitement of re-
ceptions and dinners.
Prefer To Live On Board.
1t used TO Ia the fashion for some
the subject. ito 70 to the biggest no.
tells and find rest in new scenes and
the reaction that follows the strain
of n voyage But inquiry brings the
answer that they prefer to lodge on
their ships and be near at hand in
- :. e. <
memory OF that terrible fire ut the
lioboken pier few years ago has
not been forgotten. No captam feels
entirely Mt rest very far away from
his ship II is his pride and chief con
Germ. No gcne-al ever loved his army
or soldier his comrades, or man his
wife. more than captain loves his
ship.
Captains Best Of Seamen.
Thesc famous commanders of the
creates, vessels in the word have
been selected because of their rrrrl
They began life by making themselves
thorough seamen and doing what no
academy or instructor could do for
them. Take for instance, the career
of Captain Karl Kaempff commander
of the Deutschland He has n dozen
medals for his achievements. his
bravery and his saving of ships and
human life, When he had completed
his one hundred and fiftieth voyage
he was called the most popular COM
monder. and his seamanship was so
distinguished as TO win praise from
the German Kaiser.
He was born in 1855. At the age
Of fourteen he made his first voyage
in the bark Bazaar, Later he com
manded the Japanese vessel the Tat
su Mari. In 1879 he returned to
Germany and entered the service of
the Hnmhurg-American line. Here he,
began his career as fourth officer of
the Leasing. and was rapidly adyanc-