The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-05-17

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The planning 81 the shark. the build
ing. and the general idea OF the voyage,
all came about easily enough The
project WAS not new one: Robert
Louis Stcvcnsons idea was similar,
although the proposed London voyage
is much more elaborate IN detail. Ste
venson was after health, primarily,
! while Jack London looks more for
travel and adventure.
The proposed voyage is adventurous
enough TO please the most romantic of
writer's or readers. The Shark is a
sturdy boat; much smaller craft have
sailed successfully on trips as long, but
here start out six people: Jack Lon
don, with some deep sea experience but
little knowledge of navigation; Mrs.
| London, wife and comrade of the nov
elist; two young men just out of COL
lege. gritty and athletic enough, but
no sailors, not even amateurs; a Japa-
nese, and Captain Eames, the last
named the only practical mariner as
far as navigation goes. OF course the
Others undoubtedly can and will mas
ter the mysteries OF sextant and chro-
nometer, compass and dead reckoning,
but they will not do 1t before they
start. II am going to cram on navi-
CATION and gas engines after we get
started" said Mr.. London in speaking
of his plans. And SO off they go, their
itinerary the globe, their only premed-
itated destination Hawaii, with the
Marquesas, Samoa. Polynesia in gen.
eral, and then the China Sea as a
vague prospect. Time is no object;
this is how it has all come about:
Successful in craft that calls for
few tools and no permanent location.
Mr.. London needs but a typewriter
and a postoffice now and then, in or
der to turn out his work. As long as
the climate does not prevent effort the
author may go whittier he listeth, his
adventuring proving rather help than
hindrance from an advertising stand
point aside from its educational value.
Having arrived at the stage where his
wares are contracted for far ahead
London resolved upon a trip around
the world. Travelling under ordinary
tourist conditions he dislikes. particu-
larly as it precludes much of the nee
essary surroundings for steady work.
Then. too, he wants to go many places
not on the steamship routes, so came
the idea of the Shark, a boat that
can sail across an ocean, beat her way
up the Amazon or the Yang-tse- -Kiang,
be laid up for weeks at time while
her owners range ashore.
There is no idea Of any particular
itinerary, no plan of visiting certain
region in search of local color or plots
for stories yet to be told. Il have
now" said Mr.. London, more mate
rial in hand than l could finish in a
lifetime" Some effect the trip must
have upon the writer, the acquaintance
with fresh lands and peoples must in
fallibly broaden his imagination and
mentalty-for he is yet young man
even though 1t does not widen the
scope of his stories or affect his style.
Some influence upon his style is to be
expected His tales have all been sug-
gested by happenings, his color ac-
quired at first hand. His Wolf dogs
he has known, caressed and studied,
his men are drawn from life or from
types that suggested the nucleus
around which he has woven psychology
ical subtleties and physical happen
ings. His live perception Is bound to
see deeds and pictures that will appeal
to his desire to portray them. Such
stories will perhaps come after the
voyage is thing of the past. Il write
best in retrospect said he, new
scenes and happenings crowd me too
vividly at first for expression, they
drop into shape later, like the patterns
of kaleidoscope after shaking"
The planning and building of the
Shark was long labor. London want
ed vessel staunch enough to survive
the fury of the gales and the possible
bumpngs of a shoal or reef. He want
ed a boat that would steer with COM
fort, and of rig to ride out a gale
in easy fashion. He wanted power to
stem adverse currents and winds and
bid defiance to calms. So the Shark
was made ketch rig, little known in
Pacific waters, the popular rig of North
Sea fishermen. She carries mainsail
and mizzen, differing from the yawl
rig in the m'zzen being larger and
shipped farther inboard She has stay
sail and jib, with flying jib, a big
spinnaker that can be swung around
for balloon jib, gaff topsail with
a spirit, and storm trysail. Dirty
weather proves the comfort of the
ketch. As with yawl, the ma'nsail
can come down in storm. and under
a small head sail and the mizzen, she
will ride out a gale in comfort and
need little attention at the helm. The
staysail is fitted with n boom and VIII
swing over freely at change of tack.
For cruising up rivers, for stemming
unfavorable currents. running through
Gains, perhaps in escape from canoes
OF cannibal islanders or from junks OF
piratical Chinese. for riding out ~.
phoons and all purposes where auxil-
larry power IL needed. the Shark carries
a seventy-five horsepower engine, that
can send her along at ten miles an
hour or better There have been criti-
oisms made as 10 the unnecessary size
OF the engine and its consumption or
gasoline. but Mr.. London feels that he
need not run full power all the time and
when he wants the engine badly he
wants powerful one, About pint
per horsepower is her gasoline con-
sumption at full power. and behind
water gas and alright bulkhead art
the craft VIII carry one thousand gal
Ions OF gasoline. meaning one thou
sand miles of power radius at
fun speed Going up stlll waters
nf river travel, extra gasoline
a