Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-26
JAChLONDON
SAFE AT HOME
AUTHOR LANDS AT SAN FRAN
CISCO FROM TAHITI
NEVER IN pANeER; HAS WRIT
TEN NEW BOOK
Novelist Returns from South Seas,
Leaving His Boat Shark
Behind for Re-
pairs

By Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 2b.-Jack
London, the author, who left here last
May on a seven years trip around the
world to procure material for literary
work and for whose safety fears have
been entertained, returned to this city
today on the steamship Mariposa from
Tahiti
London is accompanied by his wife
and says he has come back to attend
to some business matters. He VIII
leave again on the Mariposa February
/, The Shark, the 50-foot boat in which
London is making his trip was left tor
repairs to her gas engine.
I'VE have had absolutely no adven-
lures" said London, land the reasons
for our delayed arrival at the Mar
quesas islands, which gave rise TO the
reports that we had been lost, were
simply trouble with our gas engine anu
because we spent some time cruising
among various islands When we re-
sumo our voyage in the Shark we shall
have an entirely new crew. Those who
came with us when we left San Fran
cisco last spring idealized adventure,
and when they found that actual adj
venture had lot of hard work IN pc
tween times they lost interest"
London is indignant at the action OF
an Oakland bank which on Thursday,
because of the reports of the loss OF
the Shark, recorded a mortgage against
Iondon's home on account OF deco
executed last spring when the author
was in need of funds for the outhtting
of his boat
Has New Book Ready
Seen on board the Mariposa this
morning shortly after the vessels re-
lease from quarantine. London lookel
nd 1rvaG a II qn1ilpg
when asked about his cruise Accord
ing to him it has been wholly success
full. and he has not spent an idle mo-
ment since his departure from this city
in April of last year.
II have not taken a day off from my
writings" he declared, land return with
a novel of about 10000 words which Is
all but completed
II left Hilo in the Shark on october
last and made the Marquessas IN
lust sixty days This was a little
longer than l had expected, but was
due to contrary winds encountered
After putting to sea we found that the
northeast trades had shifted around
to the southeast an 1t was slow work.
ssThe Shark behaved beautifully, now
ever and no damage whatever was sus-
tanned. On the voyage to Hllo we had
a most delightful time. For three
weeks a school of bonita followed us
least trouble Upon one occasion when
1000 miles from land l landed a big sea
turtle and as for man-eatlng SHARKS
we caught them, too.
s.Our first stop in the South sea was
at the Island of Neukahiva, at the port
of Taiohai After a stay of two weeks
here we proceeded to the valley OIL
Typee, made famous by that early
writer of sea novels, Herman Melville.
Later we shaped n course for Papeete,
where the Shark is now anchored
awaiting our return.
Sees mature Man"
In relating his adventures in the
Shark thus far Jack London laid par
ticular stress upon his reception at
Paneete where he was met by OAR
ling, "the nature man." who came out
in d small boat waving red flag as
a salute to his brother Socialist
During his stay at this port before
the departure of the Mariposa, London
was visited daily by the nature man
on the Shark According to the au-
thor. Darling is not as poor in pocket
as was at first reported, but, on the
other hand, seems TO be doing talriy
we'll in his South sea island home.
When reminded of the fact that he
had been given up for lost by many
of his friends in this city, London
laughed long and loud.
Il was thinking of tying the Shark
tlp at some small island and returning
here with my wife and story of hard
ship, but later changed my mind dur.
ing the voyage upon the Mariposa,
London announced.
Asked as to his future plans the
writer stated that the cruise of the
Shark would be carried out az first
planned, and that he would visit in
turn Samoa, the Fills and all ports
Of the Orient During his absence from
here London has found time 10 do
much literary work. and will announce
his new book shortly.