The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26
JACK LONDON IN
SAN FRANCISCO
Came From Tahiti With His
Wife and Will Return on
the Mariposa Feb. /.
HAD NOT ABANDONED TRIP
ENGINE OF THE SHARK NEEDED
FIXING.

the author, who LETT mere last May on
a trip around the world for the Wo-
mans Home Companion, and TO pro-
cure material for other literary work
and for whose safety fears have been
on the steamship Mariposa from Tahiti.
London is accompanied by his wife,
and says that he has come back to at
tend to some business matters. He will
leave again on the Mariposa on Feb. 1.
The Shark, the fifty-foot boat in which
London is making his trip. was left at
Papeete for repairs to her gas engine.
Engine Was No Good.
I'VE have had absolutely no adven-
lures" said London. "and 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,
and because we spent some time cruis-
ing among various islands. When we
resume our voyage in the Shark, we
shall have an entirely new crew. Those
who came with us when we left San
Francisco last spring idealiZed adven-
ture, and when they found that actual
adventure had a lot of hard work in
between 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
London's home on account of a deed
executed last spring when the author
was in need of funds for the QUILTING
of his boat.
In Perfect Health.
Seen on board the Mariposa this
morning shortly after the vessels re-
lease from quarantine, London looked
the picture of health, and was all
smiles when asked about his cruise.
According to him, it has been wholly
successful, and he has not spent an idle
moment since his departure from this
city in April last. II have not taken
day off from my writings" he declared,
land return with a novel of about 49,
900 words which is all but completed.
II left Hilo in the Shark on Oct. Z
last, and made the Marquesas in just
sixty days. This was a little longer
than I had expected, but was due to
contrary winds encountered. After put
ting to sea, we found that the northeast
trades had shifted around to the south
east, and it was slow work. The Shark
behaved beautifully, however, and no
damage whatever was sustained On
the voyage from Hilo, we had most
delightful time. For three weeks a
school of bonita followed us and we
could catch them without the least
trouble. Upon one occasion, when 1000
from land, | landed a big sea turtle,
and as for man-eating sharks, we
caught those, too.
Visited Famous Valley.
Our first stop in the south seas was
at the island of Neukahiva, at the port
of Taiohai- After a stay of two weeks
here. we proceeded to the valley of
Typee, made famous by that early writ
er of sea novels, Herman Melvilla-
Later we shaped our course for Papeete,
where the Shark is now anchored, and
will remain until our return.
In relating his adventures in the
Shark, thus far. Jack London laid par
ticular stress upon his reception at
Papeete, where he was met by Oar
ling, the nature man." who came out III
a small boat waving a red flag as
salute to his brother Socialist. During
his stay at this port before the depart
ure of the Mariposa, London was Wis
tied daily by the nature man on the
Shark, and both held socialistic seances.
According to the author, Darling is not
as poor in pocket as was at first re-
ported, but, on the other hand, seems
to be doing fairly well in his south sea
island home.
Made Him Laugh.
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.
u was thinking of tying the Shark
I'D at some small island and returning
here with my wife and story of hard
ship, but later changed my mind dur
ing the voyage on the Mariposa.
Asked as to his future plans. the writ
or stated that the cruise of the Snark
would be carried out as first planned,
and that he would visit in turn Samoa,
the Fills, and all the ports of the Or
lent During his absence from mere
London has found time to do much lit
erary work and will announce his new
books shortly.