The San Francisco call., 1913-08-24

The secret Of perpetual youth has
been discovered It's the simplest
thing in the world. If you are young,
tall and handsome and would remain
so all you have to do is to ride 7s5.SSo
miles on a Southern Pacific ferry
steamer.
This is what Captain John Leale,
commander--every other day-of the
ferry steamer Newark, has done, and
this Is why he doesn't look day older
than he did In 1873, when he piloted
the Newark on the trip that inaugu-
rated the narrow gauge ferry system
25 years ago.
It's because he hasn't changed BIT
that his friends still call him Jack. Z
And he has friends. Politicians have
been known to turn IS shades of green
in 10 minutes as the result of specu-
lating what they could do II they
had as many friends as Jack Leale.
The only other man in California
equally blessed In this respect Is his
brother BIZ" which might make It
look like family trait but for the fact
that "Bill. is also a captain and has a
lengthy but less easily calculated
stretch of bay travel to his credit.
A GREAT TRAVELLER
"A
Leale-and, in this part of the world,
this is the literal truth--few realize
that he is one Of the worlds great
travellers.
He was born on the island Of Jersey.
He came to San Francisco in 1854 to
join HIS uncle, the late Captain Andrew
Nelson, who was for years president OF
the California Transportation company
In 1854 Captain Nelson was operating
a feet Of sailing vessels in the fruit
trade on the Sacramento river, and 1t
was on one OF these that Jack Leale
first learned the responsibilities OF
command.
Then steam took the place of sail In
the fruit trade. and on the stern wheel
er Reform Captain Leale began his
"steamboatin' career He entered the
service OF the Southern Pacific in 1878
as captain OF the Newark. His service
on the Newark has not been continu-
GUS, He was captain of the Bay City
for many years and has been in COM
mand Of the Piedmont. His service or
the bay, however, has been uninter-
rupted except by an occasional vaca-
tion.
RECORD NOT DUE TO LUCK
That he has never hit another boat
with the ono he commanded and has
never been in a serious accident Of any
kind Is not all due to luck. His record
il a monument to the value of taking
infinite pains. On account OF the hys-
terical temperament OF the bay tides
for which the Sacramento river Is
largely responsible. conditions for the
crossing ferry steamer are never twice
alike. In handling a ferry boat under
such conditions wind and water must
be watched with a vigilant eye. and
Vigilance Is Captain Leale's middle
name.
It takes nerve, too, to handle crowded
ferry boats on foggy days, and, while
he never takes q chance that would
ieopardize the lives and property under
his care. he has nerve when the pinch
comes. OF the forceful, effective kind.
DAREs DYNAMITE PLOTTERS
In 1894 during the big railroad strike
IT became necessary to send troops by
hoat from this city to Sacramento. The
strikers declared that they would dyna-
mite the boat, and there was reason
to believe that the threat might be
made good Captain Leale. who knew
the river like book. was pilot and he
made the trip on the old sidewheeler
Alameda. with General Graham aboard
with 500 men and 200 horses.
From Sacramento Captain Leale took
the Alameda to Mare island. where he
nick ed up 400 bluejackets and brough,
them to Oakland pier, which they had
been detailed to guard
Here Is the mathematical record oi
III. Southern Pacific service: He has
made approximately 111,ooo round trips
between the San Francisco and the Ala.
media shore. The distance one way /,
AL miles, so that he has travelled or
the bay just 7S5.830 miles.
This Is equal to SIS round trips be.
tween here and HonEkong b recor(
that you'd make deep sea sailor ex.