Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-10
THELMA'S SKIPPER
LIKES HIS ROLE
OF SANTA CLAUS
Captain Henrichsen, of the
Relief Ship, Anxious to
Start With Cargo of Sup
plies for Belgiians.

Captain Wolf Henrichsen, Santa Claus
of the relief ship Thelma. likes his job.
The idea of plotting the ship which will
save thousands of Belgian non-com-
batants from starvation pleases him.
He is anxious TO be off at the task as
soon as possible
Loading tho supplies is proceeding
rapidly, but Captain Henrichsen PAGES
up and down his cabin when he is not
out on deck watching the stevedores at
work
In addition to other duties these days
he is entertaining visitors. The ship has
heen thrown open to public Inspection
The Thelma ia a freighter and means of
entry are not SO convenient as you find
on n liner Tho ladder, which is really
a set of steps set at right angles with
the ships plates, was used many times
today. Captain Henrichsen leaned
against the companionway leading to his
cabin and greeted visitors as they came
over the side. The reception was in
formal.
As he talked he helped amuse little
Olga Barston, the first mates 6-year-old
daughter. who wore blue hair ribbons on
a pair of stout yellow braids and spoke
Norwegian fuently. despite the lack of
three first teeth Olga Barston and her
little black puppy interested six small
girls who came from the Burd School,
SOD and Market streets, almost as much
as the ship did
The six little girls were in charge of
Miss h. NJ, Durnall, who brought them
from the Burd school to see the ship.
When this party of visitors appeared
Olga developed a sudden shyness and
went back into dark corner of the COM
pHnionway. A minute before she had
been pinchlng the captains nose
The six little American girls were inn
mediately interested. Olga was induced
to come forward to meet them. She
twisted her yellow braids while the cap
tain explained she couldn't speak English.
After that the visitors left for the
Lincoln Building to leave contributions
for the relief ship.
Captain Henrichsen speaks good Eng
lish.
'I think it's fine thing for Amer
leans to help those poor Belgians," he
said "I am lucky my country isn't
in the war, too. No l never captained
Christmas ship before: nor even re-
lief ship. This is the first one 1 hope
we will have good weather. You can't
tell about the weather this time of year"
Captain Henrlchsen Is "a Comparatively
young man, not much over IS, one
would think. The relief ship Santa Claus
mas luedS ABOUT Wnat should 20 in the
newspapers. His age is one of the
things to keep out. you don't want
td put that in," he protested. What
difference does 1t make how old l amp
He was born in Wuusberg. Norway, and
since he was Is he has sailed the seas.
Once he was shipwrecked.
Yes, once" he replied to the question.
why IT was on an island they called"
Then he remembered he was talking for
publication. ION an island" he ended.
You wouldn't want to put that in, would
you?'
Captain Henrichsen is reading about
the relief ship. They put in all kinds
Of things about it," he said, to show
why he hesitated TO tell the name of the
island why there was lots of stuff
about Vikings and all that" He smiled
pleasantly when 1t was explained that
publicity even IL Vikings were men
toned, would help rouse interest. IT
know ] know" he agreed. but the islands
name remained a mystery.
In Norway Captain Henrlchsen has
two little girls About like her." he
said. pointing TO Olga, who stood bv his
side twisting her bralds.
Charles y. Richards, keeper OF sta
tionery In the United States Senate and
Government attache longest i'm the Sen
ate was one of the visitors who saw the
ship today. He is in Philadelphia writ
ing his memoirs for a magazine. Mr.
Richards, though 73 years old, climbed
over winehes and tackles on the Thelma's
decks as lightly as the crew. He asked
the way TO the receiving station In the
Lincoln Building, saying he wanted TO
contribute.