Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-05
Maine Cap
tain's Trip to
Far South
portland Sunday Telegram)

cortland Sunday Telegram) e..
One Of the best known OF the local
coastwise captains is Captain w. J.
Croker, who recently completed
successful cruise for the Winslow
Company, Captain Croker, in the five
masted schooner, Singleton Palmer.
returned a short while ago from Bal
timore, where he had brought his
vessel, after a four-months' trip from
Norfolk to Rio de Janeiro and back
On March Sth, Captain Croker bade
farewell to Cape Henry, and almost
Immediately, sailed into stiff north
west gale, which lasted continually for
over Is days. The trip down occupied
4S days. and but for this gale, was
pleasant uneventful one, but at times.
rather rough. on the West Indies,
ish cruisers, but after displaying the
American ensign, he passed them with
no trouble.
Rio de Janeiro was reached on the
goth Of April and here the schooner
discharged her 400 tons Of coal which
was delivered by lighter to the Brazil
liam government. The schooner I'M
loaded in the stream, although it was
possible to dock, and for IS days. the
vessel lay in the harbor and at gov
eminent island. while a large cargo
consisting of 1922 tons of manganese
ore was being taken on. Around the
Singleton Palmer in the Brazilian har-
Dor were IL German ships, informed
ND of
We're laden with valuable cargoes and
when Captain Croker left the port
mad been there for about II months.
Probably, they would have sailed long
before. had it not been for the fact
that outside the entrance to the har-
Dor, British cruisers were lying in
walt ready to attack them.
during his stay in Rio de Janeiro,
Captain Crocker visited much of the
city, and was favora bly, impressed
with its beauties. The city, he says is
thoroughly modern and up-to- date,
While automobiles were as plentiful as
IN any large city. The country is
mountainous and at the city's out
skirts. large hills loom up. The two
largest of these most frequented by
I
ovado. which is the highest peak in
the city and the Sugar Loaf The
former is reached by electric cars,
which are controlled in the steep as.
cent by coss and belts beneath: the
summit of the latter is attained by an
aerial car naanted on a cable, the
whole plan being the work Of an
American engineer. On Mt. Coronado,
which is $4,000 feet elevation, the view
OF the city and harbor. surrounded by
miles of tropical vegetation. Is Won
derful, according to Captain Crocker.
The city itself is very clean and
exceedingly healthful to live in. Tiled
sidewalks are the custom there and
are used on every street. From seven
in the morning till late in the after
noon, no vehicles of any description
are allowed in the shopping district,
where the streets are narrow. and are
used as much as the sidewalks them
selves The people are a mixture
of many races, but the prevailing
language is Portuguese. A very large
proportion of the population as in all
southern points is made up of colored
people, who do all the heavy unskilled
labor. From March till May is the
winter season there and although the
people said it was their winter season,
Captain Crocker often read tempera-
lures of 80 degrees and over. The
buildings are exceedingly clean and
appeared we'll cared for. while the
stores themselves differ little from
those of up to date places The styles
n olr ;c;o nd
any novelty is taken up there i'm
mediately. The principal exports of
the country are coffee, sugar. tobacco,
iron, copper and diamonds, which are
not as valuable as the South African
diamonds, but yet have considerable
value.
The harbor itself is one of the best
in the world and reminded Captain
Crocker of Portland Harbor. although
MUCH larger, extending in all about
10 miles. The rise and fall of tide is
rot more than four feet. but travels at
one and half knot pace.
After As days spent in this port,
Captain Crocker set sail on the Sd of
June for the U. S. A. The trip back
was an uneventful passage marked by
AAio "SoehCi, anu tdhlllS Oul % udsS
to reach Cape Henry. About the mid
die of July Captain Croker locked
his boat at Baltimore, where she is
now preparing for another trip. At
present, Captain Crocker is visiting at
his home in this city for the summer.
but may in the near future. start out
again on a long cruise. as the love for
the sea he has followed for many
years, is still strong within him.