The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-22
THROUGH 1YPHt 0.S An
CALLS SCHOONER CONC
Loaded with Mahogany fromMans
Vessel Has Most Remarkable
Experience.

New York, March 21.--Brtnging
tale of many vicissitudes. the fos
masted auxiliary schooner A. j. WI
has just arrived here from Nam
and completed an interesting mid
months voyage, which smacks of q
eighteenth century.
The Filipino steersman was chf
tering as the ship came up the b&
for he had only been in cold weatFs
the last three days of the voyaa
Such an effect did New York's climb
have on the F'ilipinos that 1t vi
necessary to work them for fifteS
minute shifts only.
With a valuab BILE cargo of mahogai
the A. j. West, rakish-looking era
began it's voyage May last and II
travelled nearly $4,000 miles. She
the first ship of Philippine regist
ever entered at this port.
From July II to July % she wd
through three typhoons. II d
schooner had not possessed submerl
BILE qualities nearly equaling those
boat, she might not have SURVIVE
About half of the mahogany was
the hold, and the rest was dashed
the deck, which itself was only MI
inches above the water. but the luz
Der was dashed with chains. so I'll
1t became virtually n part of the htl
adding to the schooners power
come up to the surface after mou
tains OF water had broken over it,
From July %. when the last
phoon ended, until August 3. when 4
schooner arrived in Honolulu, 4
pumps were manned night and id
Repairs and controversy with d
customs officials as to whether q sfj
of Philippine registry had a right
NY the American flag kept the Oh
at Honolulu: she made her way agail|
unfavorabie winds until Octob1
when. near the Socorro Island,
Mexico, she struck dead calm. Will
lasted thirty-seven days. during Will
time the ships only progress wi
made by It's auxiliary power.
The calm was succeeded by Z
rious gale. Water got below dec
and spoiled all the remaining pI
visions. with the exception of rid
which diet soon began to pail, but Il
ship was in a green-turtle zone.
Children Helped Cou1missary.
During this period Captain r..
Chapman's two small children we
efficient aids to the commissary y
partment. Charles. the younger. wi
fs a year and half old. was q
young to stand on hts feet at all VIII
the schooner left Manila. He HI
grown a great deal. however. befc
the ship reached the green-turtle xcFI
and had developed a remarkable ps
of sea legs. He and his brother. Id
just a year older. kept watch on q
forward part Of the schooner nj
could detect turtles at a great distanc
Whenever the shout of ''turti
would go up from the forward waite
small boat would be put over /
catch the floating food. One turf
made a meal for all hands--Capta
Chapman, Mrs. Chapman and the
children. four officers, nine F1ltpii
sailors. a Japanese engineer and
Japanese cook. For fear of runnil
short. Captain Chapman kept a stos
of six or seven 1--we turtles on boa,
most of the time.
The ship reached punta on Mover
Der IS, and remained there. makii
repairs and taking on provisions UNI
December "a. and for a while ca
tain Chapman had his family asho
here. The younger boy never hi
walked on land. and the etder hi
forgotten how, and at every step Il
youngsters would lift their legs Il
high and iurch to the side. They q
not remain in port long enough
master the technique OF walking I
q stationary surface.
Were More bad WInde,
There were more bad winds fro
Punta Arenas to Halbea, where Il
schooner arrived on January /. j
the Canal Zone the A. J. West had |
first piece OF good luck. Because
the ships light draft II was abis
get through tho canal. but 1t was ia
in time.
The ship was In such bad condittc
IL was necessary to discharge q
cargo at Colon and go into drydoc
for repairs. and not until FebruAi
II could the schooner leave Colo
after which she fought gales all a
way here
Captain Chapman went at once
the Custom House to argue that J
had the right to NY the America
flag. II he IL sustained he will q
Al