New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-03-02

determined 10 have ncbcdy even re-
motaly connected with. Germany Ia
its employ. So the heroic Kreibohm,s
exile stood until tho close Of the va.
when he came out OF retirement 10
take command or a former German
llIer for tho Shipping Board.
Many OF the noted transatI.p,,,
shippers has the last decade. inolud.
Ing the arduous war years sent into
retirement. Most of the old skinner.
OF the Lusitania. most beautiful OF
cunarders. have passed along to IN.
rose covered cottages" outside Law.
erpool or Southampton.
Capt John Watt. the grxxled old
sea commander who brought this
vessel out on her first trip. retired
a year or so afterward and was sue
eeeded In the command by Capt
John Pr1tchard. a robust and sturdy
skipper who afterward took the
Mauretania and was In charge Of her
bridge on some Of the liners fastest
trips. Capt Pritchard, who had the
reputation Of being able to dock the
$50 foot cunarders like a ferrv-
boat" long since retired. as have
war;. Barr. Dow and Turner. all OF
whom at some time commanded the
III fated Lusitania. Doh, an excep-
aionaliy popular captain, took tho
Lucy" into Liverpool flying tho
American flag on the trip previous to
ner fatal crossing. On the last vow
age the great cunarder was in com.
mand Of Capt. W. T. Turner.
Capt. Barr, known as one Of the
safest and most conservative Of
cunard commanders. nd who had
the Carmania for years strangely
enough was the navigator OF that
vessel when. In tho only stand I'M
give and take battle between armed
liners during the war. she sank the
eerman liner Cap Trafalgar. Barr
retired after his war service.
Many Veterans Going Strong.
Many OF the British sea command
ers' especially those in the Atlantic
passenger trade. had enough worri.
ment and trouble during four years
OF war to drive them into retirement
Dull many Of the veterans are still
gong strong. These include Sir
James Charles. now commander Of
the Aquitania; the genial and rub.
cund Hambleton. commander Of the
great Olympic. and w. r. D. Irvine
VINO was IN command OF the Chr
arder Laconia when she was SINK
and suffered from submersion in .he
cold water.
Scores Of those war trips across
the war zone. involving sleepless
nights and endless vigilance. wen.
unmarked and unrecorded because
nothing happened.b but those war
years Of unremitting service prob
ably added gray hairs to the head ~
many a brave skipper. A winter
crossing In war time made them
think, as Capt. John Bradshaw OF
the Lapland used to say, as il God
had forgotten YOU" And Bradshaw
was there, trip in and trip out.
through the long war years.
Two noted and popular shippers
of the American Line reached the re.
age soon after the war, and,
strangely enough. sought their rose
covered cottages" in England, where
they figured, perhaps, life was more
tranquil and more conducive to the
contemplation Of golden youth. These
sturdy and old experienced COM
manders were Capt. Arthur H. Mills,
who for many years had the old
Philadelphia and afterward the st.
Paul, and Capt. w. T. Roberts, who
for many years was in charge Of the
New York, a vessel which In recent
times has survived many vicissi-
tudes.
Started in Sailing Ships.
1t is safe to say that these two
Yankee shippers covered more sea
miles than any other American mer-
chant commander afloat during a
like period Of time. Both started out
in sailing ships and SO have some Of
the glorious old clipper period to re-
member when they start up the ru-
minative pipes these days.