The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-03-20
In DORY, He STARTS
ON 10000 MILE TRIP
Leaves Honolulu Without
Nautical Chart or Anchor.

Honolulu. Hawaiian Islands.-No
nautical event Of recent times in Homo
lulu excited more widespread inter
est than the departure from here re-
Gently, of Ira G. Sparks for the Holy
Land. He is landlubber of Peru,
Ind. and he embarked alone in a 20
foot dory, which he built with his own
hands. To reach a Palestine port he
must cross several of the seven seas
and cover a distance of more than TO-
600 miles. He set sail without anchor
or nautical chart.
So interested were the United States
naval authorities in the remarkable
adventure which Sparks has under
taken that, when it was learned he
had nothing with him to mark his
bearings on the great expanse OF
ocean, special navy seaplane secuted
for Sparks small craft and found 1t
the second day after his departure
from Honolulu, making its way slow
" westward, rs miles off shore. A
nautical chart and a message of good
wishes and good will, sealed in d
water-tight can, were dropped into
Sparks boat from the seaplane.
Known as Fanatic.
Seaplanes from the naval air sta
ton here kept in touch with Sparks
until after the third day, when he was
reported still moving along toward the
west, being about 125 miles away from
his starting point when last sighted.
Sparks is known here as a reli-
gious fanatic. He first came into pub
lie notice just a year ago when he
was discovered In a packing box on
trans-Pacifc liner, as the vessel was
nearing Honolulu. Sparks had shipped
himself In the box as freight He was
taken off the ship here and kept IN
jail a few days, but his cheerful and
kind demeanor won the friendship OF
the local authorities and he was per-
mitted to go free. He got a JOB as
carpenter at the Pearl Harbor naval
station and began laying his plans Tor
continuing his journey to the Holy
Land.
With his earnings he bought a whale
boat, but, when he tested it, he found
1t unseaworthy. He blew 1t up with
dynamite and then set about building
his own boat In this work he was
assisted by experienced navigators,
who designed the dory for him and
gave him advice in the matter of out
lifting the craft for the long cruise.
Finds Himself a Hero.
When the hour approached for cast
ing off Sparks found himself a hero,
not only Of the hardened habitues of
the water front but of hundreds Of
other people Of Honolulu who were at
the dock to bid him Godspeed. Hoist
ing the sail and hauling in the line,
Sparks babe adieu to Honolulu.
81 hate to leave you boysi" he called
to a group of stevedores.
''Where is your anchorT' some one
asked.
81 don't need one; I am not going
to stop until get there" was the
reply.
Sparks had on board when he left
here 80 gallons of water and enough
bareback and other food supplies to
last him 100 days. His route is via
the Marshall islands and New Guinea,
thence to Asiatic coastal waters. He
carries no clearance papers or pass
ports. 1t is said clearance papers only
apply to vessels of 500 tons and up
ward.
1t was in Difference to request of
his parents, who live at Peru, that
Sparks deferred several weeks start
ing on his long voyage. They had
pleaded with him not to attempt the
big adventure, but 1t is said he finally
obtained their consent
81 have faith that I shall succeed"
Sparks said.
It is the expressed opinion of some
experienced navigators here that faith
may carry him through the many dan
gers of the deep. AS to what he plans
to do should he reach the Holy Land,
Sparks seemed to have no very clear
idea. The <"call,' came to him to go,
and the work will be provided when he
reaches there, he asserted.
Sparks is thirty years old and Of
striking appearance. He is of large
build and wears long hair and flow
ing black beard.