White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-05-17
INTRODUCTORY

mduIlc ana mysterious nSure on Cne
Side of the central powers In the
World war;" Born in Saxony of
noble family that for generations had
furnished distinguished cavalry COM
manders for the armies of their times
This great grandfather was mar
shall of Franco, his father was de-
termined he should carry on this cav
airy tradition. But Felix was enam-
ored of the sea from his childhood.
A husky young devil, fond of sports"
he refused to apply himself to MS
studies, and when thirteen and half
years old he ran away to Hamburg
and with the help Of superannuat-
ed sailor obtained the post of cabin
boy aboard the Russian full-rigged
ship Niobe bound for Australia.
Eighty days of rough sailing and
rougher treatment brought him to
Freemantle, where an inn-keeper's
daughter persuaded him to desert
the ship and work for her father as
a dishwasher.
Always seeking adventure, Felix
Joined the Salvation army in Free
mantle, then in succession became as.
sistant to a lighthouse keeper, work
er in a sawmill, kangaroo hunter,
helper to band Of Hindu fakirs and
prize fighter. But the sea still lured
him and he shipped on the American
four masted schooner Golden Shore
for Seattle. By this time Felix was
ambitious to be his own master, so
he and another German lad went to
Vancouver and stole small sailboat
to become fishermen. They were
caught but lenient Judge put them
on probation for few weeks. Sign
ing on the English ship Pinmore, the
young adventurer now had long
voyage around Cape Horn to Liver
pool in the course of which Gains,
storms, scurvy and beri-beri nearly
did for the entire crew.
Returning to Hamburg, Phelax, as
he called himself in those days,
signed on the Caesarea, his first Ger
man ship. and then began a voyage
that furnished him with what he
called "a real sea yarn" After not
unpleasant passage to Melbourne they
took a cargo of coal to Chile-where
Phelax spent New Years day in Jail
as result Of spree-and then
sailed for Plymouth with saltpeter.
Off the Falkland islands they were
caught In a terrific hurricane but
managed to reach port. Their next
destination was New York. and on
Christmas day they were struck by
a white. squall, followed by a hurri-
cane that completely wrecked their
ship. Many Of the crew were lost
but Phelax, with broken leg, and a
few others got away in the captains
boat. Six days later, their food and
water all gone, they were picked up
by an Italian steamer that took them
to New York.
Discharged from the hospital in
eight weeks, Phelax shipped on the
Canadian schooner Flying Fish for
Jamaica, but while discharging cargo
his other leg was broken and he was
left behind in Kingston. Able only
to hobble. he was thrown out OF, the
hospital there and, penniless and
feeble, soon became real beach
comber. One day the German war
ship Panther came into port and poor
Phelax, hungry to hear his native
tongue, slipped aboard and was Civ
en- food by the sailors. But he was
80 dirty and disreputable in appear
ance that the officer of the watch or
dered the "unspeakable creature" off
the ship. Years later, when he had
resumed his own name and station in
life and was befriended by the
kaiser, he told this story to Wilhelm.
and the ruler declared it would be
appropriate and poetic to put him
aboard that same Panther as an off.
Ger which was done.
Another voyage took PheIax to
Tampico. where he and a comrade
went for horseback ride and lost
their ship. For time they made a
living carrying market baskets, and
then Joined the Mexican army. Work
in railroad construction camp and
on q fruit ranch followed. and then
came voyages on Norwegian vessel
in the course Of which Phelax &C.
Quired knowledge of the Norwegian
language that was destined to play
an important part in his later adven-
lures aboard the Seeadler during the
war.
When he ran away from home
Luckner vowed he would not return
until he could do so as a naval officer
in the imperial service To realize
this ambition he must study naviga.
ton. serve as officer in the niercap
tile marine and then enter the navy
All this he accomplished with much
travail. and on being mustered in for
volunteer service he was recognized
by his uncle, Admiral Count Rauds
sin. From that time Of course his
fortune was assured and he was re-
united with his family Before long
Prince Henry of Prussia ordered him
into active service and the emperor
took warm interest in his advance
ment.
Count Won Luckner's narrative
from this point, is given In his own
language. as he told It to Lowell
Thomas. II should he explained that
when he returned to respectable
life he found that the vivid profan.