Capt. James P. Barker Disgusted With Slow Time, Caused By Adverse Weather Conditions; 26 Men, Officers, Two Tomcats and a Dog Aboard; Cargo Is Fertilizer
After a 100-day voyage from New York, a trip that Capt. James P. Barker, veteran master of the ship, described as “not only unsatisfactory, but positively exasperating,” the square-rigged three-masted ship Tusitala rounded Diamond Head at 9 a.m. Tuesday and docked at Pier 26 at 11 a.m.
She was assisted to her berth by the Young Bros. tugs Mamo and Mikihala.
“This has been the longest voyage we have ever made to the islands,” Captain Barker said. “We had calms, squalls, adverse currents, headwinds and cross seas all the way.
“At one time it took us an entire week to sail 10 miles,” he said. “We left New York June 27, and made fair time as far as Isla Grande, about 26 miles from Colon. But it took us seven more days to make those 26 miles to the canal.”
The Tusitala left the Panama Canal July 23, and had been “dawdling along” ever since.
Captain Barker arrived today minus the Van Dyke beard that graced his countenance on his last year’s visit. This lack of hirsute adornment was made up, however, by Second Mate Frank Pospichal, who wore a beard that would put the House of David people to shame.
The Tusitala, one of the few square-rigged ships still afloat, is owned by James A. Farrell, president of the U.S. Steel Corp., and maintained as a monument to the old sailing ship days.
She brought a cargo of 2665 tons of sulphate of ammonia for discharge here, and will remain in port until Oct. 30.
Her trip from New York to Honolulu last year required only 84 days; the year before, 1929, she required 98 days to complete the voyage. Last year she remained in port from November 29 to December 29, when she sailed back to New York with a full cargo of Hawaiian sugar.
Thomas Hughes, chief mate of the Tusitala, was again on the forecastle head when the ship docked today.
The vessel carries a personnel of 26 men and officers, two tomcats and a dog.
