LAST OF THE WINDJAMMERS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1929, Page 7

LAST OF THE WINDJAMMERS

NORTH PACIFIC SALMON FLEET. • SAN FRANCISCO, June 1. With the final voyage this month of the Star of Holland and "the Star of Alaska, the last chapter is being written of the “square riggers” that for 6-i years have engaged in the regular scrv'ce from the Golden Horn to the salmon canneries of Alasxa. At the height of its glory, tiie fleet numbered 35 sailing ships. .The old-timers have slowly gone out of the trade. Some have joined the “Hollywood Navy.” Others have shed their glory of masts and canvas to follow meekly in the wake of a tug, currying coal from port to port. Still others have been burned, scrapped, ot sunk. A few are tied up or beached in remote bays or cores. The Star fleet was the largest body oi sailing ships in the world remaining in active service. The largest under American registry was the Star of Lapland, whose masts soared skyward for 200 feet. Until 1912, when she joined the Star ueet, she was known over the Seven seas as the Atlas.

The Star of India, in her earliest voyages, carried passengers from England to Australia and New Zealand. Sailors spoke of her as a flash ship,” her racy lines, far-reaching jib-boom and raky masts closely Tesemb'ling the characteristics of the early clippers. A curious tale has gone the round of the San Francisco waterfront about the Star of England, which sailed earlier under the names of Blairmore and Abby Palmer. In the spring of 96, so the story goes, “the England was anchored off the front, where the tide runs pretty fast. She had just returned from a long voyage. Her cargo had been discharged. She was riding light. “Swinging with the tide, her cable fouled under her bows and she listed badly to port. Just at that moment a combination of wind and tide finished the job, and over she went. They say she had been on such a long voyage and was so completely tired oul and the only way for her to get a good rest was to lie down on the bottom of San Francisco Bay.” . The Star boats, on the northern run carried 300 men, sailors and caliner 1 operators, as well as quantities of bo 1 * ohooks and tin plate. Tn Alaskar waters, sailors turned fishermen. The* earned as high as £3OO in a good season. Everyone “jumped ship” except the skipper and the cook. As fast as they were loaded wit 1 oases and cans, made from their for ward cargo, these grand old daughter of Neptune broke out their tons’l c fore-and-afters. to’gallants’ls. royal and courses, heeled gently to * tlu breeze, came up into the wind, am were off again on their 30-day homeward voyage. Entering San Bay, the crew sang their parody o r “The Liverpool Girl”:

A husky Red stacker has got her ir tow— Yes! Aye, blow the man down. Then down to her deck for unloading she’ll go— Give us some time to blow the ma 1 down. i