A Crazy Trip

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 32, 8 February 1937, Page 11

A Crazy Trip

DATE IxADY HOUSTON YACHT CAPTAIN’S 6TOBY LONDON, January 9. Sb much. httß been ■written about Lady Houston, the millionairess, since her death, that the following article by Captain L. Dawson, 8.N., in a London newspaper, is worth recording. He writes:— The truth about Lady Houston is more fantastic than the fiction that has gathered about her name. I knew her well. For six months I commanded her steam yacht Liberty while she lived aboard as owner. No stranger voyage has ever been made. I quickly found that my work included that of captain, steward, butler, sick nurse, housemaid, bell boy, and, on lighter occasions, of acting Laurel to her Hardy. She distrusted her employees and would spy on them at every opportunity. Once, by her orders, I brought her yacht into the Port of London and anchored alongside Tower Pier. As I escorted Lady Houston aboard she waved cheerfully to the Beefeaters of the Tower and told me that they had probably heard of her arrival and had accordingly dressed in their best uniforms! Lady Houston made a strangely impressive but somewhat pathetic little figure as she came aboard. In one hand was a big untidy leather bag crammed with bank notes. This she always kept beneath her pillow. We sailed down the river—destination unspecified. She would never tell me whore to sail and it gave her great pleasure to keep me in the dark as to our destination until we had steam up. At last we got as far as Harwich and put into the harbour—and there we stayed for two months. Lady Houston spent most of her time in bed or in a sort of gipsy encampment which was rigged up with awnings on the deck. The wireless operator had to chase round the neighbouring farmhouses buying throepennyworth of potatoes and fresh milk. There was no organisation for the yachts supplies and I had great difficulty in getting the money to feed the crew. After two months at Harwich the crying of the curlews disturbed her ono night, so she gave immediate sailing orders. But she would not tell me where to steer for until we were standing out to sea. Eventually we made south for Sandgate and then on to the Dorset coast. All the way the owner knew everything . . . how to steer, how to navi-j gate, how to scrub the decks, how to cook. She told us all our jobs. It was the craziest voyage I have evor known and the most remarkable experience of a lifetime.