Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

Captain Mcgowan

Captain Mcgowan.

Captain McGowan, or as he was frequently known "Mad McGowan," was a skilful seaman, and one of the most capable men afloat. He was a great personality, with strong likes and antipathies, and a most caustic wit. Greatly liked by those who knew him intimately, he commanded a large circle of friends in both London and the Clyde ports; and his word on matters of his profession carried weight. He carried sail in southern latitudes fearlessly, and could get the last foot out of his ship. He knew instinctively what his command would stand up to, and when to drive her. In the tropics he was more anxious, andthough he carried on when possible, was much on deck. When racing other ships he had the most uncanny skill in getting extra pace. He would sit on the weather rail and work his ship for all she was worth, inspiring the greatest enthusiasm among the crew.

"Mad" McGowan was the strongest advocate for adequate berthing accommodation, for his men. He superintended the building of the Gogo-burn, and took command of her from the stocks after leaving the Ben Venue. The sailors' quarters on the Gogoburn provided for two and four berth cabins in the deck house, and, says one of the officers who sailed with McGowan in this ship "they were comfortable berths too." This ship carried three mates, a boat swain, sailmaker, four quartermasters, ten A.B.'s, two ordinary seamen and four apprentices. The men had to receive three hot meals a day, and the cook hadpage 303 to report every meal to the officer of the watch for inspection. He may have been "Mad McGowan," but he was thoughtful and capable to the last yarn, and was an insistent advocate for reform when reform was unpopular with owners.

Some of the sailors who had been in the Ben Venue when the ship was lost at Timaru arrived Home a few months after the Gogoburn was launched, and when making her second voyage to Australia they were taken' on by McGowan.

Three or four men who sailed with McGowan, including Captain Wilson of the Northern S.S. Company, and Mr. S. Philpott (now with Jagger and Harvey) are residing in Auckland.

One of the officers who sailed with him, and now residing in New Zealand, relates:—"When lying in port at Glasgow McGowan posted a notice up in the rigging when shipping a crew 'No Irish need apply.' Next day Irishmen pelted the sign with refuse and dead cats and rotten fruit lying alongside the dock. Capt. McGowan said nothing, but when he bailed he had a crew half Irish and half niggers (American blacks), men of very fine physique, powerful men and good sailors. After shipping the crew the starboard watch was composed of whites and the port watch of American blanks. There was keen rivalry between the two, which resulted in continuous fights in which the Irish invariably suffered."

the Ben Venue made five passages to New Zealand as under:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Oct. 26, '75 Feb. 2, '76 McGowan 95
To Wellington.
Nov. 16, '77 Feb. 26, '78 Hurry 100
Mar. 5 June 8, '80 McGown 94
To Port Chalmers.
Feb. 11 Apr. 29, '81 McGowan 77
Land to land 67
To Timaru.
* May 5, '82 McDonald
*