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ersonal Sketches of Marine Men Capt. Patrick Francis Donnelly, Isthmian Steamship Co. By Ben K. Price Photo Blank & Stoller N THE retirement of Capt. P. F. Donnelly, of Isth- mai mian, shipping has lost from active service one of its most forceful and picturesque figures. Reared in the traditions of the sea from early youth, the son of a shipmaster and the grandson of a shipmaster, the captain retires after more than 55 years in service in which he has written achievement with a bold and colorful hand. Captain Donnelly’s retirement comes as a result of the newly established policy of the United States Steel Corp., the parent organization, through which all employes are automatically retired at the age of 70. Still vigorous in body and mind, he will now be able to devote more time to the many interests of a full and busy life. The Captain has been marine superintendent of the Isth- mian Steamship Co. since the company’s first inception, over 20 years ago, and he has contributed materially to its growth and prosperity. He has seen the number of ships owned, increase from one to 39, operating in all parts of the world. Needless to say, the captain is of pure Irish descent. His grandfather, Capt. Patrick Francis Donnelly, whose name he bears, came from Ireland to Newfoundland and later was lost at sea with all hands. Hence, it is not strange that he possesses that fine combination of qualities—fearlessness and sentiment. It is said that he can dig deeper into his poke of Irish lore than most of his compatriots. Ballads and lyrics ripple freely from his tongue—a true pilgrim from the Blarney stone. Captain Donnelly was born upon the rugged Sweeps of Newfoundland. It was there that he not only became steeped in the legends of his ancestors, but in the stern traditions of the sea. At the age of 12 he was shipping with his father up the Labrador coast, and at the age of 16 made his first trip across the ocean, a sailor before the mast, on the brigantine RAvENSwoop, destination Bristol, England, cargo seal oil and seal skins, Next he sailed on the brigantine Higurryrr, in the South American trade, and later on the brigantine Lizzir, which OR twenty years as marine super- intendent of the line, he has built. up an efficient personnel afloat. F SEAFARING stock, his experi- ence at sea began early in the hard school of the sailing ship. KEEN understanding of human nature, a mixture of tolerance and discipline, enter into his life. foundered in mid-ocean. The young sailor and all other members of the crew were rescued and taken to Cork, Ire- land, then to Bristol, England, where he shipped on the English brigantine Sunseam for Newfoundland. Then came his first command, the 200-ton schooner THERESA, in the West Indies trade, then the 250-ton brigan- tine CLeppU BELLE, which he commanded for five years in the trade between Newfoundland and the Southern Europe- an countries, principally the Mediterranean, carrying fish in bulk outward and salt homeward. His last command in sail was the brigantine PLymMouTH, which foundered in mid-ocean in 1897. The rescue of Cap- tain Donnelly and his crew furnishes one of the most thrilling chapters in the annals of shipping and served as the captain’s first introduction to steam. The crew was rescued by the S. S. Camprran, of London, but as soon as all were safely on board the gale increased in violence, waves mounting in height. That night the thrust shaft broke and the ship at the mercy of the seas rolled to dangerous angles. At times it seemed as if she would turn turtle. Four times was she taken in tow by various vessels, twice, at different times, was she reported lost with all hands on board by ships which had come into port after first attempting assistance. One ship, S. S. VaLA, broke her tow line four times in an effort to help the disabled Camprran, and then stood by for a week before finally losing sight of her. When the CamBRIAN was brought into port considerable time later it was to many people in the nature of a resurrection, and the press from one end of the country to the other and abroad carried the story of man’s desperate fight in overcoming the elements. This, may it be repeated again, was Captain Donnelly’s first introduction into steam. Then began a new phase of his sea training. He went to London, soon to ship as third officer on the 12,000-ton S. S. Mraanric, of the Wilson Fur- ness Leyland lines. In the nine years which followed he rose to the position of chief officer, crossing the Atlantic between London and Boston 142 times. With this training in steam, he became master of the S. 8. VirGinian, of the 54 MaRINE REvisw—June, 1931