"Pig-Headed" Sailor Men: From "The Strange Adventure of James Shervinton, and Other Stories" - 1902

In Short

A seasoned trader recalls three disastrous voyages through the South Pacific, each wrecked by the arrogance and obstinacy of the vessel's captain. From a pompous British ex-naval officer running a royal brigantine onto a reef to an unyielding skipper who ignores warnings of an impending squall and loses his ship, these true stories showcase how pig-headed sea captains risk lives, vessels, and fortunes. Blending maritime grit with sharp personal observations, this 1902 collection illustrates the sheer peril of sailing under commanders who refuse to listen to reason, experienced crews, or the wisdom of local native sailors.

The Story

The narrative opens during a smooth steamboat crossing from Holyhead to Ireland, where the author and the ship’s captain trade stories of disastrous shipwrecks and self-willed commanders. Prompted by these memories, the narrator recounts three specific personal encounters with obstinate or incapable skippers during his years as a young trader in the South Seas.

His first experience takes place aboard the Sydney-bound barque Rimitara, commanded by Captain Rosser, a capable and respected island veteran. Lying nearby in Sydney Harbour is the Tuitoga, a handsome, expensive new brigantine built for King George of Tonga. Her captain, Lieutenant Raye, is an ex-naval officer with virtually no merchant sailing experience. Raye arrogantly challenges Rosser to a race. Rosser declines, predicting the overmasted, poorly handled vessel will soon come to grief under its reckless commander. Shortly after leaving Sydney Heads, a sudden north-easterly squall dismantles the Tuitoga, leaving her dismasted, rolling in heavy seas, and minus two crew members lost overboard. Rosser’s crew comes to the rescue, helping to clear the wreckage and stabilize the vessel. Weeks later, when the damaged brigantine reaches Nukualofa Harbour, Raye refuses a local pilot, promptly runs the vessel onto a reef, and then grounds her on a coral patch through his own sheer pomposity.

The second tale recounts a far more costly encounter for the narrator. Having hired a Fiji-owned brigantine to move his £1,100 worth of uninsured trade goods from the Tokelau Group to Yap, the narrator finds himself under the command of an exceptionally stubborn, small-statured captain. Against all advice from his experienced mate, a local trader, and native fishermen who warn of a shifting wind, the captain insists on holding his anchorage on an exposed reef edge off the Gilbert Islands overnight. When a violent western squall hits, the skipper refuses to slip the anchor cable in time. The ship is driven onto the reef and smashed to pieces. The narrator and his native servant Levi narrowly escape by jumping into the surf, but not before tossing a heavy bag of Mexican silver dollars overboard, which they manage to dig out of the sand days later.

In the final episode, the narrator boards the barquentine George Noble, commanded by Captain Evers, a good navigator whose fatal flaw is an inability to take advice from his island-experienced officers. While leaving Apaian Lagoon, Evers insists on sailing through a narrow, current-swept passage in the late afternoon. With the blazing sun directly in his eyes, preventing any view of the underwater coral "mushrooms," Evers drives the ship at full speed into the passage. The vessel strikes a massive coral head, throwing both the captain and the narrator off the foreyard onto the deck. Though the ship survives, her stem is smashed, forcing the crew to pump water constantly all the way to Sydney.

How It Unfolds

Disaster predicted at Sydney Heads Captain Rosser refuses to race the brand-new Tuitoga, warning that her inexperienced naval captain, Lieutenant Raye, will bring the overmasted vessel to grief. Shortly after clearing the heads, a furious N.E. squall hits, dismasting the Tuitoga and sending two sailors to their deaths while Rosser’s ship comes to her rescue.

Pompous bungling on the reef Upon arriving at Nukualofa, Raye refuses a native pilot and drives his vessel broadside onto the reef, requiring Rosser's crew to tow him off. Once freed, Raye stupidly drops anchor in shallow water, sending his ship stern-first onto a coral patch where she sits stuck for two days.

Disregarding the storm warnings Anchored off an exposed reef in the Gilbert Group, a tiny, obstinate captain ignores warnings from his mate, a local trader, and native islanders about an approaching western squall. Believing his barometer over the clear signs around him, he refuses to move the vessel to safe water.

Wrecked in the night surf When the squall strikes, the captain insists on heaving up the anchor instead of slipping the cable, causing the brigantine to crash onto the reef and break apart. The narrator and his servant jump into the surf with their silver dollars, barely making it ashore while the vessel is utterly destroyed.

A blind run through the lagoon Captain Evers of the George Noble decides to navigate a narrow, coral-filled passage out of Apaian Lagoon late in the day with the sun blinding his view. Refusing to wait for favorable morning light, he drives the ship at thirteen knots directly through the treacherous channel.

Striking the coral head The George Noble slams violently into a massive coral mushroom, throwing the captain and narrator from the foreyard to the main deck. The impact breaks off the coral structure and smashes the ship's stem, requiring non-stop pumping until the vessel finally reaches Sydney.

The People

The Narrator A practical, sharp-eyed South Sea trader who relies on his instincts and local knowledge to survive the hazards of Pacific commerce. What he wants is safe passage for himself and his valuable trade goods, but his plans are repeatedly thwarted by the stubbornness of the captains he sails with. Through his ordeals, he learns to trust his own judgement over official authority, developing a fierce disdain for incompetence.

Captain Rosser The veteran "Bluenose" master of the barque Rimitara, standing six feet two and renowned throughout the South Pacific for his resolute courage and deep seamanship. He wants nothing more than to make his voyages quietly and efficiently without the nuisance of passengers or foolish rivalries. He remains cool, collected, and unfazed by the arrogance of lesser sailors, proving his superior judgment at every turn.

Lieutenant Raye An ex-naval officer given command of the Tongan royal brigantine Tuitoga, whose actual sailing experience is limited to naval training brigs. He wants to demonstrate his naval authority and show off his vessel's speed, but his utter lack of practical merchant seamanship leads to repeated disasters. He ends up humbled, leaving a trail of costly repair bills and damaged pride behind him.

The Tokelau Brigantine Captain A remarkably short, extraordinarily headstrong captain whose stubbornness completely overrides his professional training. He wants to maintain absolute authority on his deck and refuses to admit that anyone else—be it his mate, a trader, or local islanders—could know better than he does. His refusal to listen results in the total destruction of his vessel and the loss of his own right forefinger.

Captain Evers The decent, good-natured German master of the George Noble, who is a skilled navigator but overly sensitive to criticism and deeply jealous of his officers' local knowledge. He wants to prove his complete mastery of South Sea waters without relying on others, which leads him to make a reckless dash through a dangerous passage. His rashness leaves his ship severely damaged and leaking all the way to port.

In Its Own Voice

"The second officer told me that the young captain had refused to listen to the mate's suggestion to shorten sail... The consequence was that a furious squall took her aback, and had not the jibboom--and then the upper spars--carried away under the terrific strain, she would have gone to the bottom."

A crewman describes the sheer foolishness that nearly sinks the Tuitoga during her maiden voyage.

"I took his advice, and going on deck, we dropped both box and bag overboard, just where Levi pointed out a big boulder, against which the brigantine was crushing and pounding her quarter."

The narrator takes swift action with his native servant to save his silver coins before the stranded brigantine is destroyed on the reef.

"Evers, however, seemed very confident. 'We'll be through in another two minutes--' he began, and then came a terrific shock, and both he and I were jerked off the footrope, and toppled over the yard on to the bellying foresail!"

Captain Evers's ill-timed confidence ends abruptly as the George Noble strikes a hidden coral head at full speed.

What It's Really About

Beneath the thrilling adventure narratives of shipwrecks and ocean hazards, the text serves as a sharp critique of human vanity, professional arrogance, and the fatal refusal to accept good advice. It contrasts theoretical or formal authority with practical, hard-won experience, showing how ego routinely blinds men to obvious dangers.

The narrative also highlights the critical importance of local knowledge in the South Pacific, illustrating how native islanders and seasoned traders understand the sea far better than foreign captains armed only with charts and pride. Ultimately, the book explores the fragility of life and fortune in the age of sail, where a single commander's obstinacy can instantly wipe out years of hard work, destroy valuable ships, and cost innocent crewmen their lives.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate authentic maritime history, survival tales, and classic sea literature will find this book a captivating read. It offers a genuine, unvarnished window into the working reality of the turn-of-the-century Pacific trade, far removed from romanticized pirate tropes or high-seas fantasy. The writing is direct, lively, and grounded in real oceanic experience, marked by sharp character portraits and humorous observations.

Modern readers should be prepared for the straightforward, period-typical language regarding native populations and maritime culture, as well as the occasional inclusion of nautical terms and island geography. However, the author’s appreciation for the skill, courage, and wisdom of native sailors stands out clearly throughout the text. What remains with you after reading is the vivid sense of physical vulnerability on the open ocean and the enduring truth that self-delusion and pride are far more dangerous to a ship than any sudden squall or hidden reef.

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