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Capt. H. A. Cunningham, Joins Sendad Shipping Co. By Ben K. Price 4] 1GH up in a building at a world-famous address, 4] 26 Broadway, a man watched intently the move- ment of a world-famous ship as she glided silent- ly down the Hudson, past the Statue of Liberty, through the Narrows and on out to sea. Un- doubtedly he envisioned himself on her bridge, where he had spent innumerable hours—often long, tedious, wearisome hours, as well as pleasant, prideful ones; and probably, too, his mind turned back to his early associa- tion with that ship, to the days of the war, when he, as navigating officer, had brought her, a troop ship, into dock at Hoboken, under cover of darkness, unaided by harbor pilot or tugs. To him, likely, she was more than a Ship; she was a symbol of 32 years of active service at sea, in which he rose from a cabin boy on a Long Island sound steamer to ranking senior officer of the American merchant marine. In the recent resignation of Commodore Harold A. Cun- ningham, the LevrarHan has lost an able and gallant master, but the Standard Shipping Co., Standard Oil Co. of N. J. subsidiary, in his appointment to its executive staff, has gained a superb organizer and a Seasoned and practical shipping man. The exact nature of his new duties has not been an- nounced, but persistent rumors point to a more centralized control of the company’s various fleets, comprising one of the largest aggregations of vessels in the world. The group includes surely the largest number of tankers, with close to 50 vessels registered under the American flag alone. Commodore Cunningham first came into the public spot- light, when as mate of Momus, he had the distinction of taking the first attachment of American troops to France. Then shortly he was made navigating officer of the seized German liner, VATERLAND, later renamed LeviarHan and reconditioned as a troop ship. He was elevated to the rank of lieutenant commander in the naval reserve, Following he was master of Mount VERNON, army trans- port, and then SAHALE and Ampnion, Subsequently he 50 ROM cabin boy on a Long Island steamer to command of the LrEvia- THAN, his progress has been steady. i+ IS service in command of troop transports was of exceptional value to the country during the war. 4 IS record afloat as an organizer holding the esteem of his men predicates success in his new duties. entered the United States Steamship Co.’s service as com- mander of PANHANDLE Starr, running between New York and London, and later of the ContrnenTAL State. In 1925 he took over command of GrorGE WASHINGTON, the young- est man to have ever assumed charge of a ship of her size, and shortly after he succeeded Herbert Hartley, as master of the United States lines’ greatest ship. Ruddy complexion, blue eyes, hair gray, medium height —slightly under five-foot, 10—slender, but well knit—such is the brief description of Commodore Cunningham. He was born at Sag Harbor, Long Island, the grandson of an old whaling ship captain. After attending high school at Greenport, Long Island, he shipped at the age of around 15 on the Sound steamer SHINNECOCK, which plied between Sag Harbor and New York. It was in 1909 that he obtained the berth on the Morgan liner, Momus, in the New York-New Orleans trade. With his deep interest in seaman welfare, it is not sur- prising to find him a charter member of the Neptune as- sociation, New York, which has contributed so much con: structive effort in this direction. In fact, he was presl- dent of this organization for two terms and is a trustee. His diversions include golf, which he took up a few years ago and for which he has had to answer to his seafaring friends. Now that he has taken a “land” job, they insist that it was the influence of the game. He is excellent at cribbage and other card games; was perhaps one of the best shuffle board players afloat; and has 4 penchant for flying. His home is at Glen Ridge, N. J. where he resides with his wife and two daughters. Commenting on Commodore Cunningham’s service at Sea, at the time of his resignation, Joseph E. Sheedy, executive vice president of the United States lines, said: “He has an enviable record as navigator, and although 4 strict disciplinarian, every man under him held him 1 highest esteem.” And, it may truly be said, too, that in all his years at sea there never had been a single serious accident charged against his record. MARINE REVIEW—March, 1931