When the ‘Sea Devil’ came calling

Landing on Aitutaki by boat on the morning of August 31, 1917, these two men identified themselves as Captain Van Houten (left) and navigator Mr Southard. Van Houten claimed they were Norwegian-Americans sailing the South Seas on a bet for US$25,000. In reality the man on the left was Felix Graf von Luckner, a renowned German naval officer. The photo was taken in New Zealand in late 1917 or early 1918. SOURCE: Auckland Institute and Museum Library. 18020205