Captain Charles Farr and the Tugboat, Warrior: The Story of the Bethel Mission of San Pedro Bay

The never-before-told story of Captain Charles Farr, inspiring chaplain of the Los Angeles Harbor. In 1902, Captain Charles Farr came to California and preached revival meetings to sailors on the hull of an abandoned tugboat, Warrior. Many seafarers, deckhands, fishermen, and longshoremen listened to him. He knew how hard their life was. He'd worked with ships all his life. Years before, Farr himself had turned from a life of drinking and experienced a conversion to Christianity. The dismantled steamship, Warrior, had been famous in the region, a mighty tugboat. It had rescued sinking ships and had carried passengers and freight to Catalina Island. Now the boilers had been removed and the remnant was cast aside. Farr convinced the owners, the Banning brothers of Wilmington, California, to donate the 92-foot-long tugboat hulk to his cause. This is the rest of the story of Chaplain Charles Farr, the sky pilot, who played an important role in the history of San Pedro Bay and Los Angeles Harbor missions. Learn how he converted to Christianity and started his mission to sailors. Discover his connection to the Seamen's Friend Society of Southern California, and how he was honored by U.S. Secretary of the Navy Curtis D. Wilbur. This book includes dozens of newspaper articles and photos from Farr's life, including his landmark boat-like home in Tujunga, which was considered one of the most unique stone houses in Southern California. This is the story of Charles Farr (born in England on January 14, 1859; died in Southern California on October 23, 1939.) The book also examines and debunks some of the urban legends that formed around Captain Farr after his death. For example, one urban legend says Farr founded Beacon Light Mission in Wilmington, California, but he did not. Another says he founded Seamen's Church Institute of Los Angeles, but he was not affiliated with that organization either.