At the age of 51 Kristenbrun invested all his savings in the ‘Salme.’ In 3 years he recovered his initial investment, and by 1911 he was the majority owner of 20 tall ships. There was a vast common pine forest next to Käsmu and Baron Dellingshausen, ruling landlord of the area, allowed his ‘talu pojad’ subjects, and particularly his good friend Joosep Kristenbrun, to log it, on condition the loggers cut a healthy percentage of wood for him.
‘Salme’s’ first captain was Jüri Sandström from Pärispea, and with a crew of 8 on her maiden voyage, she was the first Käsmu built tall ship to sail across the Atlantic to North America. Seven years later on a trip from America to England, Capt. Sandström fell ill. He didn’t trust his first mate so despite his fragile health he worked when he shouldn’t have. In a storm, he asked his men to wrap him in bed sheets and carry him up on deck so he could take care of things. He gave his last order as the ‘Salme’ headed toward Falmouth in the English Channel. Waiting for docking instructions and hearing the anchor being lowered, he closed his eyes and died August 14, 1898. He’s buried in the seaman’s cemetery on the Isle of Wight. Sir John Pitka, Commander of the Estonian Navy in the Estonian War of Independence, during his years as a tall ship captain knew Jüri Sandström, sought his advice when he purchased his first tall ship ‘Ebba’ and described him as an honourable man. High praise.
