An adventure story
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| Sunday, January 6th -- This morning we were still going ahead, but upon inquiry found that we had started up the north coast of Ireland and Government tugs had ordered us back at full speed, as submarines were awaiting us. We are now near Belfast, Ireland, but understand we will leave either during the night or at 7:00 A.M. tomorrow.
We have all been assigned to our life boats. I am in No. 3. We had to report in the Dining Room, men, women and children, with life preservers on, and then every one actually went to his life boat. Upon four blasts of the whistle, everyone is to be in his place at the life boat. If any of our guns are firing (we have five), we are to immediately don preservers and report to the dining room, ready for an emergency. There are very few women aboard, about seven, and five or six children; the balance being naval officers, army and Red Cross officers. The officers of the American Destroyer Jacob Jones, sunk about a month ago on the Irish coast, are aboard ship and three of them sit at the same table with me. Also at our table is a young Belgian Count, who is only nineteen but has been at the front for three years. He is now on leave after having been in the hospital and is going to spend his leave in America. No messages are accepted from passengers for transmission by wireless. So far our dinner table of six is very jovial. Of course, no one is suffering from Mal de mer, but tomorrow or next day may tell a different tale. At present, we simply pass away the time as best we can, playing cards, checkers, reading, walking, eating and sleeping. No wonder I am putting on flesh! There is no gymnasium aboard ship, no music of dancing, so it will be really a hard trip with so little to occupy one’s time. There is no lack of food. Plenty of everything. One would not know a great war was going on so far as food is concerned. Plenty of white bread, butter, sugar, and such things, the lack of which has heretofore been so apparent. We can, of course, today see the wonderful “Emerald Isle”, and it looks as romantic as one could wish. While we are practically in the harbor of Belfast, no one is allowed ashore. Officially, we are many miles at sea, when, as a matter of fact, we are cozy and safe in harbor, awaiting the work of mine sweepers and an opportunity to get to sea. While it is dangerous going via the Atlantic, from what has been happening in Russia since I left, it seems that, after all, the Atlantic is really the safest route we could have taken. Monday, January 7th -- We again started early this morning, taking route between Ireland and Scotland. The sea is very rough and many are ill. Jack very bravely ate three meals and lost them all. We must be in a late equinoxal storm for the sea is too rough to think of going on deck. One of our gunners was washed overboard this afternoon. He was at his post looking for submarines, when a great volume of green sea struck him -- he saw it coming and tried to make the gang-way leading to the inside, but missed and went overboard. The ship returned on its course, but could not find him. The poor fellow did not have on a life belt, and besides it is so cold and the water so terribly rough that he probably only lasted a few seconds. The fact that one of our boys had gone overboard threw a damper over the entire ship for some time. In one respect the storm is a blessing, for submarines can’t possibly operate in this sea. Only four of us showed up at our table for dinner -- three naval officers and I. Had an amusing incident late today. I was sitting in a chair at the head of the companion way, when the ship gave a heavy side roll and then a plunge. I felt my chair slipping and before I knew what was happening I was headed down the companion way. It is a common sight to see some one suddenly run across the width of the entire ship and bang up against the side. Pretty rough, but safe from the submarines. Tuesday, January 8th -- Had a good, warm, salt water bath this morning, but much to my surprise there were no facilities for rinsing off in fresh water. Not quite so rough this morning. Wednesday, January 9th -- Beautiful day. Up about 9:00 A.M. Breakfast in room. Had long walks on deck. Friday, January 11th -- Simply trying to pass away the time. We are favored by having a passenger who plays and sings very well. He gives us a concert nearly every night after dinner. Sea is again very rough. Saturday, January 12th -- Up this morning about nine o’clock. Breakfast in dining room. The ship is pitching to beat the band this morning. There is a very long swell and cross sea with it. Had a long walk on deck -- port side. As long as I am not suffering from sea //sickness, I can enjoy watching the ship rise high on the crest of a wave and then take a beautiful nose dive and see the water splash over the bow. At one minute the water seems forty or fifty feet away -- and the next it is right on you. Sunday, January 13th -- Church services this morning by the Purser. Sea pretty rough today. I walked the deck in the morning and was soaked to the skin -- had to put on my uniform. There was a lecture after dinner, but I did not attend. About midnight Lieutenant Scott and I took a walk on deck. The ship was plunging terribly, but our sea legs were in very good shape and we were having a very enjoyable time, drinking in the sea air, when suddenly the ship made a deep nose dive and Scott immediately said he didn’t like it and to grab the rail next to the cabins. In a few seconds a perfect deluge of water came rushing down the deck from forward. Even after the bow went down again, the water came rushing down the deck, and for fear we might be caught off of our guard, we went inside and to our berths. Monday, January 14th -- We are all very busy today arranging for our farewell dinner. About 7:30 P.M. we gathered in one of the cabins and later went in to dinner. Our steward had everything in readiness for us -- a specially printed menu card with the names of all of our party was at each plate.v Major Cunningham, U.S.M.F.C., had the seat of honor. Others attending the dinner were -- Lieut. Scott, U.S.N. Lieut. Richards, U.S.N. Lieut. Gates, U.S.N. Count Bouissert, Belgian Artillery J. A. Embrey, American Vice-Consul Lieut. Harriman, A.R.C. And the writer. We had a most enjoyable time.
I returned to Washington in a few days and am now awaiting my call to go to the Massachusetts Tech., at Boston, as I am now regularly enlisted as a Pilot in the Naval Aviation Reserve. 1 See photos on web site. i ii iii iv v Download 399.67 Kb. Share with your friends:
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