The Washington times., 1911-08-29

Take II from young P. D. Elkins,
Washington bank clerk, who recent
ly saw a part Of Europe from the poop
deck OF a cattle boat, that the fellow
who wrote, "A life on the ocean wave,
a home on the stormy Deep" probably
| never saw a larger body Of water than
DOC" Hudson's bathing beach. He
may have made one or two forty-mile
moonlight down-the-Potomac excur-
sions on the st. Johns, but young El-
hns doubts Il.
With two other Washington boys, FL
kins, who occupies a responsible posi-
ton at the American National Bank.
and who is q near relative OF former
Senator Stephen B. Elkins of West Vir-
gtnia, has just returned from one Of
those stormy deep voyages to Liver
pol EIlIins, with w. A. Lesher and
Art. '.ur Bell. was among the twenty
on, amateur chaperons en- the boat,
which carried 65s head Of cattle from
Baltimore 10 Liverpool for English con-
sumption. Elkins and Lesher never
had chaperoned cattle before, and
the business was new 10 them. Bell,
however, who considers himself an old
coIN OCGdurG lC hdS oCANOA kAioS ~
pacIty on four separate voyages. came
through with flying colors. His two
companions did not fare so we'll.
Far be II from me to cast disparag-
ing remarks at any poet" young FL
kins said this morning, but now, when
/ read that little verse about bound
ing pillows and briny deeps furnishing
the only home for a real grown-up man,
/ am disgusted. Must have been some
press agent for a steamship company
who turned that out at SO much a
word
Two Weeks on Trip.
The cattleboat, with Its crew of sixty
eight officers and men. twenty-one OF
whom were civilians with the wander
lust creeping from every pore, sailed
from Baltimore for Alexandria docks,
Liverpool, July 1. Fourteen days were
required to make the trip A majority
Of the amateur cattlemen's knowledge
of beef had been confined. up to that
time, to small steaks served with ''trin'-
mings." As to what should be done
with the cattle after leaving port they
knew nothing.
TT all looked very good before we
sailed from Bait more" Mr.. Elkins
said. Il never have seen a more glow
Ing description OF an ocean voyage in
pany than was given by the recruiting
officer of the liner Ulstermore, upon
which We made the voyage.
Mr.. Bell who had made these trips
when we climbed aboard the cattle boat
In Baltimore, each man had a large
package. Sandwiches, pickles, canned |
meats, and canned beans were in each |
package.
THAT is all that. saved US. Many Of |
an extra suit Of overalls, and a few |
ielicately scented cigarettes. They |
of of 'scow.' For dinner
they had 'scow.' At supper, the cooks |
don't see how the poor fellows ever |
lived.
"Scow" a Regular Diet.
"'Scow' is some mixture, believe me. |
A combination Of tough meat, salty IN |
The extreme, with large quantities OF
all cooked together: that's |
scow.' The Ulstermore left Baltimore |
With five and one-half tons of potatoes. |
When she reached that port on the re-
urn journey, there weren't enough po-
atoes left to make the thinnest kind
II a Saratoga chip. Salt air and hard |
work were conducive to big appetites.
The men who at home fuss for a week
f their steak is not exactly rare enough
vent for the 'scow' combination with
he greatest Of relish"
When the Ulstermore reached Alex
andria docks. the young men. who had
to make a long excursion
through Western Europe, were inform
ID they would have to sail for America
IN another steamer, within three days.
This didn't appeal to them. They went
o Liverpool, London, Paris, Lake Como,
Milan, and Lucerne. There they spent
more than a week and were preparing
% make a more extended trip. when
hey heard that the Clstermore was
preparing to resume its homeward
Journey.
by this time every man In the crowd
vas BROKE" Mr.. Elkins said. The
,aptain of the ship. whose name was
Iowan, appeared to take a fancy to the
hree Washington boys, and we knew
hat II we ever got on board the Ulster
more we would be safe.
''As II we owned not only that boat,
,ut the entire line which operated 1t, the
hree tired and travel-worn Washing
onians walked down to the Alexandria
locks, marched up the gangway, and
pretended we were looking for our
tate rooms.
Made Stowaway Start.
"once on board. we disappeared as
and as completely as Dorsey
Toultz. Even Mona Lisa had nothing