The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-04

Smiths feet struck the starboard
rail-. and the subsidlng wave left him
sprawling on the deck. Even in the
Tragedy or the moment. do you know,
Margaret. was actually thinking
what an undignified spectacle Smith
was making OF himSelf-our Francis
Weem Smith, you know. Before ne
could get TO his feet. the ship rolled
again, and another wave picked him
up and hurled him to port. As he
shot across the deck. the Sailor caught
and clutched him by the collar. lift
ing him clear OF the Hood. and. with
my help. quickly landed him on the
bridge Smith stood up lurChinxly
ana shook himself eNperimentaIly.
Now, I'm all Wet he announced.
owlishiy lugubrious. IN have to go
back To my room.
Better come on to the pilot
| mouse. sir. suggested the Sailor. II
amt as IL we weren't in hot weather
me captain will have brandy there
Tor you. and I'll have your messbov
bring you up dry clothing
expect that viii be the best
plan, smith volunteered.
smith gave me an an you Brutus'
look, as II l had sided with an enemy
In an assault on his veracity. Blu. he
started forward without saying any
thing, the Sailor leaG,hg and I guard
| ing him in the rear.
We entered the pilot house on the
zee slde, and Immediately the cap
tain. who at that moment was the
busiest man ever saw, greeted us
Sharply Gentlemen. you are here
ana then, Wilson, do you think we
SouIu get hawser through the star
it7' sum- -"
Not remembering to have met an
oIiIcer on board the Yawlban by that
name. l was wondering who Wilson
was; When the Sailor made reply.
United in his sQueaky voice 'R,,t I
Woulont want TO try to put no hawser
thrOuKh the port now, sir. II would
/ be dangerous
| smith, drenched and dismal. looked
! AT me with sardonic grin
a Modern Yankee tar he sneer-
cd lie don't want TO do II because
IL would be dangerous 1 wonder II
one OF Jones DULLES ever told his
commanding officer that
wanted very much to punch
Smlths head. Such "A remark about
man who had just saved his life
ana mat IN a manner nothing less than
heroic. was uncalled for. Besides my
amateur seamanship made me aware
that the boys reference TO danger had
! 10 90 with the ship and not himself.
meaning that to open the gunDort I'm
such sea would food the forward
compartments 10 n dangerous extent.
me mere fact that i'm q stressful time
the captain had asked his opinion on
such "A matter should have been suf-
hcient evidence to anyone that the lad
was valuable hand. / said nothing.
however, knowing Smith too well. and
being already engrossed in the bit OF
hard seamanship' that the captain had
summoned us 10 witness
The ships bow-chaser. a six-inch
rifle, mounted on the center OF tho
! hlSh forecastle had been dismounted
by the combined strain NJ tho avtrar,..
roll and the heavy seas-over. Adrift
IN the sickening pitch and wallow, the
huge length of steel. weighing many
tons. was humping and caroming err
| raucally about the deck. with prob
able potential killing capacity sur
passing hundred guns OF the same
caIiber on the field Of battle. The an
tics Of this inanimate devil has nothing
/ TO do with my story, however, except
that the highly difficult and danger