The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-03

I begged the captain to allow us to 50
to the smoking room, as we wanted to
smoke and get together for little
fun and an iInpromptu concert. We
had been shut mp below in the main
saloon so long we felt that we could
bear it no longer. 1t was very bad
night. but the captain took pity on US
and decided to let us 60.
Things went splendidly for about an
hour. Then In the midst of one of our
jolly choruses there was sudden
smash of water across the deck and
the smoking room was-no more. II
was completely smashed. The broken
partition dashed us against the iron
back, and some Of as were buried be-
meath it. Most Of us were very severe
ly hurt, in one way or another. re-
member that I held on to an iron leg,
or some sort Of iron post bolted to the
deck, that supported small table.
Out OF this mele | managed to pull
a certain Mr. c. of Philadelphia. who
was very badly hurt and very badly
frightened We had been swept aft
and his two legs had gone through
the iron railing that ran around the
deck Of the ship. and they were com
pletely hanging over the sea. With
the broken partitions. tables etc, and
several men being piled on top Of his
head and chest II must have seemed to
him that he was going Into The wild
ocean. And firmly believe that II he
had not had a fat stomach. as well
as severa! men lying on top of him,
he really would have gone through the
ratings and overheard. THIS Mr. G.
and / afterward became very good
friends. and met him for many years
whenever went to Philadelphia to
play.
In our raids on the galley for food,
tfor we used 10 steal food whenever
we were hungry. / managed to get
choice pieces of food for man. Mr.
F.. He was a man old enough % be
and the few passengers we had. think
there were nineteen. by reciting and
singing songs, for there were days and
days when the doors were batfened
down and we could not go upstairs.
Mr.. F. took a great fancy to me.
I contided to him that l was. He said
he was the business manager for one
Helen Hastings, who was being back
ed by one Lord L. who had brought
to this country Miss Violet Cameron,
but was now bringing out Helen Hast
ings, a famous maid from the
Criterion. He was going TO star her
in a play called Pen and Ink" at the
Union Square Theatre. This Mr.. F
very kindly recommended me for the
leading juvenile part and finally got
| ii, upon our arrival.
We arrived in New York, and went
to rehearsal There / met W. ]. Fer
guson. who was very friendly and very
charming to me. Like all imaginative
and emotional young men, | told him
my story and he was very kind to me.
though. at the last moment. he tried to
persuade me to leave the company. He
told me the play was going to be fail
ure. / said must have food and here
was $50 a week and l couldn't chuck II
up. He gave up his part and left
Miss Helen Hastings opened at the
Union Square Theatre and on the open
ing night Miss Caroline Hin was in a
box. She evidently was impressed
with my work, for she went to Daniel
Frohman and told him to see me. He
sent for me and gave me an engage
ment, which was to start the following
Nov. 30, and he gave me contract to
this effect Miss Hastings was fail
ure. and so was our play. and we
closed mp ut the end Of two weeks.
SO I had between the end Of Janu-
arg and the sOth Of November to live
through. I had to live somewhere and
provide board and lodging Tor myself.
However. found could not get an
engagement and the little money
had was entirely gone. After pawninG
what few things I had left, with the
exception Of my dog. who still stood
by me. decided to Get some work AT
anything. The boarding house keep
or would give mo no more credit and
finally shut me ont.
1 First tried to get Job as cnr
driver on tho Madison Avcnue cars
and usAd to hing about tAs ear stables
aIaf eoth sxsei ma Madison Avenue
lavsey az. tnt fnaIay theQ turned M
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