The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-20


where he gained considerable know
ledge Of wireless through a station
which he erected and on which he
experimental, was q wireless opera
tor on the Don Juan de Austria when
she sank last week. Mr.. Wick has
written an interesting leeter TO his
mother az Lisbon. which has been
sent to The Forum. The Don Juan
de Austria was sunk last week. Mrs
Wick later received advices stating
that her son had been rescued. The
letter under date Of November l.
1917. follows:
81 Just borrowed the typewriter
from the pay once down the line and
thought I would send you at least
one typewriter letter. We have
been having a rather exciting time
i the last six weeks. About q month
ago or so the stormy season hit this
coast and ever since we have been
having cool weather. One day as we
four operators were sitting In the
shack talking over old times the man
on watch heard an 8. o. s. He copied
IL and we found out that 1t was from
a big Holland American liner just
of -. The radio station az -
had also heard the distress signal
and the commandant Of the train
ing station ordered US to so to the
boats assistance.
4o-MiIe Blowing.
"As we left the harbor. a 40-mile
| gale was blowing, but we kept on
out. Even though our boat is small
she rides the big waves better than
most Of her size. We had an all
day run before we reached the posi-
ton given by the steamer, but found
no sign Of any boat. We were just
preparing to return when smoke was
sighted. We started in that direc-
saw that IL was a steamer In dis
i tress. II proved to be a freighter
that had crossed the Atlantic with
out guns or wireless and was nearly
safely across when she sprang a leak
| lust of -. She had asked a pass
| ing liner to telegraph for assistance
as they then thought that there was
no danger of sinking. We rescued
the crew and that night we landed
the members in -.
Report of Submarine.
The next evening we were order
ed to investigate the report Of
German submarine off -. No sub
was seen but all Of the crew had
| plenty Of excitement in sleeping on
deck as all gun crews have to sleep
near their guns when there is any
chance of action. On the fourth day
| out, we picked up q message that
sent us to the aid Of battleship on
| the rocks near --. This TOOK US
another day to run and we arrived at
dusk. The next morning we saw
the boat almost high and dry on the
ed she was pulled of by about ten
tugs.
shin from the u. s. s. Cyclopss one
of the biggest colliers in the navy.
As our boat is rather small the coal
had to be dropped a distance OF
about 10 feet. The coal was Of the
very dusty kind and as result OF
this we had a very dirty ship when
we finished. The next day was held
day for scrubbing the ship, our
clothes and ourselves. After that we
made a few trips out on account OF
minor things and then pulled up TO
a coal dock to coal. Here the coal
was slightly damp and there was no
dust. This was the cleanest coal
that we have had. We put 2,010 tons
OF coal aboard in less than three
hours, and this was speed consider
Ing the fact that we lost so men just
the day before on account OF the
draft. A civilian worked on the dock
for eight years said the crew OF
the Austria took on the coal faster
and with more good feeling than any
crew that he had ever seen. He has
seen some bunch Of ships, too. Since
then we have done very little except
lay at anchor except for one little
trip. -
tow for a big barge. When we
were about half way a sudden
squall hitthe tow and overturned y,
Two men lost their lives over this
little accident so we proceeded no
further. but returned to -.
THE other day we had quite a
small storm in the harbor. A T0-mile
gale accompanied by rain raised
havoc among the small craft anchor
ed. A big coal barge started drift
ing toward the submarine nets
across the mouth Of the harbor and
would have torn them UP had not the
wind changed and driven the barge
on the rocks. A couple of tugs tried
to rescue 1t but the wind was too
much for them and they had to give
up. Two men on the barge We're
rescued uy the NA0W AAoAA @AA~ AA~~
saving station near here.
Cold In The East.
"I used to think that 1t was cold in
North Dakota, but this east has IT
beat all to the dickens. The atmos-
phere is so damp that one shivers
while thinking OF it, It is a little
warm now and the weather is not
half bad When think of the snow
back home and then think of this
place with half cold and half hot
! days, wish were back. At pres
ent we are sleeping in the open.
There are about ten OF US, but we
expect to move inside as soon as the
billets can be found for us.
Don't forget to send the papers;
Everything is o. X with me and
never felt better in my life than
since / have been in the service Of
BERTRAM WICK.
Rudolph w. OVERLY, former Fargo
college student who Joined the navy
Hast spring with a number Of Fargo
college students, writes entertaining
| " Of the work Uncle Sam requires
of his sailors, in a letter addressed
"To My Friends of Moorhead and
Fargo. The letter follows:
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 4, 1917.
To my friends Of Moorhead and Far
go:
For the while past have been
reading OF boys from Moorhead and
Fargo enlisted in the service, most
OF whom have written Of army life.
Now, here is a description of one
phase of the life Of a Cob.
I am enlisted as a hospital corps
man in the hospital corps Of the
navy, this being the trend Of my
work while at school. / have found
my new life q very interesting ana
pleasant task. am now stationed in
| fba naval hasa hospital at Philadel-