The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1918-02-14

hunks.
Well, the first few meals took us
on an average Of 4 ID hours each
to serve, and would have taken
longer, only the grub ran out. The
trouble was that, instead of going
to their hunks after eating, the
rascalS would work back to the
end OF the line, and come back for
seconds so we had an endless
chain. Finally the Captain in
charge Of the mess hit on the idea
of issuing meal tickets; and, from
then ON, we had no trouble and
served our meals in an hour and a
half. 1t was amusing to see them
get in line for chow during the
rest of the time, most of them were
apparently far too sick to be able
to do any of the work necessary
around the ship, but forgot all a,
bout it when food showed up.
A few days out, we ran into a
little storm, which lasted about II
hours, and the boys thought they
had really seen a storm at sea /;
but, several days later, we ran into
another that really was some
storm, and, in comparison, made
the first look like calm weather.
The officers on board said it was
one of the worst experienced for
thirty years and | can well believe
them. The waves washed clear
over the vessel and smashed
number of our life boats. During
the end Of the first storm, sailor
from one Of our conveys was
washed overheard, but luckily was
picked up by one of the other
boats. During the last storm,
however, several on another boat,
both soldiers and sailors, were not
so lucky.
1t was amusing for awhile, dur
ing the storm, to watch the con-
fusion in the dining rooms during
mess hours, The serving tables
would break from their .moorings
and, with their load of chow,
would start on a wild career a
cross the hall and back, with va
rious soldiers and niggers hang
ing on for dear life. At other
times, you might see niger |
bringing in a large dish of corn
meal mush. The boat would give
a roll; Mr.. Coon would drop his
dish to save himself; the dish
would knock his legs from under
him, with the result that he would
promptly sit down squarely in the
lish, scattering the mush in all di-
'ections, and then sliding around
,ver the floor in the most amusing
way. 1t reminded me exactly of
some Of the comic pictures have
een in the "movies. " However, it
got less funny after one man got
lis neck broken and others got
,roken arms and legs, and great
were then made to
prevent any further mishaps.
| think possibly one of the
hings that bothered the boys most
# all at first was the limitations as
o smoking; but, when they real
zed that, for instance, after night
| whole deck load of men smoking
cigarettes and cigars would show
is up to an enemy just as much as
light, they appreciated the i'm
,ortance of such rules AMI were
Wiling to act accordingly. Sew
raj days before we reached this
ide, we were met by a convoy of
orpedo boat destroyers, and the
onvoy which had been with us
urned back and returned home. !
And then one day, soon after s
we heard a peculiar /
noise which sounded like {
he humming of an aeroplane, and
hen suddenly some one shouted, t
There she isl" and, sure enough, &
here was a French aeroplane fly |
ng high over us. Shortly after I
Yards, she was Joined by another, :
nd | cah tell you it made us feel '
lighty good, for we knew we were /
hen not far from land. Then we |
licked up a lighthouse, and, al y
lost before we had time to realize I
!, land showed on both sides of
he vessel and we were steaming