Crittenden record-press., 1918-04-18

far up on the Two nastS, switching back and
forth across the sky In great arcs. were the fore
and main tops--the "crow's nests" In each OF
these four men were stntioned-the eyes OF the
vessel In pent house at the foot Of each
mast dwet the commanders Of the fore and Mt
guns In constant communication with the look.
outs above.
Dawn broke over thousand ranges OF gray
rolling mountains. Behind the Ramapo, two 9th.
er transports ducked and crashed through the
waves Before her the bulk OF an armored
cruiser showed now and again through the foam.
Waves were breaking over her all the time She
powed straight through. Sometimes to the men
on the Ramapo II seemed as though only her fun.
nels and masts were above the sea.
The first night, when the Ramapo behaved more
Ike drunken acrobat than stately ship. was
merely the forerunner OF worse things TO come.
All winter, storms have ranged up and down the
sea lanes Of the Atlantic. Calm days on the
trp across are always a rarity In December. jan
uary and February. This year they have been
unique.
There were wlndstorms when the vessel rolled
In IN arc Of S2 degrces. There were days OF ice
when the spray froze Wherever II struck and men
came of watch cased In mail. There were days
Of snow that dashed the lookouts' faces like
whips There were days Of tremendous seas that
reached up 90 feet from the water line to rip
lifebonts from their davits.
There was little time free Of hard work and no
leisure for the seamen. To sleep one had to
clutch the sides Of his bunk, and usually when
he relaxed as slumber overlook him. he fell out
with dismal crash.
Day and night, they fought the seas, making
fast, repairing defending their vessel against the
uncnding assault Of the waves
petty officer was going through the mess
hail. progressing cautiously. never letting 60 Of
one stable object until he had grnsped another.
when his grip slipped. He was thrown the whole
length Of the hail. and was carried limp piece
Of bloody wreckage TO the sick bay.
They had TO operate to save his life. the sur
geon said That In a storm that wns making the
RamapO behave like an outlaw horse. But the
navy cares for Its own and they opernted. and
the man is still alive. The wind was from the
north and was making the ship roll terribly They
turned her bow into the gale and faced into II
for two hours because the motion that way was
easier.
The cruiser and her convoy passed on down
over the horizon. The storm got worse For
two hours the Ramapo steamed slowly into Its
teeth. alone on the ocean, she and her thousands
Of men waiting, while In the operating room the
surgeon balanced himself TO the more regular
plunge Of the vessel and saved the mans life.
The ordeal Of the neverending series Of storms
was sufficient 10 try mems souls, occupied by
other worry. But over the Rnmapo hung an
other threat-the menace that envelops any YES
sci that faces out across the Atlantic.
"watchful waiting'-the men Of the Ramapo
grew to know the true inward agony Of the
word. Always 10 watch. To stand for n four
hour watch In the crows nest until your eyes
ached from scanning the battling waves for the
sight OF the white periscope trail. To tread the
dock vour anr of nah fav dul