Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-04
HARRY MORRELL TELLS
OF HIS EXPERIENCES
UPON A DESTROYER

| The following is from a letter from
Harry A. Morrell Of this city. dated
ON board U s. S. CUMMINGS, Feb, 6.
1918" received here SATURDAY..
| Il have just returned to port from
my hrst voyage on destroyer and it
truly was some experience. While the
weather was not as bad as some the
ship experienced tt December, it was
sufficient TO let one know that life on
destroyer is not always one sweet
song. Over the top may be tough
on the soldier boys. but they are not
the only ones who have to go over
the top. At night after being in the
fire-roo for four hours you are liable
10 start up the ladder to go aft to your
quarters, only to be met at the hatch
| by a ton or so of salt water. After
! feeling around in the pitch darkness
you find rope called the lifeline, and
! 1t is we'll named. If you miss the life
line and wave does not miss you,
your beneficiaries had better get busy
on the insurance. In such case about
the only chance you have got is that
you Will be washed against a lfeboat
or some other kind of rib breaker
But the grub, when the weather is
, not too rough to cook or the ship, has
not run short, is the best ] have ever
had in the navy, or ever expected to
get here. The quarters are not all that
could be desired as the ship carries
! more men than her complement. The
Cummings is not one of the newest
destroyors, but is q speedy one never
thelcss.
Il have received no mail as yet, but
have hopes of some tomorrow or day
after if the ship does not go out. There
was a big bunch Of States mail brough,
! aboard from the beach tonight but Of
course 7 didn't get any as it will have
to go to the barracks and then be sent
here. | suppose it will be just my luck
TO have it sent to the wrong mother"
ship. but I hope to get II sometime.
| I am told this ship was built at Bath.
4, I, 1t should ever have to go to the build
ers for repairs 1t would not cost me much
- get home. SO do not drop over back
wards il your wandering boy should wa Tx
in on YOU unexpectedly some day.
The freroom of an oil-burner is sure
some different from that of coal-burner.
At least the work in ii is some different
There are two tirerooms with two boilers
in each. Each boiler has l2 burners that
can be turned off and on at will The OF,
is pumped into the burners by a special
steam pump. and is heated to q tempera
ture OF about l21 degrees by steam The
pressure IS always kept at 25O pounds re-
ga'dless of the speed When the speed
is reduced the firemen merely turn off
some Of the turner's until the gauge req.
Isters 80 Just the same When the speed
Increased. 1t sounds easy and it is cas-.
nut one has TO move quickly and accu-
"a ely.
We work four 'houts on and have eight
hours off. and turnto in port eight hours
= day. There is always a lot Of cleaning
ny ard polishing TO be done when the
boat returns to port, and Vt would sur
prise YOU to see the amount Of salt that
becomes encrusted on the valves boilers.
steampipes and everything hot that a
bit of salt water gets to: You would not
beHeve that any water could get in after
the way everything is battened down.
was unpleasantly surprised on my first
day out when l got pale around the gills
and subsequently lost my dinner. In the
afternoon one of the boys sliced up a
large onion, the whole of which he nut
between two slices of bread and told me
to eat It, If ne had told me TO jump over
the side 1 believe it would have been
easier. Nevertheless | got away with it
and few hours afterward got away with
a good supper l was seasick no more.
although the ship pitched and rolled much
worse later on the trip.
My address is Harry A. Morreu. I. S.
; Cummings care Postmaster, New
York"