The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-01

1 81
BOOM! Something had intsrruvte,a
Artie. A something that threw thu
Finland sharply to port. ana cau,ed
all the glass in the werld-tS come
tn!kling down: caused us an to leave
our chairs and grab our lie -preseryera
from the floor in one PANIC stricken
moment. The Finland had sstonne.,
one ana II was up to ~ to 80 away
lIom tnere a. fast as our. legs and the
small boats would allow.
When we pourned out on tho main.
deck still adjusting our 1ife.preaery.
ems Artie and were wen Nm with
the leaders and gaining every second.
over our heads the ships SIREN vas
roaring for help. "O-o-o-h. o.o.o.h.
to-o-o-h, o-o-o-oh," It howleti four times.
AS long as live will never hear sfmf-
lar sound with a reminiscent thrill.
opposite. our destroyer was performing
STARTLED evoluttons something like those
OF cat when suddenly confronted with
its canine enemy. :, 49,
We had been assigned to No. & boat
on the port side, but when we arrived
on the deck, we found that many
mysterious doors we had never noticed
before had opened and from them was
pouring . blackened shirtless crowd
out of the bowels Of the ship. They
We're the stockers and firemen, every
one OF them just al intent on 4 place in
boat AZ we were. In no time our
little craft was filled and II vas only
my training on the subway that en-.
abied me to squeeze into the thing.
closely followed by Artie who gained a
precarious foothold at the bow. Every
one was bowling. Let her xo.''
Suddenly the boat dropped = couple
OF feet and stopped, with The stern
about foot higher than the bow.
Hey, what Z b." A brawny
stoker beside me with. head thrown
back was loudly expressing his dis
satisfaction. Easy wit, tose falls.
up there" ..;
looked up. At one Of the falls on
the upper deck was O negro, plainly
much befuddled. The other was in
the custody Of petty officer who did
not appear to be taking the proper In
terest In our little, adventure. They
seemed to be having trouble with tho
device which some maniac had In
vented to lower away ships' boats.
All Of a sudden. the colored brother
above solved the mystery Of the tangled
ropes and his end Of the. boat shot
down six or seven feet. Tho moro
/ conservative petty officer clung stout
~ to his end with the natural result;
we were all flung in q heap out Of tho
boat and dropped into the hungry sea.
l caught O startled glimpse. Of Artie
clinging to the falls Dis Tell. When I
lit was amazed to find myself alone
In another upended boat. "A lurch OF
, the ship had thrown our boat forward
r directly over on Hru1leaab Aapsized
and had fallen Into 1t. i was in no
! position to enjoy this stroke Of good
fortune because my old Boat was
swinging back and forth over my head.
threatening with every roll OF the ship
to smash my head to a pulp against the
steel sides Of the Finland. There was
nothing to do but jump and q second
later, found myself In the cold, cold
! waves Of the Bay OF Biscay with moth
Ing in particular under me except q
couple OF miles OF water.
. There would be q powerful suction
!. when the ship slid under and I was
not minded to share It Il pulled mp OK.
hausted about a quarter OF q Iaile from
the ship and took an observation. The
y sea was dotted with castAWaya from
the capsized boats. some shouting ana
) struggling and others swimininE about
4 quietly enough. Lifeboats passed in
9 the distance. headed for our convoy
: yacht. but the Finland still stood up
n out of the ocean showing no signs OF
ar immediate demise A I watched I
{ saw tiny figures jump from the stern
and go sprawling into the sea while the
other manikins stood at the rail- throw
!. ing overheard everything that would
float.
An oar floated past. relict Of an over
J turned life- boat, and made It my own.
Q Together. we pursued our way. Tha
sea, calm enough half an hour before.
h was now riotousiy tumbling. and
sweeping about me In great foam
a tipped hillocks, causing me 70 ship
about q gallon Of salt water every time
h l essayed shout.
A life- boat made its appearance and
= hailed It vocifcroasly. 'Iiey. take mo
aboard. You've got lots Of room"
But the crew OF the boat war % ait
fercnt mind and they passed me with
i, the comforting assurance: you're
all right. Hang ON to your oar" De-
) spair seised me as they pushed bsyond
my reach. and addressed them In
terms now regret. More boats passed
at some distance. NJ well a. several
small life-rafts with SOLITARY. passes,-
gers. but none OF them Ahowed abusive
: eagerness to pick me up. y life.belt
and oar stood by me nobly, but there
u was an uncertainty about my. future
fate that hung over me like . pail.
Several aeons passed during which
gave myself over TO ihtrospectton.
was aware that tho Finland still rode
the waves and that q lffe-boat was
i passing with a completely naked fig-
ure standing upright in her, but neither
: sight brought anything but negative
reaction. Tho cold slowly 'crepf mp my
legs and into by brain too. and Il was