The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-03
CONSTRUCTIVE
WORK AMONG
SEAMEN AIMED

The tramp was kicking out six
knots. The spume spilled itself over
her bow for she was low in the water.
so low. indeed. that one could scarce
~ see the crazy design of black and
white that was laid on her sides. That
design showed on her superstructure
and smoke stack, though, and one
only had to look at it and look at
the sand-bags that were piled up
around the bridge to know the seas
We're unsafe for tramp steamer that
ran without flags by day or sailing
lights by nights.
On the bridge of steel and sand
bags the 'old man" stood beside the
quartermaster at the wheel These
were days when the "old man" was
to be found always on the bridge, for
the tramp was steaming slowly
through that danger zone where she
was liable to be sunk on sight
Suddenly a submarine came to sur
face fifty yards to starboard of the
tramp. On her coming tower showed
the foul black cross of Germany. The
old man" saw the submarine and the
cross upon her side just as the look
out shouted a warning. And it took
him but moment to perceive and de-
termine and proceed to do.
Put her over" the ''old man"
shouted. His voice was harsh and
clear and certain.
The wheel spun through the fingers
of the quarterrnaster. The tramp
trembled and lurched and swung her
head. The spume slapped against her
harder than before and sloshed along
the fo'castle.
Full speed ahead" the "old man"
signalled TO the engine room.
From behind his sand bags the 'old
man" saw some of the crew of the u
boat fling themselves into the sea.
Then the tramp fell upon her victim.
There was a crunch of broken steel.
There was a cry upon the air. There
was a smudse of oil upon the waters.
Lower away" the ''old man" or
dered. His voice rang with grim sat
isfactio
Aye, aye, sir Men sprang to a
boat. They freed the tackle and
swung her clear of the davits. They
leaped to the dripping seats and seized
the oars. AS she touched the sea they
pushed ner clear of the ship. Then
they began TO row, for thus did men
of the merchant service show mercy
to the merciless.
But not all men of the merchant
to their death without warning or a
chance to get away. Others were sunk
in the boats they lowered. Some sue
ccCded in escaping and were torpedoed
again and yet again. The war went on.
The years went by. Ships by the
score fell victim to the enemy. Yet
not until 1917. when the war had been
going on for three years did any mer
chant seamen who had been torpedoed
refuse again to set to sea and during
the whole course of the war perhaps
not more than half a dozen men de-
clined to sail again.
They wear no medals or rewards
these merchant seamen. They have
no cheVrOnS for war service, no dis
tinguishing marks for wounds receiv-
ed. They pass quietly and unnoticed.
but it is proposed to given them rec
ognition now in a way that will last |
for all time
Except in New York and San Fran |
cisco there is little constructive work |
done among seamen in the ports Of |
the United States. Now as recogni- |
tion of their bravery in the war it IS |
proposed to extend this work to every |
salt and fresh water port of any size.
In New York. on the waterfront, |
there stands 4 sixteen story building !
from the flag pole OF which day and !
night there fly three flags. 1t is the |
signal ZBH and if you search the
pages of the international code book /
you will find that signal means Wei |
come The building itself is the Sea-
mems Church Institute and there last |
year no less than 219,S72 lodgings were
provided for seamen and no less than
503,720 meals were served.
In San Francisco similar work has
been begun and the secretary in
charge is the Rev. Charles p. Deems,
form erly connected with the institute
in New York.
Now the Seamen's Church institute
is a work of the Episcopal church and
it is through the nation wide cam
paign of the Episcopal church that it
is proposed TO effect recognition of
the herOism of merchant seamen in
this war, for the nation wide cam
paign is a campaign to enlarge the
work of the church and to spread the
Seamen'S Institute idea to every large
port i'll the country will be considered