The Monticellonian., 1919-01-24

to Louise and sister. Ton can imagine how glad l was to get Tn here after the most narrowing experiences 1 expect to have Ill sometime. 1 hope, and supposed you got my letter written from Gibralter just before l left.
 After returning from my five days leave in Spain the captain called me in and told me he had orders to turn in the names oi Reserve and Temporary Regu- lar Navy Officers who wish to re turn to States or be given u dis charge He advised me first to stay with the Dyer as he said he would give me a good time Ill the Black Sea and in the Medl- terranean, but after talking It over with me he agreed that 1 was taking a chance by staying on the Dyer as she might be kept over on the other side for some time, and 1 might not get back into business for many months at least.
 He got my request into the Chief of Staff at Gilbrater and asked that, in case of transfer, 1 be left on the Dyer until last day as half of our officers were on leave.
 got my orders to the Wenonah the next day and went on board the 9th of December and We sail ed out early the morning of the seventh for the Azores en route to the States. There were six of us-three gun boats and three small yatches. The Wenonah IS the smallest watch sent over, 13O feet long at water line and 165 feet over all. We were known as the "Sucide Fleeto as all the papers called this same batch of small boats by this name when they made their rough trip over last winter. and few thought they would make it. We'll, as far as the Azores we had Q very pleasant voyage ex- cept for heavy weather one night. We were lucky there. We stay ed in the Azores for four days, coaled and took on fresh water. Our tonnage is only 250 and to make 1t to the Bermudas without being lowed we had to stow coal on q ecks and every where, 104 tons.
 As we had only two feet of free board to main deck and four feet of side above that you can imagine what storm meant if it caught Us loaded down with all that coal. Itwas an anxious time Luck was with us the first three days so we used this dock coal up almost. On the evening of the 22nd the barometer began tc rise. It was impossible to sleeI as we were rolling 45 degrees each day and pitching heavily.
 1 had the mid watch so reliev. ed the deck at 12 20 o'clock. Ii was pitch black and the wind was blowing 60 miles an hour on our starboard quarter, and we were racing along with the wind at good speed for us.
 The wind increased and a lit. tie after one was blowing so hard that the seas were piline up and washing all over us. It was terribly hard to steer her and to get In the trough of the sea would mean endangering the ship greatly. The captain was on the bridge and worried, but l am not boasting to say that wasn't at the time, as destroyers roll 50 to 60 degrees often, but of course they are not as frail a watch
 At about 100 a.. m., our exc. cutive officer came upon the bridge and asked me to send a man down below to caulk door as we were shipping water down below in officers quarters and wardroom. 1 sent a man below and told him to used a bowline II the door had to be opened as water was continually washing along galleries and freouently over the whole side If tha chin