Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-03-02
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sure of your backing in situation like that Inc
wireless is fine thing to have, too, but 1t adds TO
the responsibilities of the man on the bridge For
instance here few messages"
Pausing Captain Abbott dug sheaf of papers
out of his dispatch box and handed over a batch
of wireless messages picked up at the height OF
the storm.
"Abbott, West Wind-Are you standing by ship
firing rockets? Answer forthwith, request Rear
Admiral Australian navy. PARhES.
"Parkes is agent of the q. S. & A. line in sgd
ney. He busy with the wireless that night
Here's another:
"'Abbott, West Wind: Radio at hand. Cannot
get tugs to you. DalgAty, Newcastle, in COM
munication with navigation department seeking
aid. Know you will do all possible to hang on
Good luck. PARKES."
"Aso the executive officer of the Australian de-
stroyer squadron wanted specific information as
witness:
"'Abbott, West Wind: Are you in need of
sistance Destroyer? Can boats live in prevailing
sea? Are your anchors holding? Send your po-
sition EXECUTIVE FLEET"
"These are merely the official messages. Others
from ships in asking to stand by
when we were driving ashore at top speed and all
wanting to know whether our anchors were hold
ing, which they d-ned well weren't, added some
thing to the tang of life on the West Winds bridge
that night.
about midnight there was lul and 1 thought
the hardest blow is toward the end. Half an hour
later it worse than ever and everything on
deck that could be Jared loose went away
"Above the roar of the wind, the screaming of
the screw when she lifted her stern 20 feet out
of water and slamming of big her counter,
we could bear the surf crashing those perpen-
dcular rocks. That was notice enough we were
too darned close for any good use.
"Under such conditions one doesn't relish carry
ing radio conversation with every shore Of
fcial who feels like asking few questions. What
interested me just then how could save the
ship and our lives rather than in answering
questions such Are you standing by? We were
standing wherever we could get hold and that was
mighty precariOus.
"For about an hour thought we might turn
turtle any minute. You see hadn't cargo
enough aboard to hold her down and she was
bouncing like a rubber ball. l had pumps rugged
forward and began shooting oil over the bows.
That had much to do with coming through
safe. 1t kept the from breaking aboard and
gave chance to get about deck We were
lucky to have the oil.
"When dawn broke the storm died. We were
close on the rocks. With the wind moderating
we sneaked up on our anchors, got 'em both aboard
and crawled in over the bar 1t was certainly a
treat to feel level deck under our feet again.
1--WE took on cargo and made for Sydney That's
where Sinbad came aboard acting as important
though he owned the boat Our last call was
at Brisbane, Where'w finished loading and start
ed for home We just missed bubOnic plague
quarantine order at Brisbane If we'd been an
hour later the West Wind would have been ly-
ing there yet.
From the minute we left Brisbane our troubles
were over. We made better time than any on
the outward voyage, although we were only log
ging six to knots, but it's steady as does if
and so long as she kept plugging along was sat
isfied. We hove to for an hour off Pitcairn island
and the traders tried to swap two ring-tailed
monkeys for Sinbad.
"Tve heard a lot about tNese Pitcairn islanders
descended from the multi of the Bounty. Some
people say they're all half crazy from intermar-
riage and too little contact with the world out
side. but from what I've of them they're a
smart lot of folk, mighty religious and sharp trad
erS.
1.-The Pitcairners short of cats and pay well
for them because of the rat plague Our fire-room
gang heaved clinkers at the boat crews for insult
ing the ships mascot. The remainder of the route
home from Panama was uneventful. We made
Boston on November and later came on down
home. The West Wind is laid up. 1 don't know
when she'll go to again.
Over at the Port of Call in Jane street. fore
gathered last night council of sea lawyers bent
on providing for proper care of Sinbad the Sailor
pending that temperamental travellers decision tC
ship again. Present ScOtty, Mac Lee, Walsh
and Lyons of the West Winds fire-room force
forming a fund to supply the family cat with
chopped liver and grade milk this winter
Meanwhile, Snbad recumbent a red sill
cushion embroidered with gilt fringe, stretched
luXuriOusly before the hearth fires grateful
warmth and blinked and blinked and blinked