The Idaho recorder., 1922-03-10
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sure of your backing in situation like that. The
wireless Is fine thing to have, too, but 1t ADDS u
the responsibilities of the man on the bridge Fo'
instance, here few messages"
Pausng, Captain Abbott dug sheaf of papers
out Of his dispatch box and handed over a batcl
of wireless messages picked up at the height OF
the storm
abbott West wind-Are you standing by shil
firing rockets? Answer forthwith, request Rea'
Admiral Australian navy. PARkES.
"Parkes is agent of the u. S. & A. line in sgd
ney. He was busy with the wireless that night
Here's another:
Abbott, West Wind: Radio at hand. Cannot
get tugs to You. Dalgetty, Newcastle in com
muncation with navigation department seeking
aid Know you will do all possible to hang on
Good luck PARKES.'
ALSO the executive officer of the Australian de
stroyer squadron wanted specific information, as
witness:
Abbott West Wind: Are you in need of
sstance Destroyer? Can boats live in prevailing
sea? Are your anchors holding? Send your po-
stion. EXECUTIVE FLEET"
These are merely the official messages. Others
from ships in our asking to stand by
when we We're driving ashore at top speed and all
wanting to know whether 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 a lull ana | tnOugnt
the worst was over, but in those cyclonic storms
the hardest blow is toward the end. Half an hour
later 1t was 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 samming of big seas her counter,
could hear the surf crashing those perpen-
dicuar rocks. That was notice enough were
too darned close for any good use.
"Under such conditions doesn't relish carry
ing ON a radio conversation with every shore Of
fetal who feels like asking few questions. What
interested me just then was how we could save the
ship and our own lives rather than in answering
questions such as Are you standing byT 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, we hadn't cargo
enough aboard TO hold her down and she was
bouncing like a rubber ball. | had pumps rigged
forward and began shooting oil over the bows
That had much to do with coming through
safe. 1t kept the seas from breaking aboard and
gave us II chance to get about on 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 q
treat to feel level deck under our feet again
we TOOK on cargo and made for Sydney. That's
where Sinbad came aboard acting as important
as though he owned the boat Our last call was
at brisbane. where We 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 w.
ing there yet.
From the minute we left brisbane our trouhles
were over We made better time than any on
the outward voyage, although we were only log.
gug six To seven knots. but its steady as does IL
aud SO long as she kept plugging along was sat
iSied We hove To FOR hour OFF Pitcairn island
and the traders tried to swap two ringtaiIed
monkeys for Snbad
I've heard Il lot about these Pitcairn islanders
descended from the mutineerS of the Bounty Some
people say they're all half crazy from intermar-
riaSe aud too little contact with the world out.
side, but from what I've seen of them they're n
smart lot of folk, mighty religious and sharp trad
erS.
The Pitcairners are short of cats and nav well
gang heaVed clinkers at the boat crews for insult.
ing the ships mascot. The remainder of the route
home from Panama uneventful. We made
Boston on November S and later came on down
home The West Wind is laid up. don't know
when she'll go to sea 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 To
ship again. Present were 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 A milk this winter.
Meanwhile, Snbad. recumbent on red silk
cushion embroidered with gilt fringe, stretched
luNuriously before the hearth fires gratesu,
warmth and hlinked and blinked and blinked