The Penn's Grove record., 1923-12-21
A MONTHS CRUISE
Wonderful Things Old Sailors See and
Dream After Drinks Away
From Home

ed roll call but the shore captain.
Sent "frst Dick to hunt him, and
who came back reporting he couldn't
be found First mate volunteed to go,
saying he could find him-and so he
did When at last he came his coat
was all wet on the shoulders with dew
drops (some said gear drops).
We finally got under way at bells
and nothing of Importance occurred
on our way to Baltimore. As we were
being rocked in the cradle of the deep
one of our deck hands went to the
side of the boat to look down. His
foot slipped and over he went head
foremost He was hauled on deck,
none the worse after his cold bath.
He was given glass of the juice of
the forbidden fruit and the way he
gulped it down would of made Vol
stead smile. He then turned in
happy.
We arrived in Baltimore to get the
buyer of wild animals, he being in
formed that there was lots to be had.
He came down to the wharf saying
he would have to wait until Saturday
as the banks of Baltimore hads to send
to Wall Street for enough money to
fill his demands. When it did arrived
there were two policeman along for
protection.
That night the officers and crew
went for "a night out" being away
from home with no guardian angel by
there side. They headed for the Hip
podrome to see the sights and finally
wound up in peanut Row
The next day we left Baltimore at
bells an had nice run out the Pat
apsco River to the "Seven Foot Knoll
We then headed down the Chesapeake
Bay for waters unknown to us. To
keep things lively the quartet struck
up an old time song-"We don't know
where we are going, but we're in our
way"
Arrived in Norfolk Sunday night
and man well known in Penns Grove
was visited by some lady friends. He
entertained them in his own quarters
for fear some one else would speak
to them, and when they left all on
board was left in gentle slumber.
Monday morning we took on pilot
for our journey South and as he had
to be put down in the "log" we'll give
his description. Height #. / in;
waste measure 301a; weight, 1929
lbs,, and his description on our re-
turn to Norfolk was height 5 ft, p in;
waste measure 724; weight 257A lbs.
The crew called him spark plug be-
cause he picked up so fast.
When all was in readiness we start
ed up the Elizabeth River and landed
in the Dismal Swamp Canal (and it is
named correctlyD
The branches of the trees hangs
over the Canal and on boats going
through one can see in the forest
snakes, monkeys, wild cats, etc. Bill,
our man of all jobs, tells how he saw a
bear running up a tree, when a big
snake dropped on deck and wound
wound around him. He gave one yell
and in his haste going across deck ran
over the First Mate.
The cook ran out with cleaver and
butcher knife to cut the snake from
his body, but in doing so made miss
and cut off one ear. First Aid picked
it up and plastered it on with some La
Page glue and it has grown fast, and
he is convalescing nicely. eve even
encountered more fsh-some even
whalesD
Excitement more or less happened
on our way through. We finally got
out with nothing more serious happen
ing than seeing a few wild hogs, cows,
and alligators.
Monday night we anchored close to
a pound net at Roanoke Marsh Light.
The boys wanted fish and when morn
ing came took both fish and net. Then
it blowed so hard we just about made
Marsh Harbor under Roanoke Island
where we Law all day.
Tuesday we got under way at
bells in the morning but our pilot
wouldn't pass the light until daylight
dawned. Ducks were so plentiful that
we scooped them up with net made
by one on board for that purpose.
We arrived at Seven Quarters Bay
on Wednesday where the natives came
along side to make arrangements to
sell animals. First boat had some
alligator and porpoises. The animals
were hoisted on board by the natives
and our mates. Charles Sinkins and
VIM. Scott looked after slowing them
away in the hold
Thursday our first and second en-
gineers went on shore to get some
wild game. Going through the woods
they ran into what they thought to be
wild turkeys. They shot three, but
when about to bag them there glee
was changed to gloom as they saw, the
owner of the flock coming with three
blacks all armed with small cannons.
They took to the trees while being
hunted below, and it was in the small
hours in the morning that they re-
turned to the boat telling us that they
got lost in the pines.
Next morning when the owner OF
the turkeys came on board for their
pay for their game the would-be- hun
ters locked themselves in the engine
room below.
Tuesday we went up Rose Bay, and
it got its name from the wild roses
which grow on its banks They was
in abundance, a sight most glorious
to behold. One might think he was IN
Paradise after being in the wilderness
for so long time
Sunday we went to Swan Quarter
Bav. the feeding grounds for swans;
Thev We're there by the thousands and
We succeeded in bagging large num-
ber before sundown.
Next dav nothing doing Of impor-
tance. Most all went to Goose Creek