Evening star., 1924-01-27

doctor of the Atlantic ferry
Il 1 stood idly at the gang
way of the largest and fastest
Of all the fleet that swings back
ward and forward, fair weather
or foul, across the Atlantic-the
.Aritania We were at our long pier
in Hudson river. and it WAS about
half an hour before sailing time.
.An the customary rush and hurry.
Of course-all very Kaleidoscope
unless you are on duty. AS ships
doctor / am free to do as l please.
naturally, and so L stood on &C"
deck overlooking the gangway, lis
tening idly to the chatter. and pass
ing a word with Charley Hansen, the
senior second, who was in charge Of
the gangway.
The stream Of passengers thinned
out, and there was a lull. Far above
us our deep, full-throated siren burst
out in a prolonged roar, and the
sailors began clearing the passengers
. away from the gangplank lashings.
y minute or SO later a distant hail
floated down from 4 megaphone on
The bridge:
"Cnship, midship gangway."
Hansen shouted back. AYE, aye,
sir!" and swung himself up on the
broad top and hung outboard while
he gave orders 'midships.
The heavy gangway had just be-
gun to move when l became aware
of a commotion on the pier
shore official sprang forward and
tried to Intercept some one racing
for the gangway; and at the same
instant I saw it was a woman. l
saw her spring by him onto the
swinging gangway. She rushed up
II, and stopped dead at the end,
four feet from the ships side; under
meath was sixty feet Of space before
she would have hit the water, and
then she might have been crushed
like an insect by the enormous hull.
Hansen's broad back was half
turned to me, and the sun fell on
his black curly hair where his cap
was pushed back, and the line of his
jaw reminded me of a Rodin.
The girl was of middle height, or
a magnificent figure. Her head was
thrown back to look up at Charley,
and saw a face of uncommon
beauty, of fine color, but strong and
vibrant with the intensity of the
moment. and dark eyes which gilt
tered with the exultation of life and
Il
saw one. She was extremely we'll
dressed. and carried 4 little expensive
dressing case.
Pull back that g2ngWay Her
voice rang out 1t Hansen with the
most superb command I saw his
jaws close tightly.
NO. You're toe late, madam he
replied harshly.
sThen 7 will iump.'
You won't" he bit back at her.
For Il moment, these two giared
at each other and forced each others
will, each supremely intent on VIC
rory. 1t was all very quick. Then
she made a magnificent leap straight
against Hansen, and the shock of her
onset nearly threw him from the rail.
For an agonlzing moment they
swayed over space, he with one arm
round her and hanging desperately
10 a davit stanchion with the other
while she slowly strained her body
inboard. Then they recovered and
she leaped onto the deck. Hansen,
white with passion, leaped after her.
How dare you force your way
aboard, ma'am? You might have
been killed"
You should have pulled the gang
way back"
orders had been given TO unship
Il, and you were too late"
oh. Your orders! But enough,
Mr. officer; 1 am on board and you
have your duty to perform"
With the utmost insolance she
strode away.
7 MOUNTED three decks TO the
l. bridge, where / am a privileged
guest-but only that, of course.
delight te stand up there when We
are leaving the dock, for 1t Is
ticklish business and there is plenty
of action. Our captain, a gray-~
headed and amazingly efficient man,
despite his gold braid and his title
Che is a Sir), stood on the port wing
of the bridge, towering above the
the water, watching the longshore-
men cast off our ropes. Nearly
quarter of a mile aft the staff cap
tain, on the stern bridge, was direct
Ing the stern lines.
Our siren again commenced It's deep
roar, the bridge vibrated under our
feet, and we drew out into the river,
while the traffic made way for us
respectfully.
Fully astern starb'd; helm starb'd
ton" The captain is Il study in
authority. Calm, cool, he takes his
ship out onto the high seas, the
weight of three thousand lives on his
sturdy shoulders, a small empire
under his command. His curt orders
ring along the big bridge, are re-
peated, and the large mass under his
feet moves ponderously, irrevocably,
as he wills. For good or for bad, his
decision is taken and can not be
undone, for the sea gives no second
chance.
stop" Our engines rest and for
a minute we swing quietly into mid
river. SLOW ahead, helm 'midships.
no sea! How / love it, the never
ending thrill of it. From the moment
we are full ahead, at twenty knots
hail, storm, wind, fog-from Ambrose
channel to Bishops rocks, we drive
through it. While men play cards
and order drinks below, up here the
gale may drive rain and hail before
ir so that the officer of the watch
comes below after his four hours
with little trickles of blood all over
his face, half blind, numb from the
intense cold, exhausted-but always
twenty knots, day and night until we
steam into Southampton water punct-
ually to our schedule. You thought
Sandy Hook was just abeam when