Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26

TN THE fishing port of Gloucester
men talk vessels as men elsewhere
talk Of human beings-talk of them
i as having their hopes and ambi-
tons their triumphS and fruStra-
tions, even their tragic drama
There was the Columbia From the
day her keel was laid Gloucester people
talked of her as other men might talk
Of the newborn heir of some great
house. and very properly. too. for if
ever vessel was born to the highest
Seagoing heritage. she was the vessel
l knew her from birth almost She
was towcd around from her Essex build
er'S ward to Gloucester and there made
ready for sea by master craftsmen
sparmakerS, Salimakers and ringers. who
never mo more than their fathers be-
fore them did anything else but make
vessels ready for sea
She lay tied up 70 her wharf and
vas one of the multitude who stood at
the head Of the ship and gloated over
her beauty. She looked like nothing
so much in all the world as swordfish
in the water.
That comparison is useless to who
ever had never seen a Swordfish COM
Ing hea6on at him out of the sea: but
am going to let it stand, to leave TO
the imagination the vision of that
sword like thrust of the level. fat bow
spirit from out Of the Shapely powerful
hull
So she looked tied up to the wharf.
but not unit! she cast her wharf lines
free and turned her head to sea did
We view to the full the beauty that was
hers. When she heeled TO the breeze
with every sail on her drawing; when
She rolled her Sweetly curved under
hull up TO the green seas; when out past
Eastern Point IN her shining SparS. new
white sails and fresh painted topSi6es,
abe sailed that day on her maiden
trip-oh. man. but she was something
70 look at then!
For the Grand Banks she was bound,
and there she lay to anchor one foggy
night when a steam trawler crashed
into her. So hard was she struck that
her crew rushed to toss dories over the
side and row clear of her. expecting
her to sink quickly. But the life re-
NAMED strong in her. She Just wouldn't
sink. So Alden Geele. her master
presently shouted: Il believe she's goin'
TO live! Let's GO back aboard and see
II We can't save her for the race" He
meant the race for the International
Fishermen's Cup, which was to be sailed
that Fall of Halifax
The crew went back aboard and they
Aepk &leI aIlDdt long enough lot the
steam trawler 10 tow her 10 the Miquelon
Islands. There she was patched up
hurriedly. and from there she put back
70 the Banks and stayed until her skip
per said, to clamp her matches, swing
her of and let her go for home. she
with 1000 sailed kentles in her fore
ana after holds.
On the passage home Capt Geeie
discovered that she was very slow TO
tack in Strnng headwind. which should
never be with such vessel He urged
her owners TO overhaul her steering gear
before she sailed for Halifax to race
Her owners said there wasn't time for
an overhauling. and so away she sailed
10 Halifax as she was.
] made that trip TO Halifax in her.
and what sailor she proved herself
before a quartering breeze! For the
last nine hours Of the run from Cape
Sable TO Sambro Lightship she averaged
1874 knots rs Pa land miles,. Won
oeTful2 Mm--no. But wonderful for
her manner of doing IT,
On that run she did what / doubt /
shah ever see seagoing vessel Of her
tonnage do again. She logged mile after
mile at better than i4-knot clip. and
through it all she never more than nut
her quarter scuppers Just under.