Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-05-09

to proceed 10 christiania and there
pick up a eargo Why MOI cargo
of lumber for Melbourne?
went To Copenhagen, danned old
clothes. and got II job as duck Will
topper on The pier where The real Ma.
leta was mnored That enabled me
10 study her. There was one thing
that promised To be difficult 10 cnnn
lerfelt. That WIS the log book. This
precious VOLUME contained the life bis
tory Of the Maleta. Wien she left the
Argentine. what kind of cargo she car,
ried. what course she steered, the
wind. the weather. observations OF sun
and stars. etc, etc. That log book
must he in the captains cabin and
must have 1t. But Il Waterman was
stationed aft, SO how could 1t be donei
/ discovered that the captain and
both mates yere still in Norway with
their families. So 1t would be some
DAYS before the loss of the book would
be noticed--if | got 1t.
So one night. in tile uniform oil o
customs inspector, | stole aboard iie
MaIefa. The Waterman. as usual, was
sitting near the captains cabin. The
shin was moored to the pier with
ropes fore and aft. Stealthily ! tip
toed TO the bow and cut the ropes, not
quite through but almost. stiff wind
was blowing. The ropes cracked and
broke. The ship swung around The
watchman ran forward shouting, and
NJ the same moment ran aft. Fum-
hling around lhe captains cabin ! at
first failed 10 locate the log. Finally.
/ discovered II under the shippers
mattress. Showing II beneath my belt
slipped out.
On board now, and also on the pier,
half dozen men were .Yhouiing and
throwing ropes 10 haul her back so
she wouldn't sde-swipe nearby ship.
Joined In the shouting, pretended 10
help them for minute. then cilm.
bered en- 10 tile dock and hurried Off
In the dark.
that were 10 turn the Pass Of Balmaha
into the Maeta. We painted her the
same color as the Maleta, arranged
| her deck the same. and decorated the
| cabins with the same ornaments. In
| MY captains cabin. hung pictures
| Of the king and queen Of Norway and
also of their jovial relative. King Ed
ward VII of England. The barometer,
/ thermometer, and chronometer. and. all
the other instruments were Of Nor
Wegian make. | had Il Norwegian II
brary and d Norwegian photograph
/ and records. We had enough pro-
| visions from Norwegian firms to lasT
us through the blockade. II would
hardly do 10 have any Bismarck her
! ring, sauerkraut, and pretzels in sight
/ If the British boarded US. would IL
The names Of the tailors sewn In
side my suits and my officers SUITE
were replaced with labels from Nor
wegian tutors. On my underelothins
we embroidered the name Of the cap
tain of the Maleta-knudsen.
had learned in Copenhagen tia
4 donkey engine was being installed
on the Maleta. Very well, we got
donkey engine OF the same make iron
Copenhagen and installed itNnn on
ship. The log book Of the Maleta wd
solemny put In place, and the frs
entry was made, To-day put III y mex
donkey engine"
We got up our cargo papers in reg
ular form, signed and sealed by bot
the Norwegian port authorities an
British consul We also had letle
signed by his majesty's consul at &c
penhagen stating that the Maleta wa
CARRYING lumber for the use of til
government of the Commonwealth {
Australia. The letter requested a
British ships to help us If any emel
gency arose. To prove that this '!o'
ument was genuine, II was eve
stamped with the British llnperi;
seal tmade In Germany).
also had letter which n 3rtis
, officer had supposedly written TO n
shlpuwner and which my shipowns
had forwarded 10 me, warning |
against German search officers. but n
visin. us 10 place our trust in Il
j British
Al sailor with the loneliness Of Il
sea upon him neary always TAX
. with him on his voyages photograph
of his people Now the crews on Br
/. Ish warshps know sailor ways, so
inquired all about the procedure fro
CAPTAINS of neutral ships who had HI
! their ships searched. they Told |
that the British always inspected /
!. to'csle to see thai everything look
! right there. Immediately got togei
!. err Il lot OF photographs 10 pass
, those Of Norwegian sailors paren
j. brothers and sisters, nncles and aun
: sweethearts, wives and mothers-in-la
What did II matter whether the swe
i hearts were cd looking or not? 81
i. ors' sweethearts are not always pr
70 beauties. We sent man 10 NOrw
- for the pictures In order to have I
q, names OF Norwegian photograph,
rt.,,apna an rhpm