White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-05-31

went to Copenhagen, donned old
clothes. and got job as dock wal
loper on the pier where the real Ma
leta was moored. That enabled me
to study her. There was one thing
that promised to be difficult to coun.
terfeit. That was the log book This
precious volume contained the life his.
tory of the Maleta, when 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 be in the captains cabin and
must have 1t. But Waterman was
stationed aft, so how could it be done?
| discovered that the captain and
both mates were still in Norway with
their families. SO It would be some
days before the loss of the book would
be noticed-if got 1t.
So one night, in the uniform OF a
customs inspector, stole aboard the
Maleta. The Waterman, as usual, was
sitting near the captains cabin. The
ship 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. A stiff wind
was blowing. The ropes cracked and
broke. The ship swung around. The
Waterman ran forward shouting, and
at the same moment ran aft. Tum-
bling around the captains cabin at
first failed to locate the log. Finally.
| discovered 1t under the shippers
mattress. Showing 1t beneath my belt,
slipped out.
On board now, and also on the pier,
| half a dozen men were shouting and
throwing ropes to haul her back so
she wouldn't side-swipe nearby ship.
| Joined in the shouting, pretended to
help them for minute, then clam
bered on to the dock and hurried off
in the dark.
We now put on the final touches
that were to turn the Pass of Balmaha
into the Maleta. 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 Norwegian H.
brary and a Norwegian photograph
and records. We had enough pro.
visions from Norwegian firms to last
us through the blockade. 1t would
hardly do to have any Bismarck her.
| ring, sauerkraut, and pretzels in sight
If the British boarded us. would til
| The names of the taflors sewn in
side my suits and my officers suits
were replaced with labels from Nor
wegian tailors. On my underclothing
we embroidered the name of the cap
tain of the Maleta-Knudsen.
had learned in Copenhagen that
donkey engine was being installed
ON the Maleta. Very we'll, we got o
| donkey engine of the same make from
Copenhagen and installed II nm our
ship The log book of the Maleta Was
solemnly put in place, and the first
entry was made, "Today put in new
donkey engine"
We got up our cargo papers In reg
ular form, signed and sealed by both
the Norwegian port authorities and
British consul. We also had letter
signed by his majesty's consul at Co.
/ ,to Lnt III
carrying lumber for the use Of the
| government of the Commonwealth of
| Australia. The letter requested all
British ships to help us If any emer.
gency arose. To prove that this Toe.
ument was genuine, 1t was even
stamped with the British Imperial
seal tmade in Germany y.
also had u letter which british
officer had supposedly written to my
shipOwner and which my shipownel
had forwarded to me, warning us
agains. German search officers but ad.
| visng us to place our trust In the
| British!
| A sailor with the loneliness OF the
sea upon him nearly always takes
with him on his voyages photographs
| of his people. Now the crews on Brit.
ish warships know sailor ways, SO
| inquired all about the procedure from
| captains of neutral ships who had had
their ships searched. They told me
that the British always inspected the
| tocse to see that everything looked
right there Immediately got togeth
| er lot OF photographs to pass as
those Of Norwegian sailors parents
brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts.
sweethearts, wives and mothers.in-law
What did 1t matter whether the sweet
hearts were good looking or not? Sail
ors sweethearts are not always prize
beauties We sent man to Norway
| for the pictures In order to have the
names of Norwegian photographers
stamped on them.
| The British are smart people, by
Joe. and they know how to search a
ship. They attach special Importance
to sailors' letters. The sailor eagerly
looks forward to the letter he will re.
reive at the next port. He never
throws the letters away either. hut al
ways Keeps stack Of them In hIs
sea chest. Sometimes you will see
him reading letter that his mother
| sent him eight years before So We
had to get up whole set Ut letters