Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-26
BY IVAN H. PETERMAN.


CAPE MAY, N. j., February 90
There is an old saying that during the
! first period OF seaSickneSs one fears he
| will die and that during the last period
| he fears he won't. I understand why.
The C-G l12 was outdoing itself. it
/ seemed. Forty miles out in the Allan
| tic, with high sea running the stanch
little patrol boat was kicking up its
heels and having a gay old time.
7 os'n Cutler ana his six men, who
| ha brought us out on the three-day
patrol, were nowhere in sight. Mac"
| the photographer, was either asleep or
unconscious in the bunF opposite mine
and the cooks galley was gathering
like an army Of skeletons drilling on
! tin roof.
I decided it was no place for me
After three false starts crawling back
each timf to the bunk to recuperate
| lurched through the galley anc. gained
th> steps to the deck. A cool breeze
whiStled down and after some effort l
/ poked my head above deck just in time
to be soaked by big wave.
1t was clear. but a mild gale was
blowing. Three brilliant stars shone
directly over the mast on the pilot
house. I looked at them, envying their
complacent domain in universe that
seemed bent on destruction. 1t was a
pretty silhouette.
Suddenly the stars cleaned without
the foreground of the boats super
structure. That was lying next the
sea and the starboard rail was dipping
up the Atlantic! I reeled. Then the
mast resumed its position pointing at the
stars. Again it rocked. it plunged and
the mast swung to port. This was re-
peated until the asst became a metro
nome, the wind siren and Neptune a
ma musician who tore his hair and
ragged at my indifference to his tune.
A glance convinced me that it would
be suicide to attempt passage along that
half-submerged, pitching deck. There
was nothing to do but go back to my
bunk and pray for calm daylight.
An hour or so later somebody came
into the galley. 1t was Northam. His
eyes were bloodshot and protruding He
was CHASTITY.
Il got it, too, tonight" he said. tits
a--ful up there. Can't see ahead" He
f1shed around and found a can of
pickles, eating two Fix your stomach
up" he explained. Have one?" 1
couldn't 20 it.
Seen anything?" I asked.
Nothing but couple of steamers"
Vaguely 1 thought of a smuggler's
ship we had seen two days ago lying
so SNUG on calm sea. What l did not
know was that Coast Guard destroyer
already vas cutting the waves south
ward, trailing, t. ling. -.
Comes the Dawn-At Last.
Morning came at last. From the
bunk heard the men discussing the
nights patrol. learning that it was bad
for only an hour or So You fellows
should have been along last time" they
said.
Breakfast odors drove me on deck.
1t was bright and sunlit, and to my de-
light the snow-covered shore line was
0sad ahead. I choked down a bowl
OF cereal and joined the group forward.
There had been no contact with
smugglers. Two boats had loomed in
the darkness, but neither had appeared
suspicious. Either the prey had es-
capped detection or had moved on be-
fore we arrived.
We rounded Cape May Point and pro-
ceeded into the calmer waters of Della
ware Bay. 1t was a great relief. I ate
some pickles and they helped.
Man overheard"
The call brought all hands to at
tention. 1t was Mac" preparing for
pictures The crew joined in the drill
enthusiastically, and if the man was
only life ring, the lifeboat was
launched with dispatch, and the drill,
even to the ''resuscitation," came of
with eclat.
AT half speed we secured the bay,
moving up to Port Norris, N. j., and
the anchored oyster feet There was ice
IN the river; we cracked our way
through, turned about and started out
into the bay again. The oystermen
waved.
Following the steamer channel down
the bay, we passed Miah Maull and
Brandywine Lights dull maroon towers
thrust out of the bay to warn of shoals
The keeper at Miah Maull came out
and waved-sight of the patrol SO close
apparently made him think he was
about to have guest. There was dis
appointment in his features as we
watched him through the glass, for our
boat was already heading southeast.
There isn't much chance of meeting