The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-26
Old Sailors, Who " Go Back To Sea In
 Liner, Mourn Passing OF Four-Masters
BY DEXTER e. FEED NEA SerVicc Writer

New York Again they cruis, on the romantic ocean--these l3s gallant old sailors whose land. bound gears at the pleasant home Of Sailors Snug Harbor have been leavened with memories of high adventure on the seven seas.
 For them 1t Is recompense. They are taking perhaps their last fling at the life they loved-spray fly ing. keen drive of salt air against wcather-beaten cheeks, the caIl oi the midnight watch, the song oi the wind through masts.
 But though they go down to the sea In a ship. 1t is not like tho four-masters, schooners and brigs most Of them knew. For now they put off on the giant Leviathan. super-ship of the machine ase, a colossal craft that overshadows the vessels they sailed on.
 Starting July 23 from New York, these grizzled veterans of the sea, all of them GO years old or older, board the big boat for a cruise 10 Halifax. N. S, and re- turn. Many of them have never been on steamship before.
 Old Days Recalled
 They hark back constantly to the good old days riding out q storm in the Rcd Sea, fights with Chinese pirates, shipwrecked on tho Barbary coast. meals of salt- horse and black tea .. and plenty of grog.
 Three long bones on dead mans chest-Yo-ho, and a bottle of rum"
 Many of them never expected 10 go to sea again. For with the en- sroaching years upon them they had settled down at Snug Harbor to enjoy a life of leisure and peace.
 The Snug Harbor home was de- signed for them. It was estab- lished by Robert Richard Randall in 1891 when he died and left will which said the income from his 20-acre farm in lower Man hattan should be used to finance the home. For 90 years litigation kept the case in the courts. And in 1888 the home was started on Staten Island. The farm then was worth possibly q million dollars. Now 1t is worth $50000,000.
 And the 8G5 sailors there, broken. Many are lustv speci-
  spite their years. In their hearts is the undying urge to go to sen And now that urge is being satis- fled.
 Some Arc Just Curious
 Some look with contempt upon these modern steam floating hotels" like the I.eviathan. They are taking the trip out of curios- ity. They are still loyal to smiling vessels.
 Frank Waters. 83 years old, who went to sea at l6 and stayed there until A few years ago, does not like the steamers. Not for him.
 Huh" he says. "rll bet with fair wind q good four-caster could race and beat the Leviathnn to Halifax. There's nothing like a sailing vessel. These new-fan- gled ships aren't what they r" cracked up to be.
 These steamers are 100 fancN' Give me one of the old ships Nothing like 'em. Had good food too --- salt-horse and tea and bread No butter nor sugar We didn't need it. We were loo sailing vessel for A d"ep-sea sailor"
 Fought Chinese Pirates
 And there's John Ne3tOr, TX years old, little crippled by rheumatism.
 "ghipwrecked nine times. wss." he says. his eyes lighting up. Them was the days Went to sea as boy from Liverpool Went all over the world. Remem- her how we were attacked in th" China sea by pirates. Bloodthirsty devils they were.
 "swarmed on deck from their junk, with knives flashing. h.