Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-02-23

the four ominous blasts on that
deep whistle on the Rupert. It
scared the wits out of us. This was
the signal to cast loose ship and
dash aboard. In other words, it
meant both we and the ship were
in deadly danger and the ship was
going away from there immediate
ly. Before we could nov a muscle
the ice started breaking up all
around us and underneath US, with
that awful grinding sound. The
sharp eyes of Admiral Byrd and
Commodore G~jertsen had spotted
it's beginning from the ship. TIE
mendous cracks appeared like ma
gic on all sides of us. One opened
up directly under Lindley and he
went head over heels into it, out of
sight and almost took George and
me with him. With all strength
we hauled him out. like a huge fish.
and in the excitement Neville gave
him a good kick. for no good reason
at all.
On the piece of ice that was fall
ing next to the ship were several
packing boxes Of precious supplies
and ten big drums of priceless gaso-
line. These simply had to be res
cued. The big boom swung out
quickly over the side and almost
buried us with the landing net.
| Working like mad we rolled the
drums and boxes hurriedly into the
net and it was jerked into the air
and onto the broad steel deck Of the
Rupert. Thank the Lord that's not
cracking up! On all sides men were
~scurrying about on the ice-some to
| dig out the buried steel hatch Gov
ers to which our mooring lines are
attached and casting them of.
others rushing to the makeshin
gang plank to the ship, made OF
telephone poles and more hatch GOV:
ers. Up that gangplank we scamper-
ed madly and the men on board got
busy hauling 1t in. Will you believe
it, five minutes after that whistle
went of, the ship was moving out
to open water. just as the whole
area where we had eeen working
hundreds of yards OF it. tumbled
into the ocean,. oh boy. some ex.
element! But were getting used
to these sudden moves. Nothing
happens slowly down here. Wonder
II l shall ever be able to accustom
myself to q peaceful life at home
again. l certainly will for the first
six months because I'll sleep that
long the minute l reach there.
You should see US. Our nice whits
working suits are filthy black. Sc
are we and the boards we are grow
ing are comical to see We haven
had a real bath since we left New
Zealand and the Rupert. being al
oil burner. has deposited on all o
us q nice layer Of sticky. oily 500
which no amount of cold cream
seems to bulge. II l ever get int,
a nice white tiled bathroom, will
, plenty Of hot water and towels ant
scrubbing brushes. I'll kiss its WALL
and eat the soap.
! The club tells me that all tn
, cards and working maps which
, members get without cost have beef
! sent to date but that some Of then
: have been returned because name
, and addresses were not clearl.
enough written by applicants. Writ
them about this II your card an
map haven't arrived and they
4 send them. II you haven't apple
J. yet for membership. which cost
nothing. do so now. with you
q friends. Simply send us a self-ae
1ressed stamped envelope and you
smbership card will be sent 20
ediately. with the map bein
the following day. Addres
elope to Arthur Adele. Jr
perica Aviation and F.,
Club. Hotel Lexington
md Lexington Avenu,