Imperial Valley press., 1937-04-04

@NE of those Southwesters
~ that blow up suddenly with
cut warning was fast increasing
in intensity, bowling eerily and
threatening to carry away tar
paulins exposed to its fury on the
deck of the battleship. The sea
was boiling with whitecaps, and
waves, breaking against the side
of the big gray dreadnaught
Mississippi, sent fine spray flying
over the port quarterback, al
ready wet with rain which had
been falling steadily for two days.
The officer of the deck, in oil
skins and boots, stood in the pro-
lection of the big turret just
abaft the nidships superstructure.
He glanced at his watch. Nearly
five o'clock and the men would
soon be going ashore unless the
Exec" approved his recommen-
dation to cancel leave, he thought.
A bluejacket approached the
officer and, saluting, handed him
a written communication.
From Commander Teal, sir"
ae said and saluting again hur-
ried below at a signal of dismissal
from the officer The quarterback
was now awash with the boiling
sea-
Condition of sea due to storm
makes shore leave impractical.
All leave cancelled tonight" the
deck officer read aloud. A rain
drop trickled down his nose and
fell on the paper. Reaching for his
handkerchief, he wiped the salt
spray from mis- face, and turned
toward the deck office. A blue
Jacket stood at the top of the
gangway looking down at the
liberty" boats tossing and pitch
ing at the end of hausers made
fast to the boat booms.
Liberty cancelled tonight" the
officer sang out.
The boy, who appeared little
more than sixteen, approached
the officer with mingling of sur
prise, alarm and CONSERVATION
mirrored on his youthful face.
Liberty cancelled, But - but,
I've got to get ashore, sir. / -
my - :"
Sorry, son, orders" came the
answer with a tone of finality.
The officer walked across the
deck from the gangway and en-
tered the deck Office. Mechanically
the youth saw his lips moving
as he gave an order to the marine
on duty at the desk.
FRANTICALLY he turned his
gaze toward Long Beach,
separated from the Mississippi's
anchorage by nearly a mile and a
half of angry sea. Darkness
comes early in December, and,
with the gloomy graypess of the
day. lights were already twinkling
ashore. A chief boatswain's mate
and several seamen appeared on
the deck in oilskins and prepared
to hoist the small boats on board
before the fury of the waves and
wind parted the lines and dashed
them against the ships side. The
youth ran to the rail and scanned
the sea for a water taxi, realizing
the while they, too, had suspended
service.
He gripped the rail in despair.
A thousand terrible thoughts as
sailed his mind, playing upon his
fancy. In one awful moment his
face became haggard. He seemed
to age years. Then, in the frac-
ton of a second, he made up his
mind. He raced to the stern of
the big battleship, with a mo-
ment's hesitation let himself over
the rail ana, with one 1urIlVe IoOh
behind, plunged into the angry,
raging sea.
lust as two bells sounded
i nine o'clock, the report came
through to Commander Teal,
ships Executive Officer. that a
man was missing and thought to
Le overheard.
"Who is the man, Mr.. Tracy?"
The Executive officer inquired of
the Ensign making the report.
"Daniel Martin, seaman third
class, assigned to bridge duty,
SIR" Ensign Tracy reported.
"Ship has been searched thor