The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-23
Champ Kid StOwaway Of Two Years Ago Turns Into Star Naval Cadet
Bobby Stap Set For Next Voyage ---AS a Seaman
BY STEVEN WILLIAMS NEA Special Correspondent

New York, Sept. 23.-When em- ployes of the Customs House Ship ping Bureau in New York arrive for work Oct. 30 they will be greeted by @ freckle-faced, nervous lad in the spotless blue uniform of naval cadet.
 The youth, still host to growing pains, will be examined and ques- toned and when he comes away 8 precious envelope will be in his poe ket.
 He'll be Americas one-time Stow away No. Bobby Stap, the "in- corrigible runaway" who hasn't hitched an ocean ride in two years and probably never will again.
 For in that envelope will be his able-bodied seaman's papers, the answer to Bobby's every prayer and dream and hope.
 Cadet Officer Robert L. Stap of the Seamen's Church Institute Ma rine School knows he'll get job on a ship when he passes those tests and he knows he'll pass them. He takes the tests on Oct. 30 be- cause it's his 18th birthday.
 French-born, Bobby has probably travelled farther as a free-loader than any other boy on record.
 In 1888, he made four cruises. Never bothering to ask about pas sage rates, he sailed to France and England. He sailed down the east coast of the United States in utter luxury and even sniffed the breezes that float over the Caribbean. All on the house.
 Today he feels that his escapades were valuable experience.
 If nothing else," he said at his home in Queens, N. Y, "those jaunts put me that much ahead of other students when got into the marine school I'm two years up on the rest. They have to be IS be- fore they can ship out"
 When Bobby returned from his last cruise Gin brig) officials took him in tow, even though they thought he was hopeless.
 They slowed him away while they pondered his fate. The final dis position fitted the boys dreams nicely. He was sent to the marine academy to study navigation and subjects that swould earn him a regular high school diploma.
 Bobby took to his studies. In no time he was transformed from a wilful, disobedient urchin into a fine, clean-cut young man.
 After a month, he could make an "eye" splice, figure attitudes by sight and longitudes by run. Dead reckoning" was a pipe.
 'This sea business is my second nature" Bobby said. T will be captain of ship one day. Why I can be quarterrnaster in eight, months if we go to war! I'm qual- flied to be one now, only I need time at sea - in a working ca pacity.'
 The last time I interviewed Bobby in 1888, he was -sullen, surly em- barrassed at being caught a stow away.
 Since then he has strengthened up, holds his head high, his shoulders square, his chin in. His converse tion crackles with ives sirs" that are as sharp as whips snap. He is a far cry from the shifty-eyed, sus- picious kid he was two years ago.
 Bobby's mother, Yvonne Stap - in charge of the boy because his father, Fred, is always at sea - used to be ashamed of him. Each time he ran of her heart became sadder. The publicity made her shudder. She was reluctant to talk to reporters.
 Now she is glad to be inter- viewed.
 T used to feel so ashamed" she said in French-dotted voice. "All that publicity and the way the neighbors talked. I was so worried about what would become of Bobby. But I don't have to worry now. It is amazing what the righ school can do for problem child"