The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-10-09

Nov Yokohama is a veritable
Crossroads Of international ship
ping. and in those days there were
always several warships Of various
nationalities in the harbor. in addi-
ton 70 the hustle OF merchant ship
ping Of all flags
Thus it was that we thought
little-scarcely more than a cas-
ual gla1ce-when we noted a war
ships little steam launch ohuffing
its devious way among the several
ships at anchor and under way in
the harbor.
But as we waited somewhat i'm
patiently for the boarding party TO
put in an appearance. the navy
launch drew closer. At the same
time almost. the civilian officers
launch churned past our ships
stern-but instead of fetching up
to the oversize gangway. hove-to
and stood off a hundred yards
away.
That was most unusual and per-
picking. Besides we were to a man
anxious to get such red-tape fin
ished and get alongside the pier
and thence ashore.
Meanwhile. the navy launch was
upon us, close aboard. And 1t was
she which fetched up to our gang
way. More mystery.
While we and our shipmates
stared goggle-eyed at the puzzle.
who should come strutting up our
gangway at that unnaturally early
hour but a regular crowd Of cock
AIDED. gold braided. be sworded.
obviously high ranking Japanese
naval officersi
When they reached our deck,
they stood there in glittering for
NAL array and virtually ignored
our merchant ships officers and
crew while they obviously waited
for something. The wait was prac-
tically melodramatic-and certain
ly mysterious.
As we stared at them, suddenly
the delegation Of naval big-shots
whipped off their hats. clicked
their collective heels and COM
menced their customary ceremonial
bowling. We gaped in amazement
at the direction they bowed.
Toward them came trotting,
bowling and grinning simultaneous
ly our Japanese sculleryman. AS
usual. he was clad poorly in cheap
cotton pants and shirt. knee-length
rubber boots and huge owlish spec
tacles. Middle-aged, wizened and
the personification of humility. he
was the pot scraper and lowly |
assigned to the ships
steerage galley - most despicable
job in the ship. He'd been that for
trips.
Instead of carrying Stops as was
his usual wont. at the moment he
carried n brief-case. With elabor-
ate ceremony. bowling, kissing,
salutes, heel-clicking and unfath-
enable Japanese chit-chat, he gave
said brief-case and contents TO the
naval delegation.
The naval officers just about
popped, what with all their re-
spectful kowtowing TO our scullery-
man. Then they went down the
gangway to their launch. one of
their members still clutching the
awesome brief-case. As the dis
lance between the launch and our
ship grew. we watched the delega-
ton wave their hats and shout
polite goodbyes to our grinning
which surprising gent |
had suddenly assumed new dignity
and proportions.
Well. that's about all there is to |
the incident You may be sure our
sculleryman feigned abso-
lutte ignorance of Americanese
when we and others questioned him
afterward. No explanations. Sank
you, preeze."
However, 10 pick up whatever
loose ends we may have left dangl-
ing, as soon as the naval launch
cleared off the civil officers board
ed us and per usual.
And that was the last we
thought of the matter for some
time. 1t was nearly a year later
that the steward-after repeated |
attempts which were unexplainably |
baked somewhere by somebody
finally managed TO discharge the
sculleryman off the payroll. For a
long time and upon numerous occa-
sions the steward had caught our
shipmate redhanded at
stealing small quantities of food,
soap. towels, and like inconsequen-
tial items.
So now you tell me-who was
the sculleryman? Japanese navy
officer in disguise. or petty thief?