The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-26

Capt. Charles Rolls, Jr.,
just took leave of Wilmingt,
New York, retold some hume
war to a News reporter DUR
Young Charlie, still a Merchan
Marine skipper who sails Liberty
ships to Wilmington only because
he loves North Carolina oyster
roasts, made port here last week
at the helm of the S. S. George
Brown, now in the Wilmington
Storage basin.
His second trip to Wilmington
Charlie brought his silver-halreo
father along to introduce him te
the Tar Heel State, and then
promptly revealed several hume
rous stories evolving around the
war when he and Pop ran into each
other along the Normandy beach
head. 4.
Dad is a captain too, and during
the war was laid up in a French
harbor, awaiting developments,
when Hot Shot, Charlie came
steaming into port with his new
Captains stripes %glitteriag in the
French sunlight, and plotting q
brand new vessel.
Recognizing Pop. the youthful
skipper decided to pay his parent
visit, but regulations prohibited
the use of a motorboat in the har
Dor, which was under constan'
attack by the Luftwaffe.
But, search as he could, Charlie
couldn't find anything in the law
that said a kayak couldn't be put
into service between the larger
craft that dotted the harbor. And
Chralie had a kayak.
He knew Pop, but Pop didn't
know the young fool who started
padding across the wide expanse
of water in the flimsy craft, and
he began making the air blue with
Russian epithets. Then he saw. be-
ing the lads father, he was in
directly responsible for the esca-
pade.
Charles ST., took the young cap
tain to task for two things; first,
for taking the risk of making the
short but dangerous journey. and
second inviting him aboard the
new vessel without having any re
freshments aboard.
Dark-haired Junior never forgot
his fathers reprimand, and the
next time the two Rolls met, some
months later in another part of the
world, Dad had his capacity for
English ale, and a mongrel rum,
tested severely aboard the lads
ship.
When Charlie asked his father if
he wanted ale or rum, the elderly
skipper asked the quality. and
quantity, leaving no stone unturn-
ed to find out just how things
We've got 10 cases of good ale."
reported his offspring.
"HoW's the RUM"
six bottles, and it's rotten.
Wbat'n you have?" answered
Charlie.
Rum" =
The happy reunion, only one of
many, ended with Charlie Sr. be-
ing put on a train, and aroused at
MS destination by an unknown
Scottish woman, who probably to
day has never been thanked
the part she played in having
a merchant ship make it's schedul-
ed journey on time, even though
a foggy-minded skipper was at the
helm.
In the midst of severe fighting,
and bombs dropping all around
hem, the Rolls managed to have
4 good time during the conflict,
as they pulled enough strings to
make it impossible for them not to
meet occasionally.
But, New York Charlie has found
he land of his dreams in South
eastern North Carolina, and al
he brings his motorcycle
aboard each ship he sails down in
order to make the return journey.
someday he's going to stay and
at Tar Heel oysters for the rest of
lis life. Pop says nothing about
lis sons latest hobby, indicating
has been on the top of
Charles must list since birth.
But, the silver-haired, old sea-
is no SLOUGH at cracking back
1t his sons jibes, and humorous
And no matter what Char
lie says, the old teller still sails
ship in a convincing manner.
He'll be back to Wilmington with
more tales to tell.