Evening star., 1961-03-04

in those days." Mr.. Bates said,
but the sum OF the tension
and all the little incidents wore
me out"
Third Glass Crisis
Mr.. and Mrs. Bates were
travelling cabin class on the
Santa Maria, and the unex-
pected mid Atlantic cruise
didn't affect them as badly as
some of the passengers and the
crew.
1.-THE third-claSs passengers
were in a bad way" he said.
They were on the lower decks;
with little ventilation. and the
air conditioning wasn't work.
ing. They spread mattresses
near the cargo matches so that
the pregnant women and
young children could get some
air."
Some third-class passengers
most of them Spanish and
Portuguese workmen - then
asked Mr.. Bates and his COM
mittee to help them get better
food. They showed the COM
mittee their standard meal Of
boiled potatoes, fish and black
eyed peas.
I'VE asked the professor
about this" Mr.. Bates said,
but very little was done as far
as I could find out" =.
He said some of the rebels
were lust nice kids" and that
they were not Communists,
that was plain" But he said
the crew was very frightened.
They did not want to be forced
to 60 to sea again with the
rebels. They feared the rebels
would be more violent without
the passengers around, and
that the ship might then be
sunk by the Portuguese navy. ,
Ultimatum on Crew
BY this time the American
Navy had spotted the ship. and
American officers had come on
board for talks with Capt. GAL
vac. It was then that Mr.. Bates
and his two committee mem
bers - one from Connecticut
and one from California-gave
the professor the ultimatum
about the crew.
The combination Of the pas
sengers' ultimaturn, the pres
ence Of the American warships
and an offer of political asy-
lum from the Brazilian gov
ernment made Capt. Galvao
release the crew after all.
After innumerable delays.
the Santa Maria sailed into
Recife harbor, flying the multi
colored banner of the abortive
Portuguese Liberation Move
ment. and the passengers were
put ashore.
II never saw anything like
it." Mr.. Bates said. The crew
was so thankful for the action
of the committee Of Americans
and for the American warShips
that they gave each American
a small present when we left
the ship. Under ordinary cir
cumstances, all the stewards
line up to get tips, not to dis
pense presents" Il
Mr.. and Mrs. Bates left the
ship at Recife but had to leave
on board a car they had bought
in France. The owners of the
Santa Maria, who lost about
ST million in the rebel action,
agreed to ship the car to New
York by way Of Lisbon. Mr..
Bates is still awaiting word Of
its arrival. ]
49, Sought Home
Mr.. and Mrs. Bates, who
have travelled extensively in
the United States, said they
spent four months in Europe,
ending in southern Portugal.
The couple had been looking
for a winter home in Portugal
but "the cost was higher than
we expected and the weather
was colder" They returned
home without buying. 1
After arriving ct Recife,
they stayed at the home Of the
American vice consul for more
than a week and took another
ship to New York. arriving
February %. They arrived back
in Washington this week.
What are their future travel
plans?
Next time, ! think well 60
to Mexico" Mr.. Bates said.
"At least we will be able to
Stay on dry land"