LOOKOUT
"LORD, BE WITH ALL THE SHIPS THAT SAIL TONIGHTI"
VOL. XXXIV-NUMBER 8 AUGUST, 1943 TIllS :-.rO~TII· COVER drawing wa contributed by Raymond Richards. a student at Pratt In titute.
~attrtuar!J The Lookout o Lord God, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavor an)' VOL. XXXIV August, 1943 great maller, grant us also 10 know thaI it is not the beginning but No.8 the conlinuing of the same unlil it be thoroughly finished which yieldelh the true glory. Sir Francis Drake Master Mariner Editor's Note: In the May issue (From the Mainstay, Seamen's Church of THE LOOKOUT we published Inslilute of Newport) an account of a Chinese seaman who had survived 130 days on a raft. Since that time, he has come to New York, and we learned that his record voyage was 133 days. Fol lowing are more details.
WANTED: A set of flags H SOUTH ST, NEW YORK 4, N, Y. OON LIM, Chinese steward of VOL. XXXIV, AUGUST, 1943 of the United Nations for a torpedoed British freighter, display in the Institute's PUBLISHED MONTHLY P Auditorium. The beauIi who surpassed all records by sur f ul flags in the fi rst floor by the viving 133 days alone on a life raft, Lobby allract much at SEAMEN'S CHURCH was honored at a ceremony held on lention and favorable INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK comment from our sea Friday, July 16, at the Seamen's men. A set of 34 'flags CLARENCE G. MICHALtS Church Institute of ew York, in cosls 200. Will some Prc.ident THOMAS ROBERTS the British Merchant avy Club. reader give these, per Secretary and Tn:aaurcr haps, as a lribule or me Presiding was Leonard H. Leach, REV. HAROLD H. I:I!.LLEY. D.O. Acting British Consul General in morial to some friend? Director ~~...... They will be appreciated MARJORIE DENT CANDEE, I!ditor Kew York, who officially informed and represented- his country by car- bv Ihe seamen of the $1.00 per year lOc per copy Poon Lim that he has been awarded rying the Chinese flag. United Nations who make and in "'25 Soulh Street" their Gifts of $5.00 per year and over the British Empire Medal The citation for Poon Lim's home when in cw York. include a year's subscription to "THE vited him to England to receive the award, published July 13 in the Address inquiries 10 the WOKOUT". decoration personally from King London Gazette, describes his ex.. Rev. Harold H. Kelley, E"tered as secl>f1d clt>ss maltn- luly 8, 19%5. III New YOf'k. N. Y., utuler the ael u/ George VI. The Chinese Consul perience as follows: D.D., Director March 3, 1879. General, Dr. Tsune-Chi Yu paid Addrus all cDmmuniclJtions to "When his ship was tor tribute to the Chinese seaman's re pedoed and sunk, Second Stew SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE markable achievement. OF NEW YORK ard Poon Lim was washed On behalf of the Ben Line, the Telephone BOwlinl Gre.n 9·2710 overboard. After being in the company by which Poon Lim was water for about two hours he employed, Mr. Leach also presented managed to reach a raft on LEGACIES TO THE INSTITUTE him with an inscribed gold wrist which he existed alone for 133 You lire IIsked to remember this Institute in your will, that it watch. days before being picked up by may properly cllrry on its importllnt work for sellmen. While it is Poon Lim, aged 2S and a native a fishing boat. On the raft there IIdvisllble to consult your IlIwyer liS to the drllwing of your will, we of Hainan, wa torpedoed in the were provisions for about 50 submit nevertheless the following liS II cilluse thllt mllY be used: South Atlantic in November, 1942, days, but before this time I give and bequellth to "Seamen's Church Institut~ of New and rescued 133 days later by a elapsed Poon Lim improvised York," incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, locllted fishing boat which subsequently a fishinl?: hook and line and. llS at 25 South Street. New York City. the sum of landed him at a Brazilian port. ing biscuits for bait, caught a ...... _._ , DolllSrs. After four weeks in a hospital he number of small fi. h which he Note thlSt the words "OF NEW YORK" are 15 PlSrt of our title. was flown to Miami, and placed in later used for bait for larger It is to the generosity of numerous donors ISnd testlStors thlSt the care of the local British Con fi h. He also caught sea g-ulls the Institute owes its present position, ISnd for their beneflSetions sulate. From Miami he was brought which settled on the raft. \iVhen their memory will ever be cherished by 1511 friends of the selSmen. to New York on May 26th. On the water supply ran out, he Flag day he came to the Institute ",as without water for five fixed if enough money were appropriated 8 :30 P. M. S.O.S. S.O.S. S.O.S. days, but wa sub equently able material of his lifejacket for the or if the people would ju t take their "We have been torpedoed. Sinking fast. to catch enouah rainwater for purpose. Poon Lim displayed change in war stamps when they go to S.O.S. S.O.S. Latitude? Longitude? the movies or buy liquor. \Vell, I m off Silence ----- his needs, using the covering exceptional courage, fortitude until 8 o'clock tonight and then I will Two of us left now. And we are and resource in overcoming the have to stand a 4 hour wheel watch as within ten miles of each other. The last tremendous difficulties with we are short three men. one was 20 mile from us. Getting c1u-e. 5 :00 P. M. Just woke up for supper. Another prayer for the one that just which he was faced during the went down. \\'hy am I saying a prayer long and dangerous voyage on Bulletin on the board. E\'eryone will don their life preserver and keep it on for thel11 and not ourselves? At least the raft." until arrival in . Y. Sleep with it on. they have a chance to launch a life boat. If a tin-fish get us there won't be a British, Chinese and American Eat with it on. Steward's Dept. orders are not to feed anyone unless he has his piece of the ship big enough to float. officials, a party of British Mer Ii fe preserver on. Oh well, we get a few dollars a day until chant Navy officers and Chinese 5 :55 P. M. S.O.S. The ship that they get us, then our pay stops one way and British merchant seamen from was ahead of us coming out turned outh or the other. Besides, we can have all the sugar we want in our coffee and British ships now in New York at off Hatteras, and now was being at tacked by a ub. S.O.S. We have been the people ashore can't. tended the ceremony to honor Poon torpedoed. S.O.S. We are sinking. 10 :00 P. 11. Coffee time. Let the Lim, one of some thousands of Position?? Latitude?? Longitude?? Mate try and steer this tub for the next Chinese serving in British and Silence -- 20 minutes until I get back. Maybe he 6 :30 P. M. S.O.S. Abandoning ship. will appreciate what I've been up against Dutch ships since the outset of the for the last 2 hours. Everybody is war. At the close of the ceremony, That water look cold. So Long. "88" (Love and kisses). awake and fully dressed with a Iife pre the seamen sang "For He's A Jolly 7 :40 P. 11. Just been called to go on server tied fast around them. Lots of Good Fellow" and gave three rous watch. Crew are gathered in Crew's pale faces. :\ot scared, but pale at the thought of two ships gone so soon. All ing cheers for their Chinese ship Me. di cu sing torpedoed ship. Feeling beller. Ship was heading South that of a sudden a laugh. Not hy teries ma1e. either. A good old-fashioned laugh. M or;e H ;gg;nso.. Photo wa torpedoed. \Ve are heading North. ~faybe we will get through. There is no doctor on board. Is that funny? o. But in his place we have Recent visitors to the British Merchant Navy Club at the Institute were Frank Mitchell, 8 :00 P. M. Relieved the wheel. Still steering hard. Ship is completely blacked shipped an embalmer. A.B. (left) and Alfred Harvey, A.B. (right) and with them their ship's mascot 10 :20. Back to the wheel. The Mate "Brownie." On the voyage "Brownie" had four pups. The crew kept one pup and out. Two ships behind us al so blacked out. Hope they maintain their speed i glad to see me. I put her back on her gave the rest away to landfolk who were delighted to have them. course. Why don't mates learn how to '/ Unfortunately," said Harvey, "Our Brownie is not a very good sailor. She usually and don't run us down. Can't see a thing outside. Pitch black. Hope notfi steer? If I was that far off he would sleeps in the helmsman's lifejacket up in the wheelhouse when the weather gets a bit have bawled me out and had the Captain rough." ing blacked out ahead of us run into us. Too bad for us both if they do. \Ve just disrate me. ha\'e one cargo on board. Ammunition. 10 :30. Another hour and a half to go. Wi h I wa home. Wonder if Jolin Davi is still standing in front of the Images and!or text cannot be ~Iorri Plan Bank at Front and Chest nut back home in Philadelphia. Or shown due to copyright maybe at Front and Walnut bawling out By A.B. Seaman Arthur George Montaigne the Co:! tliners who have been passing restrictions. him and that corner for years. Wonder Photo by Courtesy of "Sea PO'UIer-" i not war, that's murder. An unarmed Editor's Note: This article was writ if the wind still embarrasses the girls at tanker, with absolutely no chance to re Front and Chestnut. \Vonder if Abrams ten more than a year ago whell Nazi taliate. Cold meat for anybody. The V-boats were a/tacking Allied merchant ever bought a hat or John Anderson and sub knew she wasn't armed or she would ~filton Finkelstein. ships off Monta1l1~ Point and other places have never surfaced after discharging near New York alld before convo:vs were 10 :45 P. M. S.O.S. S.O.S. "We are the torpedo. The crew were silent as being- attacked. Two torpedoes. One for- orgalli:;ed. In contrast, today, sinkings we passed. I knew that like myself they bjl el/emy submaril/es have declilled to ward. One amidship. S.O.S. S.O.S. were all saying a prayer for the crew Latitude? Longitude? Sinking fast. sllch an extel/t that authorities consider of that tanker. the V-boa/ mel/ace .well IInder control. Abandoning hip. S.O.S. S.O.S. Sil 11 :30 A. M. Just passed the mosquito ence - - --- Newport New for N. Y. net. The patrol boat signalled, "Good 10 :50 P. 11. Changing course. Head Departure-9 :30 A. M.-Thursday luck, you are on your own." That lone ing in. Hope we don't run aground on Crew a bit nervous but all fighting mad. some feeling crept over me. "On our orne of these reefs. If we get stuck Tuesday two ships near us had got it on own," on our own. One ship is ahead we are meat for torpedoes or gunfire. our way in, just mad{' it ourselves inside of us and two behind all unarmed, "all Zigzag. Zigzag. Zigzag. A few pray submarine net in time. That wa Tues on their own". ers for the crew of the last ship. Alone. day and the ten ion had relaxed until 11 :45 A. M. The pilot has just left us \Ve are all alone. Four came out and now, when we passed a tanker being and is being rowed back to the Pilot now there is one. None rhymes with one. towed in, her flag at half-mast, her dead Boat. Four little ships going out to sea. Along still aboard. There is a gaping hole in 12 :00 oon. Vvell, here's my relief. came a ub and then tl,ere were three. her side where the torpedo had struck. 20 hours at the wheel is enough for PI,oto by Courlesy of "Sea PO'wer" Three little ships trying to get through. ~hat's alrig-ht, thi j war. Further aft anybody e pecially when the wheel steers "Just Woke Up For Supper" Another tin-fish and thel1 there were two. in the crew' quarter., hdl holes. That hard. 'Ve could have had this wheel 3 2 Images and!or text cannot be shown due to copyright Two little .-hips trying to run. The sUD Images and!or text cannot be ran faster, then there was one. Zigzag. restrictions. Zigzag. Zigzag. Stop. Take soundings. Still got enough water. Head in some shown due to copyright more. More prayers for those poor fel lows out there all covererl with ice and restrictions. trying to keep afloat. 11 :30. Here it comes. A white streak in the water. A torpedo coming fast. Faster. Faster. Wheel hard right. Hard over until my hands are white holding it so hard. I don't need that much pressure to hold it over. I shall relax my fingers a little, the wheel won't come back. I can't relax. They are cramped on the wheel.' Oh well, I am better braced for the shock. Shock, what shock? It missed. Missed by inches. Wheel amidships. Zigzag. Zigzag. Get ready for the next one. Wait. Wait. Wait. 12 :00 Midnight. Wheel relieved. Need a good cup of coffee. Crew standing on Boat Deck, close to lifeboats. Waiting. Waiting. Alone in the mess-room drink ing coffee. Wishing that I was with the gang having coffee at Saffos on the Crystal. Crew drifting in to the mess room one and two at a time. Finally no more room. They are standing in the passageway. The air is heavy with wheel, all over the Atlantic. He even smoke. Everybody is smoking. Tne goes back to dot the "i's' and cross the toughest fellow on the ship is talking. "1's". The Old 'Man asks him if he's It's unethical. Submarines always at taking a hart cut, every time he steers. tack before sunrise and after sunsct. wl\o On and on. Wait. Wait. Wait. ever heard of them attacking in the mid S:30 A. 11. Daylight. Best sunrise dle of the night? It's unconstitutional. I've C\'er een. A plane in war color Pipe down. Take it up with your Con zoom. over us and dips his wing in gressman. \\Trite the Chamber of Com salute. He goes out to sea. merce. Why don't you report them to 6 :30 A. M. A avy blimp comes out their local Labor Union for working and hovers over us for at least an hour. overtime. Take it tip with your Draft So low we can see two men in the caom Board. The tension is broken, everyone of it very plainly. is laughing. Talk resumes about the 7 :30. Breakfast. All hands are narrow e cape. \Vith that Tar-heel bleary-eyed from Jack of sleep. Oh well, steering as lousy as he does how could tonight we 'will be safe inside the sub anybody hit us with a torpedo? He net at Ncw York and sleep for eight writes his name, every time he takes the long hours.
CfJJwJl1:J:JL in.., Cid:.iJJtL By Nicholas Monsarrat* Images and!or text cannot be shown due to copyright restrictions.
*Reprinted from Harper's Magazine by special permission Photo by Jolr .. O'BriNl, A.B. Sco",." 4 "Half a gale blowing, the sea very rough ..." Twice a week, as one of their contributions to the war effort famous artists from the 'ociety of Illustrators visit the American Theatre Wing's Club for ~1erchant Seamen at 109 West 43rd Street, set up thclr easels and make ketches of merchant seamen. The idea came from Mr. Le Roy P. Ward, architect. The original portrait i framed with the artist's signature the seaman's name and rating, ~atted, carefully packed and then is mailed to whom the seaman wishe it sent. The seaman's wives, mothefs and sweethearts cherish these por traits. The subjects are selected for interest and bravery. "And this is the toughe t part of the job," said Mr. \Vard. "For which one of them isn't brave? Why, we had a seaman in one night who'd been torpedoed seven Chinese seaman Soon Sing Patrick Rooney-By Gordon Grant times. He could have been Caspar By S. J. Woolf Milquetoast. He was about 22 and I found out that this shy' almost timid little fellow had bee~ to;pedoed three times, and once, Michael Locrotondo-By A. Treidler wIth five other guys ranged in a circle around one Ii febelt held are reproduced some of the por hands in the middle of the' ocean traits. for two days before they were picked up." The American Theatre \Ving A number of the seamen ketched very generou ly arranges for free are frequent visitors to the In tickets to Broadway plays to be stitute when ashore. On this page gi"en to merchant seamen.
Carl Thorpe-By John Holmgren Morris Hudson-By Frank Godwin rB.o.olL tIkoiJz.w GLOSSARY OF SHIPBUILDING The book is a good, sound dictionary AND OUTFITTING TERMS of the language of the sea, ships, and the men who build and sail the ships. By W. J. Eddington But he does not end this book with the last word under "Z". The ninety pages Cornell Maritime Press. $3.50 of the Appendices, containing useful Mr. Eddington's background in the tables and equipment lists for all three John Heywood-By Saul Tepper Donald Hawkins-By A. Parker many divisions of the maritime industry departments, are almost as valuable as give him the authority to write such a the remainder of the book. book as this. -3rd Mate Kermit W. Salyer Next, on arrival at Port Arthur, and the "Petrol" should go for years without while loading, one man was overcome by an accident, and then run into a whole gas fumes, and in his rescue four others chain of unrelated mishaps which re were similarly affected, necessitating the moved her forever from the seas. By Chief Mate Bernard Anthony Baker, hospitalization of two--of which I was Questions such as these are well be (who survived 33 days in a lifeboat when the American freighter "PRUSA" was torpedoed) one. On awakening I found myself in yond the ability of most of us to figure a white hospital bed. A very attractive out-while more simple superstitions of Have you ever asked yourself what chief boatswainsmate, who had been in nurse was bending over me, and I heard less import, and hence more readily to gave root to the many superstitions so charge of the missing- launch, was found her say, "Do you know where you are?" be analyzed, often times are to be under tirmly believed in by most old time floating in the river nearby. Ironically, It may have been due to those gas fUIl1es, stood. Take for instance, the belief sailormen? he had swum no less than fifteen miles but I remember I had no hesitation in that it is bad luck to whistle on ship There are many sailors who will swear, through icy waters before he perished replying, "No I don't, but as long as you board. This undoubtedly harks back to for cxample, that a rat will not remain nearly in reach of safety. are here, I dOR't care," Recuperating the old navy sailing ship days, when the on any ship that is going to sink, but The bodies of tile other sixteen mem and with considerable regret on leaving sailors were called to duty by the boats will invariably go ashore prior to the bers of the crew were eventually found. the hospital, I returned aboard the wain's pipe. To miss hearing the boats last sailing. Now is there in fact some This made accident No.3. Incidentally, "Petrol", which was heading north with wain's whistle called for the lash or at foundation for this belief? Very prob it was never ascertained what had ha.p 89,000 barrels of oil. Hardly had this least severe language. Since whistling ably,. for in the days of wooden ships pened to tile ill-fated launch. ill-fated steamer got well under way, might be mi5taken for the whistle, or the and Iron men, leaks were obstacles with Immediately after losing our launch when a terrific explosion (never ex whistle for whistling, there was little which a ship master had almost con we were ordered out on convoy duty. plained) sent her to the bottom. And with room on deck for the two, and the stantly to contend. When the seams While on the first trip, we lost one of her went the master and anothl."r member boatswain remained supreme. started to open and the water slowly our propellers and on our return trip v' the crew. Other and more romantic sea beliefs entered the hull, the rats, cozily in sighted a small vessel in mid-Atlantic. Old seamen still ask why a vessel like are well-nigh impossible to figure out. stalled in the hold, would be the tirst to It was a beautiful day. The sea was discover the situation and would hastily peaceful and calm but with an exceed migrate ashore in search of more com ingly heavy swell running. Drawing fortable quarters. near the sailing vessel, we have to and Assuming that the leaks grew larger lowered one of our launches in an effort once the ve sel put to sea and as she to ascertain just what a sailboat loaded labored in heavy weather, the ship might with barrels was doing out there in the Maritime Service in accordance with what seemed to hav~ war zone. \Ve soon found that she By Lieut. lig) John Macauley, U. S. been prophesied by the rats, founder and carried a cargo of wine and was bound Cadet-midshipmen at the U. S. sink. from France to Quebec. There is also a belief prevalent among Returning to the "MICHIGAN" we Merchant Marine Cadet Basic seafaring men that accidents are sure to prepared to take our launch aboard ... School at San Mateo, California, Images and/or text cannot be come in bunches--or that one accident just a rou~ine task which we had per have a hurdle in their training pro Quickly breeds another. Again could formed hundreds of times before. How shown due to copyright this be true? There would seem to be ever, this day the simple operation gram-a night in a lifeboat, living no good or valid reason for such a pro brought about a dramatic ending. We off their rations, in San Francisco restrictions. cedure. However, in twenty-five years had hooked our slings to the wire from Bay. of following the sea, I must confess that the electric crane, and the crane had It sounds simply like good ex I have in fact, seen many instances of taken up the slack when a huge swell this kind. liftcd the boat about twenty feet, then perience. That was the way it Considcr what happcned aboard the quickly dropped from under, allowing sounded to me when I decided to U. S. S. "MICHIGAN" ... the gun the launch to crash back onto the slin~s, take the trip before shipping Ollt for explosion. Thi was accident No. 1. which parted in the bow, caus1ng the the South Pacific. I know now it is Next the mast fell. Thi was accident fifty-foot craft to hang on one end. No.2. This movement dumped fifteen men, guns. much more than that: It is a test Soon after this, we entcred the York waterbreaker., tools, and various equi~ of endurance for future officer of River and lay at anchor trainin(Y g-un ment into the water. In this unfor our Merchant Marine. cre\\' for service on American mer tunate momcnt three men perished. We left Coyote Point at 4 :30 in chantmcn. At this time I was detailed Thu camc to an end what we may a fircman and a signed at a steam identify as accident No.4. This raised the afternoon, or 1630 in the lan launch. Two of thcse launches wcrc the total of dead to forty-two. guage of the school. Twenty-three used in patrolling the submarine net I recall another instance wherc ill Cadet-midshipmen were crowded at the mouth of the river. One would fortune came in bunches. into a lifeboat. As we pulled away g-o out at night in company with craft At the end of World \Var 1. after C01 BOARD OF MANAGERS Honorary Pusident RT. REV. WILLIAM T. MANNING, D.D., LL.D., D.C.1. President CLARENCE G. M1CHALIS Clerical Vice-Presidents RT. REV. ERNEST M. STIRES, D.O. REV. ROEllI' H. BROOKS, S.T.D. RT. REV. BENJAMIN M. WASHBURN, D.D. REV. FREDERICK BURGESS *REV. DONALD B. ALDRICH, D.D. REV. SAMUEL M. DORRANCE REV. W. RUSSELL BOWIE, D.D. REV. FREDERIC S. FLEMING, D.D. Rl!v. loUiS W. PITT, D.D. Lay Vice-Presidents HERBERT 1. SATTERLEI! ORME WILSON FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT HARRY FORSYTH Secretary and 'Tuasurer THOMAS ROBERTS • WILLIAM ARMOUR SNOWDEN A. FAHNESTOCK HARRIS C. PARSONS EDWARD J. BARBER DE CoURSEY FALES *JOUN H. G. PELL CHARLES R. BEATTIE FRANK GULDEN FRANKLIN REMINGTON EDWIN DE T. BECHTEL CHARLES S. HAIGHT, JR. *JOHN S. ROGERS, JR. REGINALD R. BELKNAP *GERARD HALLOCK, III *CHARLES E. SALTZMAN GORDON KNOX BELL AUGUSTUS N. HAND SAMUEL A. SALVAGE GORDON KNOX BELL, JR. OLIVER lSI! LIN *JOHN JAY SCHIEFF"ELlN CHARLES W. BOWRING, JR. ELLIS KNOWLES THOMAS A. SCOTT CHARLES B. BRADLEY RICHARD H. MANSI'IELD T. ASHLEY SPARKS GERALD A. BRAMWELL CHARLES H. MARSHALL CARLL TUCKER EDWIN A. S. BROWN *LoUIS B. MCCAGG, JR. ALEXANDER O. VIETOR *D. FARLEY Cox, JR. CHARLES MERZ J. MAYHEW WAINWRIGHT FlumERICK A. CUMMINGS W. LAWRENCE McLANE *FRANK \V. 'vVARBURTON JOSEPH H. DARLINGTON GEORGE P. MONTGOMERY ERNEST E. WHEELER Fr.EDEIUCI: P. DI!LAFIELD ""JOHN LEWIS MONTGOMERY WILLIAM WILLIAMS CLEMENT 1. DESPARD *JUNIUS S. MORGAN WILLIAM D. WINTER CHARLEI E. DUNLAP MORTON 1. NEWHALL GEORGE GRAY ZABRISKIE HONORARY MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE JOHN MASI!FII!LD Director REV. fuROLD H. KELLEY, D.D. *Serving- in the Armed For es. ** Elected to the Board, June 24th. 1943. To get to the Seamen's Church Institute, tnke subway. elevated or bus to Sou'h Fprry. At the Ferry, take a deep breath of -,alt air, starbonrd your helm and, if the wind is from the sea. come about on the starbanrd tack. Lay your course ENE ¥2 E nlong South Street for nbO/lt two cable's·lengths. You'll raise the yellow brick cliffs of the Instinue off the port bow. Or, just walk three blocks along South Street from South Ferry. (Deoch Fulton. Editor, New York Public Ubrary Club Bulletin.)