Mount Vernon (AP 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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Glazed with Ice and cutting through the freezing winds of the North Atlantic, the Mount Vernon at last found her course plotted for New York and honne. But the trip was to be interrupted. Through the fog came the distress signals of a burning Norwegian tanker. The homeward course was altered as preparations for rescue began. Blow torches were needed to melt the ice holding the lifeboats to the davits. Fire and Rescue crews assembled their equipment. Fog was hugging the surface of the water and sleet was driving against the decks as the burning vessel came into view. For two hours the Mount Vernon stood by, leaving only after assistance was on the way in the form of Coast Guard rescue ships. Entry into New York harbor was made in the early morning; special sea details were set at 0200 and for four hours the crew shivered while ice-covered tugs maneuvered the ship up the ice-jammed harbor and alongside Pier 51. New York became a city of Individual memories for the men of the ' Mount Vernon . Its size swallowed them up in the afternoon and sep- arated them until morning. Here at last they found liberties suitable to every taste. Of course they saw the sights of the city — the Empire State

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which the signal men became famous. One was the story of the famous mes- sage of the Mount Vernon to the shore station at Gibraltar. What ship? , asked the shore station. Queen Mary — What rock Is that? , was the reply. The ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, domi- neering and seemingly unapproachable had towere d above the ship as she had passed through the Straits on previous occasions. How hard and how domineer- ing would the Rock be to visitors? — To Americans? Gibraltar welcomed the ship and her men as they had never expected to be greeted, warmly. They opened re- stricted and secret areas of the Rock for exploration. The galleries, the honey- comb of tunnels, the Moorish castle, the monkeys were shown in detail. British troops billeted on the Rock dis- played their good humor, too. Their Army personnel presented a variety show and concert for the M.V. ' s crew on the Arena. The ship ' s company arranged an evening ' s supper in return. The River Clyde and the shipping in- dustry combine to make GLASGOW, SCOTLAND the most important seaport of that country. Her proximity to Loch Lomond and Edinburgh made her more important In the eyes of the Mount Ver- non ' s globe travelling crew. Fortunate were those who traveled by yon bonnie banks ... of Loch Lomond . Liquid green of the hillsides flowed Into the true blue of the water. The music of Bobby Burns ' lyrics and the adventure of Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson rose from the land round about. EDINBURGH was historical seat of the Kings of Scotland and traditional summer home of the Kings of England. High above the city broods the castle of Robert Bruce, scene of tragedy and triumph. Among the castle ' s famous prisoners was Mary, Queen of Scots, pretender to the crown of England. Although she died, later, in the Tower of London, her son, James VI lived to reign as James I of England. Each year, the reigning King of Eng- land walks the Royal mile from the castle to Holyrood Palace as a proof of his rule over Scotland. The street passes St. Jlles church, scene of intrig ues, and John Knox ' s house, birthplace of the Presbyter- ian church.

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building, Radio city, and Times Square, but they saw thenn alone or in groups of two or three, not in the large parties which grew In smaller and stranger ports. Legitimate theatres augmented the movie programs; music and mu- seum tours were available. To the sea-weary men of the ship, however, It was countless small bars, the dinner In scattered restaurants, the bawdy floor shows of the night clubs, the horse-drawn buggys in Central Park that at last formed their memories of New York. One steward ' s mate shifted his weight uneasily from one foot to the other as he stood before the captain at mast. The captain briefly scanned the charge sheet, rubbed his chin, and looked threateningly at the man. You ' re charged with being absent over leave. What have you to say for yourself? I missed the subway, suh. When the man further explained that his home was In Harlem the cap- tain gasped, and re-examined the charge sheet. He must have misread it, but no, there it was in clear, black print. . . . Absent over leave for a period of ' three days, 17 hours, and 45 minutes ' .