Mount Vernon (AP 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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, - ,N ' . quq '- N V I.. I ' 0 .l ,, 1 ' -v wi 1 1 M px Q-Q ' I z ,N 1 T T c Q gg? I. i f ' 1 ' J E ' f T' x ' 5 J 15- I .. 1 x . ,,1 I ' T H rou . 9 Aspfhe weafher became warmer and +he novelry of passengers began fo wear, -rope yarn Sundays were sfarfed-on Wednesday aflernoons. Boxing mafches, arranged by Chaplain Mar'l'in fook parl' of 'l'he fime and amafeur shows finished ihe day. Once fhe English puf on a skii for 'lhe show. The American evalua'I'ion of fhe Brilish brand of humor is well known. 1 The course drew +he ship rhrough fhe passage called fhe Dragon'S Moulh info +he harbor of Porl' au Prince, Trinidad. Ship's company WGS infrigued by iheir firsi close up of a iropical island. They discussed fhe mysieriesbeyond fhe mounlains, +he pifch lake, and +he liquor. Ten percenf of +he crew was allowed ashore. Those lefi aboard iried swim- ming off fhe fan fail. Divers made all manner of aH'emp1's a'l' diving. Pulling +hemselves up ihe boaf falls proved foo sfrenuous -in fhe Tropical hear. Mail came aboard. Top prioriiy of morale boosfers is mail. Whefher affer a six monfhs' 'rrip around fhe world or a week's crossing of ihe Al'- laniic, nolhing gives +he upliff of news or +he sugar repori. Carl Mui'- schler CMaM has been geHing fhe mail ihrough lo +he ship's company '+h fh I wr e eas+ possible s+rain for quife some iime. Helping, have been Hyland, Hoyer, Shields, and half fhe Marine delachmeni. Dire 1'hrea+s of impending happenings were casually dropped aboui' +h h' ' e s up as +he convoy sfeamed sourh. The ship was approaching file Equafor. A small group walked fhe decks wi+h lordly airs All rhe lo Bl - Y shellbacks prepared fo pay homage fo His Maiesfy, King Nepfune The polywogs discovered fhai' fhey were greafer in number and decided fo T .3

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do somefhing abouf if. They fried! One morning Lassifar, fhe phar- macisf's mafe wifh fhe salesman's soul snealced around fhe corner wifh a ' ' ' d h f new hair cuf. One half of his hair was cuf scalp hugh. He reporfe f a denfal fechnician Bunfing and himself had spenf fhe nighf in fhe brig. Ofher polywogs looked over fheir shoulders more offen as fhey wandered fhrough fhe darkened passageways. 'The librarian Ravahel had published sfafisfics proving fhaf Crossing fhe Line had been fafal fo some. ' ' ' Th F' f Wafch sfanders appeared in uniforms wifh subfle changes. e urs L' f nf Commander Wilcox wore diving shoes, raincoaf, and fire neu ena , helmef and carried fire axes as accessories. Some of fhe ofher officers reporfed fo fhe bridge fo fesf fhe visual qualifies of nozzles in place of binoculars. Af l300 fhe nexf day, King Nepfune came aboard and held courf. Salf wafer flowed freely. Arms, as well as rumps, ached from fhe swing- ' ' ' ' h b lc of a addle Ing of paddles. Lneuf. llgi Wilder caughf f e ac sweep p and s nf several days in siclc bay. Sfifches closed fhe wound in a Pe sailor's scalp. lnifiafes begged fhe immediafe insfallaflon of fhe exfra high mess hall fables lwifhouf benchesl. Th b d a few days lafer when fhe Capfain fold fhem fhey e crew so ere were in dangerous wafers. All hands were ordered fo carry life laclrefs.