LA U T U M N Page CLASS On the morning of September 8, 1936, one hundred and ten freshmen boarded a ship destined to become the pride of the Princeton Navy. Some clambered up the gangplank confidently, but many more walked uncertainly, having been warned by other mariners of the terrors of the deep. Not a few sickened at the sight of the dread sea monsters, biology, algebra, Latin and English, but even these poor sailors rallied at the thought of the deck sports, the ship's concert, and the matches in the gymnasium. We had been towed out of the narrow quay be- fore we realized that we were aboard a ship without a crew. Immediately we gathered aft and elected Jack Staples captain, with Ronald Anderson for mate. James Postlewaite qualified as Sparks and Marie Olson as guardian of the ship's treas- ure. One night, at eight bells, the sailors' rest was disturbed by a queer noise from the crow's nest. Investigation disclosed the bos'n, Jack Tompkins, on this lofty perch. He was still crooning the lullaby with which he had sent the littlest freshies od to their sweet dreams. Truly was Jack a versatile tar, for at other times so loudly did he pipe all hands that the company chose him to lead their war cries. On October 22, two of thelsailorettes, Mary Trimble and Adele Gibbs, brought fame to the ship by tying for fourth place in a humorous reading contest with two foreign ships. Not to be outdone by mere femininity, two able bodied seamen, George Vane and Kenneth Nelson accepted on December 10 the challenge of these same foreigners to an ora- torical contest in which they nailed to the masthead trophies for fifth and third places, respectively. To relieve the monotony of our life at sea the ship's doctor, Mr. Ewart, and the pilot, Miss Gra- ham, declared November 21 a holiday. The good ship anchored at the port of Shanghai, and all went ashore to enjoy chop suey in a Chinese garden. Throughout her maiden voyage, the good ship 1940 offered great competition to the other craft in the Princeton Navy. In the first contest, due to the efforts of Stewardess Mayeur's freshman cabin 105, she took first place in the sale of football and bas- ketball tickets. Later, in a desperate conflict in- volving the sale of magazines, this enterprising freshman cabin engaged with cabin 205 of the SS 1937 and defeated the veteran. For this victory Twelve OF louo the freshman sailors received candy, ice-cream bars and praise from Admiral Shaffer. When the senior ship was aware of her ignominious defeat, her speed dropped from three knots to one. To hearten the vanquished, the admiral sent them a consolation prize, and the ship 1940 dispatched a message of sympathy. Not only in sports and contests, but also in scholarship did the freshman sailors give promise of future greatness. From the date of the first reports from their naval base they were commended publicly for excelling in diligence and aptitude all others in the Princeton Navy. As a result of these public honors the 1940 was constantly receiving SOS calls from the upperclass ships. These all complained that they were low on fuel and could make no headway with the freshman craft always in advance of them. At first we paid no attention to these signals of distress, but we finally remind- ed them that they might take advantage of our sur- plus power by trailing in our wake. Besides we wired them promises of assistance in their pet pro- jects. These promises we made good by attending in throngs all exhibitions of their feats of prowess. After the sun had crossed the line, we were seiz- ed with a strange malady. Some of us began to write poetry, others begged for shore leave to go fishing. The ship's doctor diagnosed our ailment as spring fever, and ordered from the galley a large quantity of sulphur and molasses. The pilot, however, insisted that we were only reverting to type. Compromising, they arranged a truly pirati- cal outing for us on the banks of the Big Bureau. There in the woods we searched for treasure and feasted at a barbecue. Strengthened by this hearty fare, we again put to sea. It was not long before we had passed those treacherous reefs, Final Ex- aminations. Before the summer solstice, radiant with suc- cess, we covered the last lap of our maiden voyage. We were just nearing the harbor when we spied the old ship Sophomore limping homeward, ready to be junked. How proud we were that our noble craft was still seaworthy and could, with slight alterations, carry on another year! We, the sailors on the good ship 1940, challenge all newcomers. We hope to steer a straight course. weather the gales, and come at last safely and honorably to Commencement Haven. Kenneth O. Nelson
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THE TIGERS, in opening the 1936 football season, out- played Mendota in the first half. The Strommen seemed to have the weight and ability, but couldn't put the ball over. Mendota took to the air in the second half, and beat Princeton by the score of 18 to 0. In the second tilt of the Princeton Footballers. they were defeated by one point. Dick Kasbeer pushed over Princeton's six points. Due to an er- ratic pass from center, the extra point was missed by Ellis. In the last quarter, quarterback Edward's jaw was fractured, and for the rest of the season Princeton suffered from the lack of a good passer. Lady Luck gave Princeton the cold shoulder in the fourth quarter of the thirty-seventh traditional grid conflict with Kewanee at Bryant Field. The visiting Boilermakers slipped two touchdowns through a pugnacious Tiger lot to win the annual contest 13 to 7. With the aid of good blocking, Neill sped 100 yards for a touchdown with Ke- Wanees kickoff after they had scored their second touchdown late in the fourth quarter. What, according to pre-game notions, might have been a good game, ended up in a gallant vic- tory for the Red Devils of Spring Valley. Final score was Hall 52, Princeton O. The Bengals showed fight and determination although they were decided- ly beaten throughout the game. Princeton played a whale of a game against Ottawa, but the latter team scored a touchdown on a lucky pass. The Princeton boys played hard in especially the third quarter in which they were suc- cessful in getting the ball deep into Ottawa terri- tory. Due to a fumble, they were unable to put the ball over. The backfield did a good job in both halves offensively. The line also showed decided im- +rmf1 U T U M N provement in this game. The final tally was 7 to 0. In the next game Dixon had little trouble in de- feating the Princetonians 25 to 0. Princeton was outplayed as well as outclassed. Yet the team fought in every minute of the tilt. The victory was not so overwhelming as the score indicates. The Annual Homecoming game with DePue at Princeton was marked by the only victory of the season for the Bengals. Due to heads up foot- ball on the part of the Bengals, they Won 12 to 0. Both touchdowns were the result of passes inter- cepted by Hanson and Neill. In the annual Armistice game with Geneseo, Princeton met a very potent foe. Princeton was com- pletely outclassed in the first half, but redeemed themselves in the second. They made a sustained drive of forty-five yards which was stopped by the strong Geneseo line. The second time they made a thirty yard drive that climaxed with a touchdown for the Bengals. Kasbeer went over for the touch- down. The kick for the extra point was blocked. The final score read Geneseo 18, Princeton 6. The Princeton Reserves finished their season with two defeats and one victory. Coach Ewart worked hard with the boys trying to develop some Freshmen and Sophomores to aid the first team's games next fall. One promising backfield man is Jack Staples. Hall and Kewanee Won their tilts against Princeton by a score of 13 to 0. The Princeton Reserves won over the Ottawa Reserves by a 6 to 0 score. In this game a blocked punt paved the way to victory. Nine Princeton gridders ended their prep foot- ball career with the Geneseo game. They are Captain Simpson, Roggy, Hanson, Paschen, Nelson, Kasbeer, Middleton, Wortz and Dawson. 'ti Page Fourteen
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