Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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Stopping at Pearl Harbor, we had a glimpse of Diamond Head. Then pressing southward to Somoa and Pago Pago Harbor we found tatooed legs and outrigger canoes popular. boats were lowered for the rescue. Some bluejackets near life preserver racks threw the life rings into the water so rapidly that the Australian commentator of a newsreel talking of the tragedy referred to the f'LoLli.soille Life Preserver Machine. Approximately 25 women were brought aboard ship for treatment, one of whom died. Small craft rescued others, but nine- teen drowned in one of Sydneyps greatest harbor tragedies. The Louisville departure was delayed because of the disaster until the following day when she got underway for Melbourne. . The reception in that city was much the same as in Sydney. The men visited parks and zoos, bought hundreds of koola bear dolls, enjoyed the company of Australian girls, and finally, passed on to the third city, Adelaide. A ship's dance, held in the Adelaide warehouse, still lingers in the minds of I Louisville men as one of the bright mem- ories. The city is also famous with us for visitors aboard ship. No unusual number Arriving in Sydney, an Australian Major General boarded to pay respects to our Captain. We found recreation facilities abundant, with Bon-di Beach and Koala Park favorites of them visited the ship, but they were so interested they stayed late. ln fact, on one occasion the crew's chow was post- poned and repostponed until 1900, and we were waiting for our guests to leave so we could eat. There wasnpt enough chow to feed the multitude otherwise we might have extended them the same hos- pitality they had afforded us. Leaving Australia, the ship proceeded to Hobart, Tasmania, and then to Aukland, New Zealand, spending a week in each place. After that the well pleased and fun-weary crew turned the Lou, north for the trip home. We had one interesting stop on the way, however, the city of Papeete, Tahiti. Q I N ..i1? Xxl ' '-H, .. L I I ll I 1 i is 5. in ,y l. 4 1 1 N .. I , N L I , , J rr,- ' 1 I A I l 4 i 2 . E 3

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l f l 'll -'I I N 5 f-'J-'. i THE Lady Lou made her debut before Australian society in 1938, after an excit- ing new year opening. The crew had barely recovered from the Pasadena Bose Parade and the California-Alabama Bowl Game when the ship got underway from Long Beach, January 3, to attend the Australian Sesquicentennial Celebration as a representative of the United States Navy. After a brief stop in Pearl Harbor, the ship proceeded to Sydney by way of Pago Pago and Samoa. '6Their hearts were young and gay, was the best way to describe the ship's first visit to a foreign port. Tying up at Wolloomooloo Dock in the Australian port, Louisville officers and men found the city a navy liberty heaven. Beautiful Australian girls rushed them with autograph books, and to cap that, it's said the ladies preferred a tour in the beautiful parks to picture shows and more costly entertainment facilities. The Australians took the Yanks into their homes, held dances in their honor, and went on an all-out campaign to see that the visitors had a good time. The city gave the Lou's crew free fare on all bus and rail transportation. Sydney, like other Australian cities, had a '6Luna Park filled with carnival rides and many inter- esting beer halls, which our lads packed every day. The only thing that drew the Americans from the Utopian into which they had howing the F ag AUSTRALIAN CRUISE ascended was the call to colors each morn- ing. They not only stood at attention for our bugler, but also for the national anthems of the five nations represented in the harbor by French, Australian, Nether- lands and Italian ships. At the time of the Australian visit, the Italians were cocky, having proved them- selves conquerors by successfully invading little Ethiopia a few years previous. As a matter of fact, they caused so much trouble their commanding ofiicer had to restrict his crew to the ship. Louisville men, already popular with the Australians, had a natural desire to show up the Hcockya' boys. Our senior aviator, seeing the Italian cruiseris biplane in the air, challenged it to a mock dogfight and forced the opponent to the water. After an hilarious county faira' two weeks at Sydney, the Lou made prepara- tions for getting underway. Her crew had made so many friends among the people of the city that a sightseeing launch was hired to carry approximately 90 of the well wishers, principally girls, to wave the boys goodbye. As we pulled out at eight knots, the excursion launch, Rodney, approached the ship at right angles, making a sharp turn to come alongside for the Hnal farewell. As she rolled on the turn, her passengers rushed to the side of the ship to wave goodbye. The added weight to the roll of the craft capsized it, sending her down bow foremost. The Louisville dropped anchor as her crewmen dove over the side, and whale-

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Upon arrival, the crew learned that Charles Nordhofif, famous co-author of the team, Nordhoff and Hall, resided in the city. A run was made on the library for copies of HlVlutiny on the Bountyw and other books written by this author. These were autographed by Nordhoff, but somehow or other were never checked back into the library. 0613103 L . A if i'.?x? li , fgflv ,J ,Wil ' TQ A -Q. Al?Ea..2i.?'0? t ' . L i ,t 1 ,r e Q: , .. ,, r V . M , i ,,. X , ,... -, ,LN -' -9 ' ' new , , H , ,S wffMn.cfa--f-..i-,:- A multitude of friends crowd the Sydney wharf to wave farewell to the departing Louisville crew. - W. J kim , ,. ,in my k ke ,ia ILKN i'r,,,., ' ,L-'Ls-is-asf, if M Y N-A, . . 1' X ff ,A X ' ' The Rodney before she capsized taking many lives of friends Louisville crew aiding survivors of the Rodney disaster, who had chartered her to accompany us out of the channel. many of whom suffered from strangulation and shock. Sailors and Marines carry casualty below to sick bay. The Louisville laying off Bradley,s Head following the accident Tahiti Harbor. port of the island Agile Tahitians climb after Tahiti was so pleasant two fellows paradise of story book fame. the precious cocoanut milk. went Mover the hill -literally! 25