Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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16 accident occurred. I happened to ask my mother where the reefs were and she told me that we were miles past them. Immediately the ship banked upwards and rolled on its side. There was a chrunch- ing noise, and we settled at a thirty degree angle. People from all sides came wondering what had happened. We all hustled to our life- boat statioins, waiting for further instructions. Rum|Ours began to fly; some said that the Reina was holed and we were sinking fast. Looking over the starboard rail, we could see the water churned up, and when it finally cleared we could see the sharp coral rocks s ticking out ab ove the surface. Within ten minutes a Navy Patrol Plane flew low over the ship to investigate fthe situation, as an S.O.S. had been sent out. Mean- while SjOme of the crew were busy depth-sounding with chains down holes in the decks to see how much water we had shipped. We all stayed on deck just in case; none of us dared to venture down the three flights of stairs t,o our cabins. Help was not long in coming, and a diver was sent under the ship, and we watched his progress from the desks. Later in the day two tugs arrived on the scene to attempt tp pull us off the rocks ; but we were a heavy load and many ropes were snapped in vain. All this time swarms of sightseers were coming out in boats to visit us and to wish us luck. There we lay, stranded right opposite our own djoorsteps, but there was a six mile stretch of water in between. Ait last we were told on the loud-speaker that in spite of all the rumours flying around about we would all eventually be saved. By this time we were quite enjoying the fun. That nigbt we had a good night ' s sport ca|tching sharks, — some of them were whopping speci- mens. Some of us let down meat-ho-oks with a chain line which we borrowed from the galley, to catch them. One man used a rifle on them. Ch,eers went up as the first shark was hauled aboard. Next day new attempts were made 1p haul us off the rocks but still without success. On the third day we were allowed tjo go ashore where we watched the proceedings. Finally their effiorts v ere rewarded and the Reina once again floated free. We were able to continue our voyage to England with some fur- ther adventures, but that is another story. P. J. FAROE, Form 4L. ■oOo-

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15 cold, hence, the next item on the programme — tea — was most wel- come. The Rifles then performed the ceremonies of ' Guard Mounting ' and ' Beating the Rdtreat ' and our visit was ended iby Colonel Sankey giving a short talk on the origin of ' Beating the Retreat ' . We are most grateful to Colonel Sankey for a most pleasant and instructive visit. The Pipe and Drum Band continues to impr,ove with most of its members being drawn from Saltus. Under the capable guidance of the instrudtors, Mr. Horlington, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Stewart, the Band ' s repertoire as well as the quality ,of its performance have in- creased considerably. The instructors are to be congratulated upon the excellent progress made by the members of the Band and we offer them our sincere thanks for giving their time and talents. H. J. H. The Chess Club The Chess Club started with just a few enthusiasts who met in the D teiiition Room during the lunch hour to play chess. This em- bryo club was eispecially fortunate in the interest aroused for it, and itaken in it, by other chess-playing members of the staff, in particular Mr. Lester and Mr. Brookfield. This interest is still spreading through the scho ol, and has so far brought the club membership to above twenty. In the Easter Term theise athletes of the mind participated in a Knock Out Competition, in which E. R. Towle gained the title of School Chess Champion for this inaugural year of the club s activities. Let it be mentioned, ' en paslsant ' , — to use a term familiar to all chess players — that at the time of writing another series of matches is be- ing played for the School House Championship in chess. We look for- ward to welcoming all who play chess or wish to learn. COMMITTEE M. S. Brewer (Secretary),, E. R. Tov le, A. D. Frith, J. A. Gillan H. S. An Exciting Experience It was a warm summer ' s morning when the Reina del Paciflco sailed for the Atlantic. I was up on deck at the time taking my last look at Bermuda for three months. It was then, however, that the

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17 May Come ye Lords and Ladies gay April show«rs have gone away; Kay is here for days tyo come, Wind and rain away have run. Daffodils will sprout away In the merry moiath of May, Horse and hound shall chase the hare, Till they kill it in its lair. After many days of pleasure. Sun ' s rays beaming without measure, May is ©one for another year, Till once again it will appear. J. D. AMOS, Form USB. The Owl That Lives at Green Bay He is a sinister old thing. He lives in an abandoned Lo hgtairs hole in an open cave above the clear water, with the mioe bones and shrimp skeletons on a ledge below hi® hole showing what he eats. He is very handsome with pure white and brown feathers. Once when I went to the cave to see him I must have srtartled him because he flew out and was caught in the hook of a man ' s fishing rod. I raced up the side of the cliff to get the hook out of him. He had a long beak and he gripped me with his claws but let go at once, as I guess he knew I was trying to help him. He was bleeding quite freely when I cut ths hx)k out of his wing. I let him go and he flew olf and sank down on a rock. Eventually he flew off, although I thought he might n,ot live. A few weeks later when I was swimming at the bay with two other friends I p aw him fly down and settle on a tree near us, he seemed quite well and sound. I felt glad to know that he had lived. I. M. COUPER, Form 4L