Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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6 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR By the time we came up on deck again the Maine was nearing the last stake-boat on the outward trip, which was just off Cape Porpoise. We rounded this with a great whirl of the waters, and then rushed back for the return. The wind, which had been dead ahead, was now astern, so that the smoke following along with the ship covered everything on deck with showers of cinders. The spray stopped flying as soon as we were going with the wind, so that gave me a fine chance to watch the bow wave from the very bow of the boat. As the sharp ram cut the water, this huge wave rose on either side in a beautiful curve, until it almost reached the deck: then it fell with a roar and a smother of foam which was quickly lost ran in closer to the shore. The starboard one was dropped first, in about thirty fathoms of water. As it plunged downward, its chain rushing through the hawser pipe raised curling wreaths of smoke. When both anchors had been dropped, they com- menced to haul them in. but they had trouble with the windlass on the port side, and finally had to finish by hand. This delayed us about two hours, and it was no small task, for the anchor itself weighed five tons, so that it was nearly six o’clock when we turned toward Boston. As we approached home, it was quite dark: the lights on shore shone brightly: and off to our left flashed Minot's never-ceasing 1-4-3. When we neared Boston Light, we saw three small lights watching the bow-wave astern. It was one of the most fascinating sights that I ever saw, and 1 stood watching the roaring waters for a long time. Finally, the first stake-boat appeared ahead, and it was then that the Maine made her greatest speed. Her stacks were beginning to blister from the heat. Looking down the engine hatch, we counted one hundred and thirty revolutions a minute of her cranks, and the whole boat was trembling from stem to stern. As we passed the stake, her helm was put hard over, and she turned in a circle of about three of her own lengths. As they did this, a large American flag was unfurled at the foremast, and we knew that her speed trial was ended. They next gave her an anchor test, and for this swaying wildly from side to side. Suddenly the anchor dropped, and the three lights proved to be the tugs which were to meet us. The tugs coming alongside pitched and rolled so in the heavy sea, which had been growing rougher all day. that it made landing very difficult. How- ever. all were soon aboard, and we started for the city. When we were a little way off, the Maine turned her searchlight on us, and just at that mo- ment. while our attention was on her, the top of a wave swept along the rail of the tug, and a few of us had wet feet for the rest of the evening. It was late when we reached the wharf, but as we parted, all agreed that we had had a most inter- esting trip.

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 5 TRIAL TRIP OF THE MAINE. By Carl Eaton, L., '03. the morning that the Maine's trial trip was to he made, we left Lewis wharf at seven o’clock on the tug Pallas ’ which had been chartered by the Cramp Company. It was nearly half an hour from the time we left until, as we passed Governor’s Island, we caught the first sight of the new Maine. The sky was overcast, and the chances of getting any good pictures were very doubtful, but. as we drew nearer, the sun came out for a minute, and I snapped the shutter. The tug came abreast the Maine’s starboard quarter, and an officer stood at the gangway to help us aboard, so at last I stood getting up steam. While I was down here 1 heard the thumping of the windlass. Hurrying on deck. I found that they had the anchor nearly hoisted, and as it came above the water, the ship gave a long blast on her whistle, and our trip began. All the passing boats saluted, and the Maine answered each, no matter how small, with her big whistle. Going out by Bug Light, the water was so shal- low that the large screws stirred up the mud from the bottom. After we passed Boston Light, the Maine turned her bow toward Cape Ann. At about eleven o’clock Thatcher’s Lights were no- ticed off the port side, and a little further on. by THE MAINE AS SEEN PROM THE TUOBQAT. on the quarter-deck of Uncle Sam's new fighting machine. As I went fore and along the gun-deck. I saw some of the crew eating their breakfast, while Others were asleep in hammocks, after their watch on deck. But one of the first things that 1 noticed was the thickness of the armor around the protec- tive deck. Here it was six inches thick, but I think the rest was not more than three inches. I wandered around the ship from the bridge to the hold Beneath the protective deck were two large dynamo rooms, containing eight generators, which supplied the lights for the boat, and the power for turning the turrets and operating the nu- merous ammunition hoists. Down in the engine room the men were busily oiling the engines, tightening bolts, and seeing that everything was in readiness for the coming trial. In the boiler room men were lighting the fires under the boilers and Rockport. we could see part of Admiral Iliggin- son’s fleet laying off” the harbor, while out on the horizon I could just make out the Olympia and Brooklyn, watching for Captain Pillsbury's fleet. The boat’s speed had been rapidly increasing, and the waves at the bow rose higher and higher, until, as we passed the first stake-boat, the spray was fly- ing as high as the bridge. Then the full-speed bell jingled in the engine room, and we were off on our race against time. For about an hour I busied myself by taking pic- tures of the different parts of the ship, and watch- ing the wake as it trailed far astern in a perfectly straight line. About one o’clock the bell for luncheon sounded, and all went below to the ward- room. expecting to find a light lunch, but our most daring expectations were surpassed, for. in- deed. they served a “bountiful meal.” as one of the other guests remarked.

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 7 A BUNCH OF VIOLETS. By Phyllis, E. H. S., '03. RED CLARK and Harry Phillips, quarterback and tackle, respectively, were both in love with the same girl; that is, they thought they were in love with her. which is nearly the same thing. Her name was Grace, and she was a sweet little maid, although she didn’t know a tackle from a punt. She attended all the big games, generally on the top of a tally-ho. and had learned by many patient lessons that when the ball moved toward one end of the field you were to cheer and wave your flag; and when it advanced in the opposite direction, you were to yell. ’’Hold As Thanksgiving Day drew near, interest in the big game became intense, and bets were freely ex- changed. Miss Grace, to be real chic, placed a wager of a pair of gloves on the home team. Several days before the game Fred and Harry happened to call the same evening, and to each she impressed her desire that they should win. The one that plays the best shall be my best friend. she said, as they were about to depart that evening. Each went home with a determination'to do some- thing desperate on the eventful Thursday. ! v two o'clock on the crucial day the interested sun shone down upon a white-barred gridiron. ’em!” or keep still. Her private opinion of the game was that it was dreadfully slow. When Fred called at the house, she would say very charmingly, How do you manage to dodge those other fellows so cleverly, Mr. Clark? and when Marry called, she would look up at the big tackle, and. with a sweet smile, would say. I should think that you would he killed there in that line. Mr. Phillips. Then Harry would blush and think that he had never seen such a sympathetic girl. The rivalry increased as the season advanced, and neither seemed to gain an advantage. Miss Grace and her tame “lions” became a standing joke among the students. framed with grandstands, tally-hos, and bright colors. As the two teams came trotting on the field, cheer after cheer greeted each team from the rival grandstands. Clark and Phillips were sure they saw Grace on a tally-ho near the flag pole. Then came the kick-off, and from that moment the thought of Miss Grace never entered their minds. When the umpire blew his whistle at the end of the first half, the supporters of the blue took one long breath, and then broke forth into such a pan- demonium of joy as only a football crowd can make, as the score stood six to nothing, in their favor, and Clark had scored the touchdown on a double