LETTERS
DECK LOG
Proving Ourselves It's a grand pursuit, sailing in the wake of our members' interests! As I write, I'm in a chilly but exalted state after a wet, frothy day on the wind- Your article "We Were There to Prove lashed waters of New York Harbor, thanks to Captains Huntley Gill and Pamela Ourselves" in Sea History 100 (Spring2002) Hepburn of the North River Historic Ship Society (and NMHS) and, among prompts me to write of an experience I had others, our new member Arthur Imperatore, Jr., ofNYWaterway, who provided during World War II. I was the Gunnery Officer aboardA04 l , ferries to carry New Yorkers to visit working watercraft free of charge. The seas a Navy tanker assigned to convoy duty in were too high to permit some landings we meant to make, but the trip was golden the Atlantic ro refuel the destroyer escorts for those who braved wind-lanced rain to step aboard the ferries. And NMHS of the convoys. We were well armed and I stepped forward in our continuing work with local institutions to raise the sea had a Gunner's Mate crew of abo ut fifteen awareness of Americans. men. One day the ship got a message that A few weeks earlier I was aboard the bark Elissa of 1877, sailing out of we were to receive three rated men, NeGalveston, Texas, w ith people ranging from our Patron member Carrington groes, as they were called then, who were to Weems to Captain Steve Cobb, skipper. NMHS had some hand in saving Elissa, be absorbed into the proper departments an effort launched by our founder Karl Kortum and Curator at Large Peter with no special attention . One of these, a Throckmorton, both gone from this earth but not from our hearts. With the Gunner's Mate third class, joined my crew. strong leadership of the Galveston Historical Foundation, we went on to help in Another of my men, from Tennessee, the superb restoration of the Elissa. was not yet rated to petty officer. He rook Cobb, a longtime NMHS member, was also skipper of New York's tall ship pains to tell me that he'd better not have to Wavertree of 1885 when, in the summer of 2000, she ventured forth under sail work for (and I quote) , "that black SOB." for the first time since she was dismasted off Cape Horn in 1910. With other I, of course, rold him that he would follow friends aboard, a real turnout of the historic ship community, were our Sponsor whatever orders I gave him. But with the members Alix and Dan Thorne, involved in both Wavertree and Elissa restora- cooperation of the Chief, we did not ass ign tions. They had thoughts to offer which you'll read in a future Sea History-where the two together. I just didn't want that kind of trouble. such concerns bring people together. Well, about three months later my man A few weeks after that our Plankowner member Virginia Steele Grubb and I joined other friends old and new for the dedication of John Noble's voyaging from the South came to me and said (again, barge studio at the Noble Maritime Collection in Staten Island, New York. The I quote): "I want you to know I'll work for studio m ade only one actual voyage, when John took a tow from a friendly Nova that b- -d any time you want. He is a Scotia schooner to venture up the East River and out on Long Island Sound to good man and really knows his job. I'm learninga lotfrom him! "That aboutbrought sketch some sand-dredging pals at work. But in his "little leaking Monticello," as he called it, the artist hewed out the tears to my eyes, and still does, for he was indeed a good man and worked hard ro mighty lithographs and tremendous paintings which caught the working life of attain the 100% acceptance he received the port, its changing traffics and lusty people-of whom John himself, schoonerfrom my gang and, in fact, ultimately from man and ship's carpenter, was one. The studio thus voyaged in the realms of gold, the entire ship's company. He, as well as the of high endeavor, hard work under the open sky, and the far reaches of memory other two, were very capable petty officers and imagination. and we were really pleased to have them. And in the "Oceanic Mission" on page 7 of this issue we report on a venture One of the others was a Radioman, the supported by the working watermen of England's Thames River joined by other a Machinist's Mate, both third class. historians, university professors and others to develop the fresh challenge of a Of course this is a personal experience, person of the last century, Winston Churchill-whose message was truly oceanic. but I feel it is worth reporting and recordCarrying his message into this century and forward should help the cause of ing. I am proud of the event. freedom in all times and places, as it did while he stood for freedom's cause in ALLANW. STEPHENS, CDR, USNR (RET.) d esperate days. Santa Barbara, California
Passage Making: Our Own Endeavor Publishing Sea History, with its attendant educational programs, makes some contribution to that cause-and we now appeal to all hands to join in supporting this, our own endeavor. Our campaign for Sea History and our other activities is outlined in our "Passage Making" report, which we will be happy to send to anyone requesting a copy. We have a tough windward passage to make, publishing this magazine. We need more members like you to assure the future of our work together. On page 4 Joyce Riess offers one bit of help every member can act on. We'll publish other measures taken by members as they come in, bringing fresh support to your Society's voyage into history. PETER STANFORD,
2
Editor at Large
An Ordeal that Brings People Together I read your fine article in Sea History 100 regarding USS Mason (DE 529). My book, The Ordeal ofConvoy NY 119 (cited in the article), covered the valiant service of USS Mason along with others in that classic encounter of man against the sea. All the D Es involved distinguished themselves, not leas t USS Mason. During my writing of the book, I remember a meeting with Lorenzo DuFau
SEA HISTORY 101 , SUMMER 2002