STRANDED SAILORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 11

STRANDED SAILORS.

s SPEND NIGHT IN CITS'. FUN AT THE V.M.C.A, One result of the storm last night was that tbe large number of. sailors ashore could not be taken back to their sbips, and they were forced to stay in the city. Nearly 1000 "liberty men" besieged the V.M.C.A. for sleeping accommodation and as tberc were beds only for about half tbat nummber some amusing scenes took place. Eventually the sailor 3 settled down in almost every hold and corner of tbe building. One man was most insistent on getting a bed. He would not take "No" and finally wben he was getting near the residential quarters of the lady members of the staff, he was quietly but firmly taken in band by a naval picket. The majority of tbe Jack Tars, however, were easily satisfied. They slept on tables and under tables, on chairs, on window sills, on the stairs and on the floors. One, who evidently had an appetite, was reposing in the cake cupboard, but he was removed "for his stomach's sake." Anything for a Pillow. Jack is a handy man, and the mere fact that he had not an ordinary pillow for his extraordinary bed did not disturb him much. In some cases he was satisfied to lie on a couple of chairs and allow his bead to hang over the end of one of them. His cap was a comparatively soft cushion, when compared to boots, rope quoits, and ink pot, or a foot rest, all of which were in use. One man got an old pair of trousers, stuffed them with used towels, and no doubt thought he was sleeping on eiderdown. Another sailor had his head on a pile of wet towels and covered himself up with half a dozen similarly soaking towels. Cox and Box. Wherever possible the sailors lay in fours, huddled together for warmth.One man, who proved to be as safe as the bank, slept on the counter with his head reposing on the cash register. About a score of permanent residents in the V.M.C.A. laboured far into the early hours of the morning serving coffee and washing dishes, and did not "turn in" until 3 a.m. Wheji they got to their bedrooms, however, there was a surprise in store for them. Each little bed contained a sailor! The naval men found these inviting bedrooms unoccupied. As a comical little Cockney sailor remarked, just before he fell asleep under the billiard table, the Special Squadron men were enjoying the Freedom of Auckland. 30,000 Drinks Supplied. Fully 30,000 drinks were supplied to the sailors at the V.M.C.A.—that is, cups of tea and coffee—during the week. Beds were found for 4009, and every man had supper and breakfast, the entire service being absolutely free of cost to the visitors. Members of the Ladies' Auxiliary Committee were on duty from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and had a strenuous time. From 1. p.m. onwards the work of attending to the wante of the sailors was undertaken by male members of the staff, assisted by about twenty young men residing in the institution. Vice-Admiral Field'a Thanks. A letter was sent to Vice-Admiral j Field by Sir. C. J. Tunks, president of j the Auckland V.M.C.A., expressing appreciation of the courtesy shown by the sailors, and remarking that even where hotel refreshments had taken effect.the men behaved with propriety and even dignity. This morning a commmuuication was received by Mr. Tunks from the Vice-Admiral expressing thanks for the admirable emergency arrangements made for the accommodation of the men last evening. ' „