Sailor Who Trained On Nelson’s Old Victory.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18584, 6 October 1928, Page 23 (Supplement)

Sailor Who Trained On Nelson’s Old Victory.

MR JOHN WHALL, OF WOOLSTON, TELLS TRUTHS THAT ARE STRANGER THAN FICTION.

We arrived at the Rock after a very smart passage. My word, that ship could sail, and I had got my sea legs in proper order and had no more sea sickness. Mr Garrett, the gunner, had to go ashore to procure some new specimen of powder, and he ordered me to get ready to go with him. We were pulled ashore in the ship’s cutter, and went up into the town. I saw many strange sights, but I must stick to naval matters. I am now going to try and explain what I saw. We were inside of the Rock that looked so peace ful outside. Guns here, guns there, guns everywhere. “ Who goes there?’ said the sentry. "Friend,” said Mr Garrett. "Advance, friend, and give the countersign.” This was repeated several times. We went through a long tunnel. We had to stoop and then, when through, came out into a wide, open space. More guns and more sentries. Mr Garrett procured what he went for, and we came away. I was carrying the parcel. “ Now, my boy,” he said to me, “you have had a great object lesson. Not a man or officer in the ship would be allowed to go where we have been.” We left next morning and soon after arrived at Malta.

It was a glorious day and Fort St Elmo had just hove in sight. We pass ed Bonaparte’s Bay on the left or port side, and drew up to our moorings. What a crowd was there to greet us. There were washerwomen, bumboat men and such a babel of tongues. The man in the main chains made up his lead line, and one washerwoman, bolder than the rest, brought her boat close to, and, looking up, said, “ Jack, what’s the captain’s name? Jack gave a furtive look round, and, bending his head low, said to the woman in a loud whisper “Captain Fifty Screws.” Soon after the woman wondered what had put Captain Fifty Screws in such a rage. She asked for his washing, and he told the sentry at the gangway to heave holystones at her and sink her. Her boat and herself were soon out of range. We were inspected by the Admiral, Sir Robert Smart, next day, and he seemed quite impressed by the smartness of the ship and crew. I got a run m shore and Malta was something entirely new to me. Bells seemed to be always ringing. A week later we were off under sealed orders.

Twenty-four hours later, about three bells in the middle watch, the drum beat to quarters. "Clear lower deck Enemy on the starboard bow. Watch below lash up and stow hammocks. Watch on deck cast guns adrift and load.” From the last beat of the drum to the firing of the gun three minutes was allowed. I was powder boy of two of the Armstrong breech loaders. There were six each side of the quarter deck. We were now beginning to know more of our officers. The captain was very hot tempered and the commander was a holy terror. Before being appointed to the Phoes he had charge of the Nautilus gun brig. Some of the officers were real gentlemen. There were one or two exceptions. The middies were mostly in their first sea-going ship, but not a bad lot. Well, as time came and went, we were sent to seven places Piraeus, Naples, Corfu, Cyprus, Joppa, Beyrout, Syracuse, Marseilles, Iscandaroon. We went to Iscandaroon to do some refitting to the rigging. There was a fresh water river that ran close to where we were lying, leaving a bar or bank between it and the sea. The captain and his boat’s crew were away on a shooting cruise. He often was away. He had the cook and galley, and he provided his boats crew with leggings and a proper rig for roughing out, and was away as long as a fortnight often. It looked a likely place for fishing, so we got the master-at arms to ask permission from the commander. It was granted, and one even ing a man from each mess (I represented the mess I was in) went in the barge in charge of Mr Garrett, the gunner, and one of the lieutenants and a middy. We took the jolly boat to shoot the seine, a long net, cork tops and lead bottom. We got up to the bar, waded the rest of the way ashore and shot the seine net. We had so many on each hauling line, and also beaters round. We hauled the net to the shore with very poor results. Mr Garrett suggested lighting a fire to attract the fish. We made a huge fire out of the scrub that grew handy. Then someone pulled out a bottle of rum, and we all had a drop. The. gun-

•ner sang a song. He was about the middle of it when one of the men, who had been wandering along the shoje, came running up out of breath. ‘ What’s the matter?” said the lieutenant. “Turtles, sir, turtles, hundreds of them.” “ Well, keep very still,” said the gunner, “ and go as quietly as possible and turn as many on their backs as you are able. They are quite helpless in that position, and j'ou can pick them up at your leisure.” We did so, and when we gathered them all to gether, large and small, we had eightyone turtles. " A good haul,” said Mr Garrett, “ better than ever I got at Ascension.*

After this we set about returning to the ship. We made several trips to the barge, and at last got the turtles all over the bar and in the barge. The turtles were got on board, two of the largest were selected to be given to the admiral, wardroom, gunroom, and officers’ mess; then sick bay had their share, and the rest went to the crew. The copper punt was secured to the ship’s side, and Darky Joe was told off to look after the two turtles for the admiral, and put fresh sea water in every time decks were washed. Now Darky Joe had a Maltese wife, and he begged one small one to keep in the punt with the two laige ones to take home when we got again to Malta. The officer let him have one, and he bored a hole in its shell at the back. The captain was back from his shooting and we got under weigh for Malta. We shall soon sight St Elmo. Darky Joe spliced a length of rattling stuff in the hole in the turtle’s shelL The commander hoved the ship to for a spell The copper was cleaned and everything put in ship shape order and he called his boat away and pulled around and laid out to see what the ship looked like. Darky Joe let his turtle down into the water, he was in the fore chains when the commander’s boat hoved in sight. “What have you got there, Hartley?” “Turtley, sir, turtley, let it go, sir.” “Damn you,” says the commander. Poor Joe Hartley and his wife did not get any turtle. He had to let his turtle go. We were soon up to our moorings. The admiral’s two turtles were sent to him, and we were given a run ashore. We generally used to lay close to what is known as Stink Hole Bay. The men were back from their leave all but one. He was nicknamed th£ juggler. He was a bit of a ventriloquist. Three pounds reward was out for him at mid-day. Next day at dinner time the captain was on the bridge. Two Maltese policemen were coming on board with the juggler. The captain spied through his glass. All of a sudden he started to laugh, and dano ed about excitedly. "What’s up?” “Creep in the fore chains,” says one. “What is it?” The juggler was seen swimming ashore and the boat capsized. Two policemen were in the water with their hard hitters floating about. Juggler came aboard before stand by hammocks. The skipper was on the bridge. “So you have found your way back, my man,” said the skipper. "Yes, sir, I’ve escaped the Mullett money.” The captain again laughed. “Smart, dam smart," said he. Next day we were ordered to proceed to Beyrout. We soon arrived there, and found an American frigate anchored in the harbour. It was about four bells in the afternoon watch when we. came to an anchor. The next day was the Queen’s Birthday. The captain manned his galley and went on board the American frigate. He asked if he would fire a royal salute in honour of the Queen’s Birthday. "Well,” said the Yank, with a nasal droll, “I am tarnation short of powder.” "If I find the powder, will you fire a salute?” said our captain. "You find the powder, and I’ll blaze away,” said the American. So at eight bells, noon, next day, the guns boomed forth a 21 gun salute. We left Beyrout soon after that, and did not call at Beyrout again till July 3. The American frigate had been there a few days. We got a visit from her captain to ask if we would fire a royal salute in honour of the glorious fourth. “Well,” said our captain, “I am tarnation short of powder.” “Well, now,’ said the Yank, "you got me boy, darn me if you ain’t nearly as smart as a Yankee.” He sent 21 charges aboard to us and we fired the salute. (To be continued.)

FOR TO DAY. j From Australia. No details of their programmes for the week-end have been received from 3LO and 3AR, Melbourne. The concerts at 2BL, 2FC and 4QG to-night are scheduled as under:—■ 2BL, Sydney (363 metres). 9.30 pm.: Chimes, King’s Mandolin Orchertra; 9.37, H. C. Gilson (tenor), “At Dawning,” “The Living God”; 9.44, Robert Turner (elocutionist), "Soft as Oi Looks,” “You Must Have a Little Bit of Fun”; 9.51, Lola Estelle, songs at the piano; 9.58, studio programme: 11.0, King’s Mandolin Orchestra; 11.7, talk on the Aborigines, by Bringa; 11.22, Ray James (novelty pianist), "Rag Doll,” "Laugh, Clown, Laugh"; 11.29, H. C. Gilson, “Mountain Lovers,” "Till I Awake" 11.36, Robert Turner, “Publishing the Banns,” “Waratah and Wattle”; 11.43, Ray James, ‘‘lce Cream,” "Ramona”; 11.50, Lola Estelle; 12.0, the Wentworth Cafe Dance Orchestra until 1 a.m. 2FC, Sydney (442 metres). 9 p.m.- Studio and dance music; 9.30, Harry Graham’s Snapshots Revue Company: “The Overture," “We Beg to Introduce Ourselves,” "A Rise in Wages,” “The Green Grass Grew,” ‘The Absent-minded Doctor,” “Espanita,” "India,” “Seaside Courtship,” duet, “In the Garden of My Heart,” “Bygones and Might-be’s,” finale, "Goodnight”; 10.30, Orchestra; 10.45, Rosina Madell (soprano); 10.53, Orchestra; 11.0, C. R. Hall, "Out and About in Iraq and Persia,” No. 4, “By the Waters of Babylon”; 11.23, Orchestra; 11.38. Rosina Madell; 11.45, Orchestra; late weather forecast; the Ambassadors' Dance Orchestra, until 1 a.m. 4QG, Brisbane (385 metres). 9.30 pm.: Relay from the Savoy Theatre; 10.0, entertainment by “The London Trio”; 11.0, dance music. During the evening descriptions of the main events will be relayed from the Speedway. Close down at 11.30 pm. FOR SUNDAY. IYA, Auckland (333 metres). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session; 6.0, children’B session (Uncle Leo); 0.55, relay of evening service from St Matthew’s Church (preacher, Canon C. H. Grant Cowan); 8.30, gramophone lecture-recital by Mr L. E. Lambert; 3.30, close. 2YA, Wellington (420 metres). 3 p.m. to 4.30 pm.: Afternoon concert; 6.0, children’s song service (Uncle Ernest); 7.0, relay of evening service from Vivian Street Church of Christ (Preacher, Pastor W. G. Carpenter): 3.15 (approx.), studio concert: Orchestral selection, “Toccata and Fugue in. D Minor (Bach) (record); soprano. Miss Veronica M’Kenzie, "With My Guitar”; ’cello solo, “Chant Sans Paroles” (Tschaikowsky), (record); bari.one, Mr L. M. Assheton Harbord, "The Tempest of the Heart,” from "II Trovatore”; elocution, Miss Effie Brice, The Necklace of Tears”; orchestral selection, “Bridal Procession” (Grieg), (record): contralto, Miss Agnes M’Davitt, “Beautiful Beatrice”; instrumental trio, “Spring Song” (Mendelssohn), (record); tenor, Mr E. Seon-Brown, ‘Elegie,” “Jeunesse”; band selection, ‘ Reminiscences of Tosti” (record); .oprano, Miss Veronica M’Kenzie, ‘April is a Lady”; baritone, Mr L. M. Assheton Harbord, “Chorus, Gentlemen,” "Dreams of Long Ago”; violin solo, "Chanson Hindoue” (Song of rndia), (Rimsky-Korsakoff), (record): elocution. Miss Effie Brice, "A Gentle

elocution. Miss Brice, "A Gentle man of Prance”: cornet duet, “Tw Little Finches” (record); contralt< Miss Agnes M’Davitt, “As Yet No Ligl in the Eastern Sky”; pianoforte sol< ‘‘Hungarian Rhapsody,” No. 6 (Liszt (record); tenor, Mr E. Seon-Brow ‘Serenata”; band selection, “To; Jones” (German), 3YA, Christchurch (306 metres). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Studio gramopho recital; 5.30, children’s song servict 6.30, relay of evening service from Kno Presbyterian Church, Bealey Avenu (preacher. Rev T. W. Armour); 7.4 i a recital of music from 3YA studio 5.15, gramophone recital; 9.30, close. IYA, Dun ©din (463 metres). 5.30 p.m.: Children’s song servi (Big Brother Bill); 6.30, relay of eve Ing service from Knox Churc (preacher. Rev Tulloch Yuille, M-A 8.D.); 8.0, relay from His Majesty Theatre, concert by the St Kilda Band. 9.15, close. IQG, Brisbane (385 metres). 8 p.m.: Children’s session: 9.0, even ing service relayed from St John’; Anglican Cathedral, to be followed b> a relay of the concert by the Brisban« Municipal Concert Band at Wickham Park. Close at 11 p.m.