ONSHORE.BY HARRY ALIAS LATIMERI.

It was a lovely day in the Coos Bay; the air transparent and bright like a crystal. By the night it went off and then there was the foul weather with rain and wind. It lasted all night and the next day along. The weather seemed changed. No matter, since we were washing the superstructure of amidships using strong caustic soda mixed with brown soap and by the aid of the heavy rain.

In the evening I got washed my clothes, too.The wonderful weather was back on Wednesday.

The Baltic Isle was a ship as a tramp of the ocean, with her capacity of nearly seven thousand tons. I have called her as a Canadian's liberty by her sheer lines. She flies Panamanian flag and was owned by a

Company of the refugee of Estonian. The interior of the sailors' quarter was Spartan, the bulkheads just a naked iron and there was not a proper heater to warming the cabins. What about the wages? They were in the lowest English tariff.. I had brought my discard book and said up myself; I had wished paid-off in the Coos Bay on the last day of December.

As you know, there is a saying among the seafarers: "When the shore people have their regular fest as the midnight summer feast, or the feast of the New Year, at the same time every year, the sailors will have their holiday and feast every time when they are going to sign on board a ship and when they are signing off the ship.

I was signing off with an ordinary sailor named Sven.

We remained aboard until the next morning, which was Tuesday, and when the sun got up, we had our faces well shaved and well-attired and we said goodbye to our shipmates and friends aboard. Then we landed along the gangway carrying our gears on our shoulders.

There we were, on the shore of America, two young sunburned sailors, I was nineteen, and Sven was twenty. Had served for six months at the Ocean trade, I had a hundred and twenty dollars in my pocket. I wasn't plenty of money, however, we felt free and relieved and relaxed thought there was a faint feeling of sad to leave our watery home once again. With our money, we went spending the whole afternoon watching the shopfronts and shopping around. I bought a new hat and Sven wanted to have a wholly new silk khaki uniform. There were many strange things advertised, but we couldn't afford all of them.

Looking no more backwards, we set off on foot. The road ran along the Pacific shore, then through nice woodland, over the green hillocks. That new setting was welcoming alternation to your eyes since we were so long accustomed to seeing the bare watery world around the ship. A first the walking was wonderful to walk along the road on the steady soil.

It was the afternoon of the next day when we arrived in the Gold Beach and was walking to Raymond Dodge where we picked up n a room. The room was costly, four dollars was pretty much money for couple hour to doze, but the modern convenience of the room was worth of it. As the Pistol River was a distance of thirteen miles from Gold Beach, we kept moving after the short break and walked five of it.

Then there was a long lift to the Brook field, past the Ce resin City. The landscape and redwood looked good. It was really something.

It was two o'clock on Monday as we arrived in Frisco, where we sat in the cinema for a while, then taking a wall again and walking until morning. Sven said he wants to stay in Frisco, so I continued my journey alone, travelling on the Greyhound to St. Pedro.

It was early morning when I arrived in St Pedro; walking around until noon and then found a suitable hotel by the Balos Verde's street It makes seven by a week, said the reception clerk as he checked me in.

The next day was nice, and the sunny morning greeted me as I woke and got up for breakfast. I ate ham and eggs and washed all that down with a glass of milk. Then, out to town to roam around till five o'clock when I was back in my abode.

The shipping office has been closed for two days and there were no jobs available. I hoped that the next day there would be some offer.

It's no good to have nothing to do and to have the empty day ahead of you to spend all these idle hours roaming around along the crowd streets. There were many sorts of people there. I saw a man wearing a large, black hat who was playing the violin. The man played well, and I recognised a sorrowful melody of Slavic origin and it made me long for home for a while. I threw a quarter into the tin on the street and continued my walk.

When you are far away from home, standing on a strange shore, and there is no longer the familiar ship's company around you, and you are by yourself among the shore people and not connected to any society, then you feel very alone, and it hurts you sometimes, being as nobody, to belong nowhere, not a citizen of any city or country. Then you wish to see someone like yourself, to talk and drink with somebody.

One night I had a strange dream. There was a man in my hotel room. The man had taken off the key from the door. In the morning I found the key in the door inside the room. Very crazy, but I didn't much worry about it.

When I checked my purse, I found sixteen dollars in it. I vas shocked, I had been stupid with the money, had wasted the money too much too fast.

No letters from anyone, not a job in hands either. I had been two-week in the doldrums when I came across Bergen in the street; he was out at elbows and starving. - "Sixteen days! he swore,- Sixteen Devil days. I have had nothing but a couple of beers and a bit of half-rotten fish to eat. My belly thinks my throat is cut off. Not a job aboard any ship. No standby jobs onshore either. There is no job at all. I think better take a working passage to Europe on some lime-juice and travel to the Antwerp, for example".

That idea didn't sound good, and when we went into the nearest bar and I bought a meal for Bergen and a beer for myself. He was totally broke. I took a room with two berths for a week by seven dollars. Bergen. said he will be able to bums back five dollars from the street by afternoon but I didn't heed it.

Next day we visited in the emigration office in Terminal Island to ask more time to the Bergen's 'Permit of residency'. The official looked at us as though he was weighing if we had the intention to go anywhere, and then he said, - "There is a large Norwegian tanker. it arrived in the morning. As far as I know, she is short of hands. There. could be possible to apply for a job. I thanked the officer for the information and said, - "Sir, we are very pleasant of the information. We are sailors. Of course we are looking for a ship and this is more than welcome," then we hurried to the Long Beach's harbour.

The tanker was big Norseman and after boarding the ship we dropped in the mess-room to have breakfast. There was a coal-black young fellow who refused to give us anything to eat, -"No café for. the bums," he said and with very quick motion picked away the café coups from the table. We were upset. -" What the hell?" Bergen

said, and went on, "I'll tell you, you...galley-boy, that this is Norwegian ship, and we two are square head sailors, you know. Ii you have taken yourself here some kind of boss aboard, you have got wrong your position on board. And I think you better go back to .. For we are sailors and will join today."

Bergen was delivering this speech with upset mind and he cruelly swore in Norwegian so that the mess-man who was little by his bulk, gave terrified glance with flashing eyeballs toward the doorway, as though he was looking for the way out.

This coolie fashioned mess-man was a new kind of seafarer. There have always been solitaries and comradeship among the international sailors if someone of them were on the beach as the saying was, they were not calling a beachcomber and was to have eaten aboard a ship in mess-room and provided with packed lunch by the fellow sailors, there is nothing to be deplorable in it, because many of the sailors in their degree had experienced and faced the same destiny, to be waiting for the ship without money.

" Aha, Blimey. Sailors? You're the sailors?" The mess-man then said with remorseful tone.

Bergen said, "Yes, and let us have our coffee in time".

The mess-man was deeply sorry of his foolish beaver; we never forgot it and we renamed him as a monkey-nut. After this incident we went to amidships and found the cabin door decorated with the brass label; Chief Officer read on it. I knocked on the door and pushed it open. A lanky young man wore a khaki uniform was lying on the sofa in the cabin, and he sat up as we entered. He answered our hello with a questioning look. We are looking for a job, I said..

"Which job you are looking for? Have your any papers? "The chief mate enquired. We handed him our certificate of discharge. He read them and asked -" Are you, Finn? And this other one is Norman? well knowing that the matter had said in the discharge book in his hand, "Yes," I said. We got know that the ship was short of the hands-on deck and in the engine room as well, so there were jobs available aboard. She was lack of men as an ordinary seaman, an Oilier and two deck boys. Bergen said, he would take the job as an ordinary seaman but then he decided to want to be an Oilier and was looking for the Chief Engineer for a sign as Oilier. in the engine room.

The cabin in the rear ship was rather spacious, and the floor covered with a green carpet. I shared the cabin with a polish able seaman named. Jonick and because I had the lower rank and aboard as an ordinary seaman, I naturally took the upper bunk.

When I gave up the hotel the clerk behind the counter was giving

back six-dollar from the advance-payment. There was not a letter waiting for me as we leave the hotel.

At the very beginning, I began hating the grub of the vessel. Every

the morning the push-nut delivered on table porridge of some sort, white bread and eggs and tins whish contained sardines in oil, all this we washed down with the black coffee. On midday there was a meal white porridge which could have been suited very well in a penitentiary, but not on the table of a seagoing vessel, the white mess was cooked from codfish, yet there wasn't any piece of fish to be seen, or to be recognized as a proper fish. It was just bulk of pap with unseen thin bones. However, all these nationalities of this Babel in the mess-room ate that grub without grouse, whilst I was full of grouse about the strange food, they ate wordlessly. The boswain was a stout red-faced Scandinavian with light hair.

He was really the setup man. He always explained and planned how. the work should be done. After my first breakfast in the messroom, he said to me, as he turned to the deck crew; "You Finland, go with the Pole, and wait with him." I joined the polish  able seaman who was standing on the poop deck waiting for his daily order.

A few minutes later the boatswain appeared and making a sign with his forefinger he indicated us to come on and follows him. We went in a row first along the main deck towards the forecastle and then down in the fore-dry hold. There was fresh water tank down there with an open man-hatch. "There is the job to do," the boswain said putting his head into the man-hatch. At first, you must scrape out all the loose material, then your clear and wash with water the tank, and do it properly, after we will coat it with cement, so then there will be clear freshwater to drink after all.

After the workday, I was so tired that I remain all night in the bunk.

In the next morning, we continued slamming another freshwater tank and on Saturday we finished the work at noon.

In the evening there was not a drop of freshwater aboard the ship, as all the fresh water tanks were under repair. We marched along the gangway in a single and long row, down to ashore jut like lascars of some east-Indian lime-juicer.

At the night I get attired ashore and went with Bergen to the Long Beach.

On Sunday I visited in St Pedro dock to see off a sailor friend as

the Sea Peron was putting to sea bound for Venezuela.

The sea Baron was old-fashioned three islanders; she was just set

off when I came on the quay. Even from a good distance, I could see that there was some confusion on her aft deck. Actually, part of the deckhands was running back and forth on the poop deck, seemed to be drunk. Suddenly there was a lot of hailing and blow of a whistle. A man overboard, a lifebuoy was thrown down and it nearly hit the man's head in the water. The man down in water not heeded of it but started to swim with long strokes toward the quayside. I saw the pilot boat darting ahead and picking the man up from the water..

The Monday morning was lovely, it was sunny and the air soft and clear. I was hanging outside the ship's side all day long hammering old rust off and rolling a new coating on.

At the same week, we had the stand-by aboard, to be sifting and hauling the ship back and forth.

I, and two able seamen, plus two ordinary seamen, and one deck

boy, all we belonged in the Chief mate's party. As the stand-by was

summoned on; we had taken our station on the forecastle head where the carpenter was operated on the windlass, while we were hailing and swearing, slacking and stopping the heavy lines and ropes by the instruction of the Chief mate who had his cap on his head which made him look very determined. He was striding over the tangled ropes and lines on deck shouting out his inductions, "A fast hauling there, Slac out

you! What the matter with you. The rope! Hold her! Not let her rift so out. Make fast the spring!"

After all that hustles and sweat, there was the order from the chief steward to come and carry the provision aboard.

How much an oceangoing tanker can take the provision aboard

for feed the men in her? Great deal, for we were carrying for an hour filling the ship's stores. Fifteen of us were toiLING with this task transferring a HUGE  amount of provision from quay aboard the ship. I put aside ten pounds of coffee and later in the evening I smuggled it ashore with Bergen. We offered the coffee for sale to the barman in the Four Winds and when the deal was done we gulped up all the money we got.

One day An Estonian able seaman joined to the ship's company.

I spoke to him in Finnish and he understood nearly all that I said.

He told me been six years out of his homeland Estonia, living under the refuge status, first in Sweden, then in America, because he was seaman he naturally was looking for ship to sign on. At first, there were the Panamian flag, old ships, owned by Estonia refugees. "Of course, I couldn't speak any language but my native Estonia. So it was natural get to the ship where the language was familiar to me."

This able seaman was wearing pretty much and pretty often and

he did it by his native language, "Kurat!" He yelled. Oh Kurat I heard him cursing in his cabin and on the deck. His name was Eivar but soon, we, all the crew were given him a new name as Kurat. He seemed taken no an offence of this new nickname.

As the ship was hauled into dry dock in the Terminal Island where she got under some inspection and after that, the repair carried out and the reclassifications took place since all the classifications have run out, we were prepared to a long haul in the dry dock. My old oilskin was worn and was leaked badly, I wanted to pay a new before the ship will be putting to sea, and I went ashore accompanied by the polish able seaman named Janock and the Estonian Kurat the Chinese galley boy named Kim wanted to join us and we all travelled by taxi to the Long Beach to be found all the shops there closed. Polack said he wants to stay in the Skipper Bar for a moment for a couple of quickies, I refused to stay and he then asked Kurat to come along with him. I continued my way with the Chinese boy to ship.

A week shot by and at last the ship was ready to sea and we get sifted her to the loading quay and there was the information coming by the pretty sure way of the galley, it told us that our destination will be a place as Shimizu in Japan. The loading was complete at half-past six in the evening. Janock's girlfriend was seen off Janoock and remained aboard till the last moment, and then she hurried ashore little before we were lifting the gangway up and the standby for the fore and the aft stations' were ordered.

We left the loading quay about seven o'clock by the assistance of the two smoking harbour tugs and when the pilot was doped off outside the mole, we were underway hearing in direction 260 degrees, almost due to west, towards the Pacific Ocean and for  t Japan. I was peeping over the rail to see the pilot off and lost my grand new fountain overboard as it was slid out from my breast pocket and I saw as it vanished in the water splashing past by the ship's side, I was sorry for a while about those two dollars what I lost with the pen

Chapter 20

The sailor's work onboard a ship is not so honourable task as the shore people might imagine. There is very little that sort of work to do in a cargo-carrying ship. Actually a deck-man goes his work wearing his trousers covered with old paint and mucky grease of the wire ropes. He bears his knife in his belt and his glove in his back pocket since it's foolish to go to work on the deck without these traditional instruments. The work is an endless and monotonies fighting against the corrosion and rust caused by the seawater and rapid change of the climate. There is work to do as the constantly washing the white painting. Oiling the windlasses, greased the wire ropes and clearing the cabins and the decks and the corridors hanging under the bows more than seventy feet above the sea-level when the ship is moored and is reading the height of the water.

At sea all but so called day-men, go to sea-watch.

I was ordered in the first dog-watch from twelve to four and I

went to the watch with an able seaman named Ulle. As the autopilot was out of order we get stand one hour at the wheel, then one on the outlook outside the wheel-house, on the wind of the command bridge.

At my first turn at the wheel, I found the ship being a bad sleigh to steer. She didn't keep easy the curse we were hearing. When I was

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swinging the wheel, pin or two, she responded very slow to the

rudder and then came and went over the compass line. I had worked hard to keep her going within five degrees variation of her real course.

The few fist days were sunny ant the Pacific Ocean smooth and

the daily sea routine was settled, taken place with the daily program onboard the ship, as painting the lifeboat, washing the carpets, greasing and oiling the wires and winches, four hours by day and four hours outlook and at the wheel on the bridge by night.

The next Wednesday, about two o'clock in the night, the wind

strengthened and it blew pretty hard by the morning. Since the

weather had been so long fine and hot I had put out a wind catcher from the porthole of our cabin, to be cooling the air in the cabin. The waves were breaking in through the open porthole and the cabin flooded as I returned from the bridge watch and was entering the cabin.

In the next day, the gale was blowing with full strength and little after the mealtime the carpenter brought a word that there was a lot of water under the forecastle head. When the slow speed was rung to the engine, we carefully stumbled along the cow-bridge over foredeck which was washing by the over breaking waves.

The stores and the carpenter's working shop was full of

seawater, There was flooding and there was noisily bang each time as the bows hit the wave and more sweater leaked in. We were sure that there must be large hole somewhere in the bows, but then carpenter found the water coming in through the pipes of the anchor chain, and it was leaking also through the ventilators'.

By the evening the wind veered and at last blew from aft and we

pumped out all the water from the fore stores by means of buckets.

It was raining and winding for days and the sea very rough all the time. I had a wild desire to bay some, out of use, lifeboat, then repair it and make it suitable for fishing.

The captain said that the idea sounds good and he would inquire the mater when he is at contact next time with the office. There will be much to build in that boat, but that sort of boat is made very strong and seaworthy, length of twenty-four feet and seven widen.

The wind was blowing by night and by days even the day was

sunny.

We were hearing at the course 2 75 degrees to the west, I was

accustomed to the balky ship steering and held she easy on her

course within couple degrees variation.

The day was Monday of January, which was wiped off as we

crossed the day line, longitude 180degree. So we came direct into Tuesday, which was a working day as every other day of the

week. In night during the lookout as I was standing on the wing of the bridge a gust of wind took my hat and it flew overboard, a word of an old drunken sailor came in my mind as hi lost his hat overboard

and I remembered his saying:-My hat is gone. Could I do any work

any more aboard this ship?

After two days the gale was eased and there was the fog which

blanketed the sea around the ship and the visibility was reduced to

nil, so that the chief mate wanted keeps the look out by nigh and day.

When we had been two week at sea the gale began again. It blew

with the air sunny and clear, the waves grew high and the splashing

flew with the wing over the command bridge. By the next day we

narrowly avoid hit the first cyclone, which passed by us on her

northern track.

After the seventeen days at sea the climate changed and the days

began felt cold and the air was full of chilly moisture and the wind was

blowing with gust driving rain over the choppy sea. In the night

outlook I catch a glimpse of a fishing vessel ahead the ship. Then I

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saw another one of them rocking in the night and showing a green

light for us.

Heavy rain was falling during the following day and the setting

around was grey and colorless like a winter day in the Baltic Sea. We

were approached the coast of Japan.

Couple hour before entering the Bay the other cyclone hit straight

us, it forced us turn around and hearing out again at the course of 023

degree to northeast. It was terrible night, full of flaying water and

howling of the wind. The waves were breaking over so that no one

of us was surely whether the ship was still on the surface of the sea

or under it. We were stumbled partly along the white painted walls

of the corridors and there was seen the footprints of rubber boots on

the walls of the corridor after the storm. But worse was coming.

Little past four o'clock in morning a huge wave hit at the

amidships. It was terrible blow, it broke all the window of the

starboard side of the amidships and bushed the bulkhead two inch

inward.

It was the bang indeed, the noise of the waves and the cold water

rushing into the cabin of the saloon servant; it drove him into panic

him being behind the broken windows.

There wasn't much to do for the ship because the wailing storm

was blowing with full strength causing the water fly so dense in the

air that there was really hard to see anything, or even keep the eyes

open. There wasn't much talk either aboard the ship as the storm

was blowing.

After that incident captain ordered the engine stopped and left the

ship drifting along with the waves and wind.

In the afternoon the engine was started again and we were hearing

back those hundred and sixty mils. The wind was eased by the

evening and we roped the anchor in bay of the Shimizu under the high

Fujiama. The air was biter cold but there was not the snow in sight

anywhere but on the top of mountains.

8

I was asking five hundred jeni from the money list and went

ashore with the Polack to shopping. It felt good to stand on the

steady soil after all that rocking and surfing. I bought a new fountain,

pair of sandal and a bottle of Sake. We were walking and looking

around and fount it being good place, so well that I before never

been, lot of beautiful girls, everywhere. "Seitshema" We sped the

night on shore, sitting and drinking, too much Sake.

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Chapter 21

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On next day we had work till noon, then ashore again. I took two

loaves of cigarettes with me for the business. The girl was beautiful

and natural and was Emiko Sasaki by her name. I returned aboard

at midnight.

We put out in the evening and sailed from Japan on next day and

I was able to take my watch at sea. Ulle was drunk and pissed up

his watch, so did the Polack.

The beginning of the week we were hearing in the direction of

sixty degrees with the good whether and the tailwind blowing.

I had an idea to start to learn Japan. To learn it so that I sometime

will be able speaking it properly.

By the Wednesday the whether changed and the wind veered to

North. We were cleaning and washing the lifeboats on the boat deck

and sniffed the daily smell of the smoking fish coming from the galley.

There is always lot of sleeping and plenty of time at the free-watch

at sea. I was washed my clothing and at last tied my working trousers

at the tail of the heaving line and put it over the stern to be railing after

the ship, to be washing it by itself with the seawater, then I forgot it

and when the next watch was released me from the out look I was

remember the trouser. I hauled the heaving line up on deck and found

jus a piece of blue cloth in the end of the line. I though the trousers

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been too long time in water towing by the ship and the speed of the

ship have eat it away.

At the evening meal I mentioned the mater to the company at table

and Bergen said "You must be very careful with you trousers,

Finland. You know, you can't afford to lost par of trousers every

time you wash it." He sad it with amusement and I saw Pollack and

Ulle to pulling their face grimace behind the table. I knew that there

was the doc burying in it.

"Yes." I said. "You are right. I must not lose my trouser every time

I am washing it. Thank you."

I found my trousers in the dry room hanging on the rope.

It was not until nineteen days after the departure from Japan as

we make a landfall. It was the coast of California we were seen. The

pilot was boarded the ship at eleven thirty by night and we were

allowed make direct into harbor to the St Pedro and tied her along

side the quay of the Bethlehem oil company.

Many of us wanted to pay off, including me. Polack did not pay

off. He could not done it since, he had not the passport and was

refused enter the country by the official of the emigration. He was

doomed sailing in the Mosley forever like the Flying Dutchman.

There were several shore people aboard. I was busy in the

various last thing and gears to be backed, then I took last glance

around the cabin, It had been home for three months and there is

every time little bit sad to leave the cabin where you had made home

yourself. I got two letters from the agent. Spending the last night

aboard the ship I ate sandwiches in the mess room and tried plan the

next step. I drunk lot of milk, sometime I think that I am more milk

drinker than beer drinker. The milk tasted goon anyway and it was

fresh and the ship chandler delivered it aboard.

Pollack was smuggling his Japan's silk ashore to makes some

business with them and

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Ulle so drunk that he couldn't even knew that we were secured

at the quay.

The new crewmen appeared in the morning, I didn't know

anyone of them. All of them were unknown to me.

By the afternoon I got the final account in hand, and it wasn't

pretty much, seventy-five dollars all told, I pushed the money into my

side pocket and took my sack and so I leave. It was already second

time within six months as I marched down along the gangway off the

ship.

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Chapter 22

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I took the train to L.A. After arrived in L: An I walking a while

and then I continued my journey by buss of the Santa Fe, traveling

to Frisco. I wanted to work out where is going the ship Laponia, the

good ship where in my land fellow was sailing, and as far as I heard,

she was a ship all right with the good style. The last information I got

of hears told that she was underway from South America.

It was nine o'clock in the morning as I arrived in Frisco. I went

to see the seamen mission. "There is no problem," the janitor said as

I asked permission to left my sack there for a while.

Then I visited in the shipping office and found there being several

vacancies as an able seaman and ordinary seaman, but all them to

East, I didn't care to travel to East, and so I leave them. The man in

the office said that I couldn't join into the Norwegian Seaman Union

because I wasn't aboard a ship any more.

The shipping agency told that the Laponia cannot be waiting

arrives in before a month. I again took an auto-buss and traveled to

Santa Fe, in Oakland and then by the Golden Gate train to L.A.

I arrived in L. A, before the daybreak and to the St Pedro Beal

beach. I took a room in the hotel Raito, four dollars a week.

On next day I woke at eleven o'clock and as I was eaten couple

hot-dogs, I then went out to street and as I saw the day being fine

9

I spend rest of the day in the Seal Beach. I bough things as an atlas

and many else and in the evening it turned out that my look out hasn't

been good I had throw away money so much.

The days kept warm and sunny. I was roaming around, eating

hot-dogs and drinking coffee. Ulla came in the bar and told been in

the quad. Hopeless character with the drink. In the evening I bought

a pint of milk, a cake, and fruit, and as I was coming out of the shop

I came across Bergen on the street. He told that Moslly had sailed,

bound to Japan again.

Bergen had an abode in the Redondo Beach. It was nice place.

He said he wanted travel to Frisco and I decided come along

tomorrow.

I bought one pin of milk, biscuits and tin of meat. But I couldn't

eat them all and was saving the rest of them to the next time.

The following day I spend by walking on the beach and after that

went to cinema to seen the Mexican film "Angelinos" There was an

actor as Pedro Infante he had the leading role in this film which was

the best Mexican film I ever have seen.

In the evening I was in the buss station and met Bergen standing

there accompanied by a pale and thin character, whish turned out

being a Dane and ships fireman.

So I was on journey to Frisco once more and the bus departed

half past seven, first to the Santa Monica and then to Frisco. It was

not before than next morning as we arrived there.-If you find the

life being too easy, then you must take a journey and you get stimulate

you circulation.

We took rooms from the hotel Crown by four dollars in week.

When I was surveying the purse of mine, I found there no more than

five dollars left.

I got a shore job in Alameda; it was some consul, or agent who

gave it to me. Oldest man, he promised pay me one dollar per hour

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I didn't know exactly what was the trade of the man, don't care much

either. The man seemed runs some paper works in his office.

I toiled in the in Alameda, the days were hot and I was cutting the

lawn, which was wide as a football field. After the working day I had

the payment of seven dollar in hand and I bought a quart of milk, a

packet of frankfurter, bread, putter and sweet oranges, all forth of

1,75 dollars.

Then I got into a bar for coffee and ate there a piece of an apple

pie and a glass of milk.

There was not a word from the Laponia. Was she underway, or

still lingered in South-America?

On the next day I treated the earth at the foot of the rose bushes.

The days continued to be hot as in the tropic and I sweated good deal

with the job.

I was pocked seven dollars each day and when there was the

Sunday I had thirteen dollar more in my pocket. It was very hot and

I was walking about the city and bought at the end of the day a quart

of milk and a tin of youngberry jam, bringing all them to abode.

The next week began with the work of carpenter. The time was

running fast by and what was more import, by the next day I will have

more money. In the evening Bergen said that the shipping office has

offered a job onto a ship named. 'Villager,' He said he had been

refused of it, and wanted wait for some other ship to come.

I continued my shore job in Alameda t preventing the building

against the termites by brushing the basement foot with tar.

I didn't see Bergen for two days in hotel. I supposed him been

anyway accepted the job to the ship 'Villager'.

I got fourteen dollars for two days work and I paid the room for

a week more and then put my name on the list of able seaman in the

shipping office.

When I wanted cut my hair there raised a row between me and

the barber who wanted a dollar and quart of the work. I gave him

94

a dollar and was little bit afraid that he would cut my throat, too as

I sat down in his barber's chair.

I was watching an Mexican film, I don't know if I have some

special fond to the Mexican, anyway I found myself very often

walking towards the Mexico's district. The film was named as

'Morencita', Evita Munger, playing the head role in it.

After the films I came out the cinema and bought couple record

of Mexican music and two beautiful calendars.

By the weekend the work in Alameda was over and I got the last

seven dollars in hand. And by evening I walked into chine town just

to see the life there, then back, and spend rest of the evening in the

abode, drinking milk and eating bread.

All the weekend I was walking aimlessly around the city, drying

work out my next plan. What to do the next.

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The week began with the hot whether. When visited in the

shipping office and then in the seamen mission I came upon a

countryman. He was young boy from a Swedish ship named

'Tosca', After a short chat we agreed to meet again on the next day,

but I didn't saw the fellow anymore and I assumed his ship been

sailed.

I bought a coconut and milk and with them I sat down and felt the

time wore slowly. There was nothing particular to do on shore and

I would have thought in earnest, if there were any real reason to be

waiting the Laponia any more.

The window of my room faced down to Bay and the monument

of the Sun Jat Sen. I made trip to the monument taken couple shot

of it in the afternoon light.

In the afternoon I sped watching the ferry between the Frisco and

Oakland.

I was deeply bothered by the think that I did not accept the job

to the ship 'Silver Moon', as I had the change. I have been real

monkey with the think that I would sign on the Laponia, since I heard

the Silver Moon been on her way into the Frisco with my friends, the

Estonia able seaman and Bergen aboard.

96

As she arrived I visited aboard the ship and there was good meal

waiting me in the mess room. Kurat said he and Bergen were joined

no more than four days ago taken the job, as able seamen aboard

the Silver Moon in St Pedro and the ship didn't seen so bad.

I made me promise to myself; to accept the next offer what ever

it will be, to sign on board a ship of any kind. I not wanted wait any

more anything. There were sixteen men in front of me in the list of the

sipping, all them waiting their ship to come.

One day there was a job available, it was as an ordinary seaman,

but it went past by, letting me empty handed.

Bergen treated a spaghetti meal in a bar on shore. Later on,

aboard the ship I refused of the meal, even they were seriously asked

me to eat.

The next day was Sunday. I woke at eleven and went direct to

harbor and embarked the Silver Moon and I came just right time to

be in the mealtime aboard. There were beacon and many sort of food

served on table of the mess room and I ate bellyful that good ships

food.

After the meal I got ashore with Bergen and we walked down to

the Chinatown to watch the Chinese's girls and drink some beers.

In the morning there were some jobs available in shipping office.

However all them were bound to eastward, the direction where I not

wanted to go. I dropped in the office of the ships' agent as well, to

inquiry the ETA of the ship Lapon. The agent shook his head saying

that the ship is in N. West and will stay there for a week, perhaps

more.

I had an empty photo album and I sold it to Bergen for two

dollars.

The Keeper and janitor of the shipping office said that there is not

a single job to offer. After that last information I went to Silver Moon

to get a meal, and talk with the friends, and when I landed I walked

direct to my abode to pack my gears and took my sack to the

97

Greyhound I decided get rid of the idea to join the Loponia, That idea

has haunted me too long time. I should have taken the first ship what

will be possible.

Escorted by the cold whether I leave the Frisco and paid the fare

for ST Pedro.

It was still raining as I arrived in St Pedro. From a kiosk I paid

a local paper and saw there been a tiny mention that told that the

Loponia was on her way to St Pedro.

On next day, which was Wednesday, I entered again the shipping

office. There was a job for me. It was to the ship named Laguna, fine

name it was and the ships she looked not bad either. She was a white

large motor ship up to nine thousand tons of her capacity. Finest ship

I ever have been. I was joining at the afternoon and shared the

double-berthed cabin with an able seaman named Westerberg, he

too, was Finn and we changed the first words in Finish, until I

understood that he was hailed from the region of west coast of

Finland and his first language was Swede. I was soon well settled

down into the routine of the ship and the duties aboard. The chief

mate was about forty-five of his age, slim Norse, earnest mid man

with expression as if he was always ready fly at. I never saw him

smiling during the time I spend aboard the ship.

He had also a very crazy style, some time when the stand-by was

ordered to the fore and aft stations, he could unexpected rush past

by and seized the by wire with his pare hands and hauling it in with

very determined and quickly movements, so doing he evidently

wanted show to us that we were too slow moving and too poor

motivated into the sailor's work.

The boswai was drunk and got fired after the day I was joined.

There were many sort of men aboard the ship, on deck and in the

engine room, didn't know them all.

In the next night I was talking with the Westerberg and drinking

coffee until the small hour.

98

The new boswain cam aboard and he ordered us to paint the

bows. We lowered down the stage to be hanging there by the ropes,

and holding it tight by heaving line. Then I lowered myself down on

that stage out side the bow which was hanging fifty feet above the sea

level, beneath the starboard anchor, and with assistance of

Westerberg who was peeping down over the rail refusing lowered

himself down, "I can't swim a rode, if I fall I drowns as a kite," he

said giving me the tools, I spend all the day sitting on this unstable

stage trying to raps off the old coating colored by rust and painting

new on. Just before end the working day I limped up by the rope

ladder hanging down out from the forecastle head.

On the Saturday the ship was sifting to Frisco and we made her

sea shape by lowering the booms for that short voyage.

I had the watch from four to eight. There was a fog out there off

the coast and the look out was placed on the forecastle head on.

Twenty past eight in the evening we made in to the port of

Oakland, where we took the provision. There were two full loaded

Lorries on quayside waiting us. I thought it was pretty much for the

voyage ahead. We carried all them aboard including the hundred and

twenty gallons of coating and many thing else which I supposed

belonging more or less to the business of the chief steward. After the

loading the provision we sifted to Frisco. I was standing at the wheel

during the short voyage and found the vessel going with easy and

steady steering. I became more and more like the vessel.

In the Frisco I went ashore with a Norwegian motorman. We

were sitting in the Marie's Place and drinking beer as a Brazilian

entered the place; the man was speaking fluent Swede and was

injured whether we were from Swede. No, no. We responded.

There is nothing worse than to be called as a Swede.

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In the next morning the boswain said that there is order to change

the ship's color. The new color will be gray and he ordered me and

Westerberg to start painting the ships sides with new color. I

understood that large amount of coating, which was supplied on

board with the provision.

There wasn't any proper rope ladder aboard. We tried finding it

but found just a ladder cut into pieces.

I sent letter to Johansson in Laponia;-Maybe I have not change

to come see him, I write in it.-Here are so many jobs to do all the

time and no one seems to know what will be the next port we will sift

to.

One day when I was walking to the ship from shore I found a

lonely kitty from street. I lifted her up and took along. She was pretty

with her soft hairy fur; I christened her as Catja, and gave her the rank

as an able seaman.

The whether went up and down and in the morning there was cold

like in the hell of Russian.

We continued to alter the color of the ship by painting her sides

into grey. But before afternoon then there was the new order. The

ship's color will remain white. Now we started coating the grey over

and return her previous color.

100

THE SIRENS WERE HAILING

I read from the local marine notice that Lapon was underway to

the same port where we will be sifted

On the Wednesday three o'clock afternoon we had the stand-by

to sift to Tacoma.

There was Lot of work to do, and there was the hurry up all the

time. We flied on the deck like fire soldiers, there and here, covering

the hatchway with tree tarpaulins, each of them, lowered the boom

and tied the kaies.

Mister Eglund. The chief mate of Lagoon demanded the ship be

shipshape even for those short sifting voyage from port to port in

coastal waters.

At nine o'clock we arrived in Vancouver, I asked liberty for the

afternoon and went ashore, taken course towards the New

Westminster to see the Lapon. I found her secured alongside the

quay. She looked out very old and rusted, and I found many wellknown

crewmember of the previous crew, paid off and gone.

When I retuned aboard the Logon there was a gang of

longshoremen to build up the extra walls in the hold, for steady the

cargo. A word was spread that we will go to the Calcutta, in India.

Anyway we had the hard work going on to cleaning the hold and

having up all that lumber.

The loading port was In Portland and the cargo was grain to

India.

There was very much set about aboard the ship. I felt myself tired

to all that hustle.

I write a letter to Johansson in Lapon and told that I will pay off

and sift to Lapon, which I suppose, being better vessel to serves.

After the workday I dropped in New Westminster to found the

Lapon already sailing out.

I was disappointed and when retuned aboard I said to the captain

that I wish pay off when we will arrive in Portland. The master said

that would see then as we are in the Portland.

101

The holds job continued and the Silver Moon made in the port of

Vancouver and I visited on board to see Bergen.

Bergen said he don't like that English style on board these

Norwegian vessels-I agreed, and said that I will pay off at first

opportunity.

Every day delivered onboard more and more supply of

provision, tons of provisions, which we carried on board the ship.

Where and when, we are going need all that.

One day when we had the supper, the boswain cam and drive us

out to deck like white master drive out his slaves, giving no time to

eat. There was again one of those sifting and we had to move to the

other side of the river and it lasted so late that when we returned in

the mess room, the meal was already taken away.

We lifted up from the hold lot of bad smelling mud of copra and

piled high huddle of it on the deck. Nasty job and nasty ship, too.

There was an English ship Silver Plane next to us.

We prepared the ship to sea and at six o'clock the pilot boarded

and the ship was putt to sea for Lon Wiev.

Off the coast we threw the waste of copra over side, tons of it and

watched as we took over the Bostlong, a Swede, who was heading

on parallel course.

It was eight o'clock in the Tuesday evening when we arrived in

the port of Long Wiew and was secured alongside the quay.

A migration official, boarded among the control and the cleaner

party of the port officials, decelerated at once that no one foreign

sailor have allowed pay off in this port.

I was upset. What the hell there is going on? Is this free country

or not. I wanted to pay off and sign on Lapon, which was now in

Portland. The emigration shook his head." There is no one who

could muster off in this port," he said.

It was raining and winding as we hauled the ship under the loading

elevator and hoisted the booms.

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THE SIRENS WERE HAILING

I spent all the evening aboard feeding Gatja, who eat well and was

wild and bold as a panther.

The next day was a Saturday and there was work till high noon.

After the work I went ashore and traveled by buss to Portland.

I met Johansson coming out a pub, he was wearing brand new

dungaree trousers and khaki shirt and had a look as sailor, we soon

re-entered the same pub having couple of beer.

"So, you have made up you mind to pay off." Jonsson said when

we got sat down at the table. "Isn't her new ship with all that

comfortable?

"Better have an old tramp with easy style aboard. They treat us

as like the army treats its soldiers, slow fly all the time and plenty of

work, officer bras buttoned with all that pompous."

"Good drill ship, anyway, for young sailor, there is the jumbo

boom, and many else to rig up, and five cargo hold to clear. Just,

Yeah. But look my friend, Lapon is old tramp still she is a ship all right

and the ship's company aboard like one family, but we are on the

Shout American run, carrying bulk like coal and many sort of shit,

usually in short run between some mine or factory ports going along

some river into tense jungle. Say what you want but there could be

sometimes terrible conditions on board the ship. The niggers we had

to keep aboard as runners are shit over the said all the time and they

try steal all they could get off, even twisting out those brass corks of

the sounding pipes of deck. I don think that being good idea to sift

the ship."

The Monday morning we shut the hatch of number one and

lowered the booms.

Then there was full loaded the number four and we shut its hatch

too, and took down the boom and made it fast. There was lot of

work to run and hurries on.

103

MARTIN LATIMERi

The last nigh in this port, I went ashore accompanied with the

mess room boy, we got in cinema and spent our two dollars with

good mood.

The nest morning was drizzly and grey, after breakfast we shut the

hatch number five and lowered the booms and made fast all the kais

and falls. The loading was complete and the vessel settled low hulled

in water.

It was at about high noon as we sailed out with the pilot aboard

and the shore behind obscured by the drizzly above the water.

I got a watch from four to eight; the so-called second dog watch.

At five o'clock the pilot left the ship and the course was set right out

for Pacific and the helm man replaced with the autopilot.

Next day was Wednesday and little after the clock was sifted an

hour backward then there was some foul in engine and we were

rifting all the day for the engine stop. The drizzle continues and the

waves grew so high that sometimes they break over the deck. We

washed the upper work of amidships and oiled the winches.

The next day we were on our course again herding steadily to

west and for the Far East.

It's difficult to say which course we were steering since there was

not need a helm man as the autopilot was steering.

I spend all my off watch on the poop deck with Gatja. She ate four

fish boll that the 'Cookyner' from galley gave us.

It seemed that we were weathered a storm, it raining and sea was

broking over and washing the deck all the time.

There was heavy rain in the next morning driving by the blowing

gale. Mr. Eglund, the chief mate said that we should to do something

for the noise like 'tump' coming from the brig and disturbing the

master's rest.

We found the noise maker being a boom of the hatch number

three, the boom was loosened himself and was jumping up and

104

THE SIRENS WERE HAILING

down, we lifted the boom a little and put a cloth between holder and

the boom's head to muff le the noise, then made it fast again.

The sky was clearing before evening and the next day was lovely

ocean day. Despite the lovely day I felt boring and isolated. Very

boring voyage, I didn't like the vessel, or I didn't like anything. The

chief mate is coming more and more irritable every day.

The third mate was totally another type of officer, Luno was his

name and he was an old timer who has been out here even at wartime

and has seen the world. Silent man by his custom, for though I forgot

wake him up to his duty, he always is in watch at the right time.

One night there was little bit wind blowing and the sea was running

so that the gangway broke lose, Weateberg and I was ordered to

secured it again. We flashed it and then the wind tore out the canvas

covering the BB lifeboat.

On Tuesday morning was fine and the weather was good and

there was only light breeze and customary sea running making the

ship lightly pinching. I was scarping the gunwale of the amidships

when I saw as the cook hit Gatja, I went over and asked what the

matter. What the small kite have done for him. "This animal interrupts

me, going here about. I will throw it over board if you not take her

and shut her in your cabin in time."

I was wondering if a small kite could raise so big trouble aboard.

It must be some kind of sea-dullness that the cook was suffering, that

illness comes almost to everyone who crossed the ocean. A ship

been long time at sea men in her become suffered some sort of illness

that make men depressed and remote. It could happen that even a

peaceful character might tear into full fury without a real reason.

The weather continued fine, as the blowing gale makes men

fatigued for tossing them to and fro in bunk the fine weather makes

men feel very boring with only change, the common diners in messroom.

105

The Bloke, Mr. Eglund groused that we didn't hear his whistle in

night. The Bloke seems became more and more wicked every day.

It was Saturday as we crossed the line of the days and one day

was swiped away and there wasn't the day of yesterday.

The week passed by and the fans in the cabin worked nights and

days. Now it was eleven days since we had set out from America,

in all that time we have only seen one ship, it was one the dusk evening

as I saw a ship, it was a steamer, very far away and she seemed

hearing in the direction of the Marians.

Early in the next morning we made a lands wall, it was the northern

tip of Luzon; there was a land sight, with wooden hillocks. By the

noon we entered in the strait of Luzon, now large isles were in sight,

both side of the ship. In night there was thunder and flashing light over

the horizon of Philippine, but the sky above us was clear of clouds

and lit by moonlight. A huge bee or buzzer appeared from the jungle

and was flaying into lighted mess-room; I drove it away with a towel

and aid of Gatja.

Hu Hin was a galley boy, he was a Chinese and very different of

Chinese, since he had been fished out from dock where had he fallen

in dead drank, as usually the Chinese were traveled in company, but

Hu Hin was an lonely soul, and was not interested to meet any

Chinese countryman. He was small and slim, and he was asking

every day whether we know if the ship perhaps, is going to China,

if so, he must runaway.

I dug with a knife Chinese ABC in the plank and stated to, by the

guidance of Hu Hin, learn the Chinese.

We have been twenty-one days at sea; I washed my khaki

trouser and par of working dungaree.

There was the open, out side of the ship, and dead calm and the

climate like in sauna, the ship gliding gently in smooth water, without

any other interest I started again learn the China.

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THE SIRENS WERE HAILING

The passage went on and the heat continued. One day we oiled

the wooden poop deck. And after the supper I wrote a bit China.

The most beautiful sunset took place I ever have seen anything like

that before.

There somewhere is the land the ship is going.

The Bloke wore in military like khaki uniform with all his bras and

gold. He evidently had drinking something else than the customary

limejuice, for, as I went up to bridge to take over the outlook, I heard

him reproaching to the third mate, that the third mate let the outlook

man too easy down to smoke a cigarette, and I hear the reply of this

old mariner. He said: "Please, don't teach me of my duty. I have been

out there with the deep sea sailing ships, sailing from Australia even

then when you were nothing but a kit who shit in his pantaloons."

It was answer indeed, I felt quite amused and from that moment

I began appreciates that an ancient mariner more and more.

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The sky was overcast but the weather remained hot and

moisture. On Monday at six o'clock a small limey's coaster crossed

our bowline, no more as distance of two cables, and the old man was

heavily swearing. There was a rumor that we will go Japan and

Manchuria after the India. The rumor made Chinese boy very

anxious and one day he asked me if there is possible get another ship

in India. It was Sunday as we drove with low engine-to the Pulo

Buvgcom Island, off the Singapore. As the anchor was let go and the

ship was reading, the ship soon was surrounded by numerous of

small launches occupied by local natives. The Malays hailed

upwards offering fresh fruits for sell, the rail were lined with heads,

and when a rope ladder was set, I lowered myself on boat below and

took a lift ashore. There was a village with stilted houses and a

clearing in middle the village, the earth under my feet felt firm as I go

and there was curious, but familiar smell around and all those

welcoming whooping, after long passage. I drank juice and sat for

a while, I felt sorry to be back to ship to be met again the same empty

monotony aboard the ship. After heaved up the anchor we continued

our passage for India.

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THE SIRENS WERE HAILING

In the early Tuesday morning there was the tip of Sumatran

loomed out of the haze and the Point W isles, and then rose up, from

horizon, the large isle of Microbar.

The first fury hit us at night with blow of suddenly storm and

tropical torrent of water pouring down from the dark sky, during a

couple of minutes, dozens ton of water was pouring on deck. The

rain was so tense that we had to sow town since the visibility was

obscured by the rain squalls and reduced to nil and there was nothing

to be seen as the wall of walling water.

We coiled down the white-striped awnings, which were called as

'sun sails', by the ships usage.

Spark, the radio officer brought down the 'money list', into

dayroom, it was for the India and I ordered 150 rube in it.

The 'three', said that the monsoon was coming in India, and it will

last from June to December, and it means plenty of rain.

On Friday noon we made a lands wall, and came in shallow water

off the coast of India." I could feel already the 'degus' smell out here,

the bosman said, as he stood up on the forecastle head.

We tied in the Madras, and hundred of longshoremen, small and

naked Hindus, limbed aboard.

It was not the fist time, as I got lost. I was walking for two hours

in the street as I realized that I didn't know in which direction had to

go. Been so long isolated in the sea I wanted jus to walk, not anyway,

precisely.

I waved stop a wheeled rickshaw drawn by a naked turbaned

brown. The rickshaw rushed into crown and we wheeled in the

heavy haze of the sun, looking for a shop to buy a pith helmet to me,

to be protect my pare head from the sun.

There were almost solid mass of poor devils, in the street, sitting

on the pavements or drying get something from the passers-by, hot,

sad and noise, all over the city.

109

In the next morning, as the tropical sun sore, we put to sea again,

and left the Madras. There were many fiends of mine on the quay,

waving hands for farewell, in there ragged clothing, include the wise,

silver beard old timer in his loincloth.

Out we went for Calcutta and the next morning we were offing

in the Bay of Bengal. The sea kept calm as oil and empty of ships,

in every direction, no a craft in sight. Off the Sandy Head the water

made shallower, then the pilot boarded and we continued our

voyage. Block panicked and the cook fished up a small shark. Then

there was the mouth of the river Ganges, its water was gray and

shallow; we had to trop the anchor and wait the tide to come. In

nighttime the anchor was hoisted and the engine started, so we

headed along the river for Calcutta.

There was the large and filthy port of Calcutta and in the port three

hundred naked longshoremen occupied the ship and settled on the

maid deck, making their home there with three camps with fireplace

and a huge pot of which one man took care. They had also ragged

tents, which they hanged on deck and on the forecastle head by the

windlass; the chip had made a standing toilet above the rail. We deck

men spent the next day painting the ship said. I got little a bit business

with American cigarettes and as a trader came aboard showing his

items, I bought two silk-scarf's, for who, I had no idea. I also

ordered suit from a tailor visiting aboard which offering makes a

whole suit in cheap price.

Getting money 150 rubies from the Spark who held the money

list I went ashore with Westenberg and a Scot motorman named

Dany, red haired and faced character who was sparing his money for

a car and was usually unwilling go ashore, well knowing that visit

ashore ask money, and the creams of the own car is doomed be

moved further. When we came up a tattoo shop, I decided take a

tattoo on my forearm. The image was two anchors with the flag in

middle. When it was ready I didn't like it, to me it showed too much

110

color and it felt very painful. After the tattoo shop we marched to the

marine club where there was lot of beautiful girls.

The Sunday gave liberty for all the crew except the watchmen in

engine room and the night watch on deck.

I am got cold in the tropical heat, for one morning I felt myself sick,

so felt Westenberg, Chinese boy and many else aboard the ship. The

sleekness must have come from the sun and the setting.

I asked liberty for a day and took out the money I have spare for

the tailor, then went ashore, and into bar Hong Gong. After that there

was the place number 129 to be visited. Breat was a girl, Hindu, no

more as twenty of her age, beautiful girl with her long black hair,

wearing long sari like dress.

The climate seemed changed more down the heat and I at once

felt better and I took a walk over the side of Kingerbor and spent the

long night sitting in the Hong Gong bar with a Yankee fellow.

The following days were hot alike the former days with no a wind.

When the bosman was turned me in there was the bloody tailor, I

argued with the tailor for a while, the tailor said that if I not buy the

suit within a week, he will put the case into the court, I bid the tailor

right in hell.

No we have been eleven two weeks in Calcutta, the steel around

so hot that it burned our fingers. We were wearing short pant and

striped to waist holding white rag around our head, each day was like

heating up as boiling water in some large pot. The electric fans

worked nights and days in cabins, still there was impossible sleep in

bunk with the sweat soaked bed clothing and falling no more as into

some kind of dormancy. When I arouse in the morning I had my eyes

stick closed by the discharge caused the hard haze of the sun, and

we were drinking limejuice, plenty of other juice, too, with the salt

pills. I was fatigue with the heat and thinking of nothing but a class of

fresh cool milk. Before long the heat tried my nerves and it must have

tried, too, the nerves of Westerber, for one day on the fore deck, he

111

was getting in full fury, tossing his tool overboard he cried: "This is

not place for 'Lap-man', I must get off from here."

A rusted Panamien vessel named 'Maria', came entered the

harbor at the quay next to us, and also a Norwegian from South

America came in. It was the night in girls' places named 129, and

124.

The dull days followed each other and the hot weather went on,

without any changes upon the water.

We opened the entire hatchway and picked up the Celtoks from

the ween deck; it was one of the hellish job when the iron is so hot

that it burn the skin on your hands.

I haired a small Indian clad for a packet of American cigarette,

to make-to-make 'backsturn' as the dish in the crew's mess room

was called.

When I went to the marine club there was a latter waiting me, sent

by the crazy tailor. There was threat; if I will not buy the sum of 160

rubies within seven days, he will appeal to court. Well I don't want

that suit; he could very well keep it.

On return to ship I stepped my feet deep into human waste. I

cursed the country, the people, the endless glare of the sun, and the

ship I have sign on.

At last there was the cargo completely unloaded and we sifted the

ship during forenoon to other pier, to be lading there by human

elevator. I asked liberty for afternoon and went to marine club, no

money and there was nothing to do.

I appealed to skipper to get ten rubies and when the steward gave

me few piece of soap ashore I went. Giving one piece of soap to girl

I spend all night ashore.

On the next morning we toiled shutting the cargo hatches, there

was not chat during the job.

Four o'clock in the morning of Thursday we put to sea, the ship

being dirty of long lying in such port as Calcutta ship now covering

11

by black dust of coal. I was delighted to getting at the wheel for two

hours while the washing boys have washed and cleared our cabins.

We had a group of pilot aboard as well many else as assistants;

we sailed down the river Ganges.

When the pilots and every other shore people left the ship we

were off the coast and free set our course for the Japan. There was

again the great ocean behind the rail, the solitude and the great

expanse of the Pacific.

On day the bosman demanded of me "Can you makes the self

lowering knot," Certainly I do," I replied, for it toughed my sailor

skill.

"Good," the boss said and pointed up to the aft mast. "There is

the job to do to-day."

"Ye, ye, sir, I said and repaired limp up to the top of the mast.

There was the ocean illness aboard, for my watch mate, a

Frenchman Micu, had been sullen all the week and was depressed

and not present at all.

On day at about eight o'clock, on the starboard side of the ship,

a land came in sight. I was sure that it was the southern point of the

Formosa; the other laughed, and said that my mind with my

memories must still be in India, for the land that was in sight cannot

be Formosa. I climbed up the bridge to ensure the thing from the cart,

and sure, it was the Formosa, and text day there will be the isles of

the Okinawa. Along the whole day the isles lingered in sight. In the

night we passed the isle of Togura Guteni.

The weather gets colder and it drizzled. I got seven loafs of

American cigarettes from the slap chest of the steward. When the

'spark' brought his money list down for Japan, in the mess room, I

put on it, demand to have 6000 jeni out.

It was Friday after long ocean voyage and it was at six o'clock

in afternoon as the top of the Fujame emerged in sight, behind the

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clouds, and was very welcoming sight indeed, then in the darkness,

far out, was seen the sparking line of lights, along the coastline.

We were bidden welcoming to Japan by the sight of towering

Fujame, cold rain and the fog out side the Bay of Tokyo.

When the ship was secured at the quay of the harbor, and when

the 'spark' was given the money out, I hurried on head of the shore

going group, well attired down to shore, accompanied with the other

mess room boy, which was called as little Dane, I went taking a train

and raveled by it to Yokohama, there in the Marine Club there were

plenty of girls there. Kimingo was the name of one, twenty-one years

beauty, oval shaped face with her skin like ivory. The orient, Japan,

the best places what a sailor ever could find. I spent the night with

Kimigo in the Tamaja hotel; it was a clear and tidy comfortable place

and was standing on foot of a height hill. When Monday came no one

wanted go to ship to work and we were pissing up the day, I called

on ship to ask more money and find all the crew being ashore. I, and

the little Dane, Anton and the girls, spent next night up on the hill,

surrounded by the wonderful nature, there were girls, whisky and

sake, enough for everyone, this was the life all right.

Three of us were walking down the harbor on Tuesday morning;

there were the little Dane, the able seaman Anton and myself. Anton

was so drunk that we had to support him as he limped up the

gangway. The chief mate was standing on deck and seeing us on

coming aboard was glancing at his wrist watch wishing demonstrate

with this gesture, that we were late, and we were pissed up the day.

By the seven o'clock the Frenchman Micu and the Scot Dany still

not seen, it was evidently that they would missed the ship and

deserted, skinned. At seven thirty we put out to sea. There was tense

atmosphere on the bridge the master was up set and ordered only

one man on each watch, it mean that I had to stand on outlook whole

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four hours, and the bloody Block didn't call anyone to let my for

supper.

I wanted sing off and elect a ship which is going for Japan, for

back I want to go I said to myself as I stood on the forecastle head

staring out on outlook.

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In the off watch I started learn the Japan.

Dense fog blanked the sea and the endless out look continued,

I was standing on the forecastle head on the outlook, staring into

emptiness ahead, and listened the roaring of the bow waves below,

it was very alone place to stand, in the fog and darkness around, the

amidships structure far away and the black winnows of the

wheelhouse behind my staring dumb at me.

There was conversation during the meal, between the little Dane,

Westerber, and me whether we will stay a trip more aboard the ship

to earn more money for the pay off, or sing off in the next port with

that money we had with.

"Listen" the little Dan, said, "I am going to sign off."

"I don't know, Westerber said, "I had a bad balance, the money

parted in Japan. We will get empty handed ashore."

"Don't bother, I said, I am going sign off with you."

"Your are crazy, I am not crazy, I won't to be marooned on

American shore with no money in my pocket, I will stay here on ship"

he put his hat on and went out to deck.

When I was up to bridge to bring my discharge book, I saw the

master talking with the Bloke,

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When the Bloke took my discharge book he scanned it and said,

"The main problem in the merchant nay is, that there is not enough

discipline on board the ship," I understood that this view was

addressed to the captain's ears alike mine.

The Pacific remains calm and foggy. There was multitude thinks

in my mind, one time I was ready to stay aboard and then I was sure

that was better get rid of the ship in next port.

The Bosuma was one most disgusting person I ever have met at

sea, or aboard of any ship I have been sailing. He always is against

his own men aboard with the ship's company. We crossed the day

line once more, and I was standing four hours on out look on the

forecastle head and the bloody Bloke did not send anybody to let me

to supper.

The gyro fell out of order and the manual steering was ordered.

The days wore and I was in changing mood. By the next night I

was sure, I will pay off in America.

We were sailing on order; for, we did not know for sure what

would be the next port to arrive.

There were always plenty of people in my cabin, playing cart and

talking and laughing nosily to midnight. The weather cooled up and

we continued the sailor's work that wasn't anything else but standing

at the endless outlook by night, and painting and washing the ship by

day. My working dungaree was stolen from the corridor and I had

only one par left. There was knowledge from the galley that we will

go to Portland, and I made up my mind to leave the ship in Portland,

There was argues between the captain and myself. I promised to pay

the life due of the Gatja. "The cat must to be cased exiting before you

leave, the captain declared. I got hot and bawled out.

"You not kill the cat as long as I am aboard this ship. No matter

are you captain or not," I said and I left the bridge clanging not

backward.

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In the evening I packed my things, there wasn't much to be pack;

the documents and my books.

At five o'clock next morning the American pilot limbed board

and quarter past six we made past the Astoria, hearing up the lovely

river of Columbia. The cool air changed into heat by the forenoon

and at arrival in the port of the Portland the day was already fell into

evening and the ship tied at lumber quay.

I signed out; so and I did the little Dane and the motorman who

was joined us, and whose name was Ivesen, he also was the man

who wore thick black mustache.

I got fifty-five dollars, and it was very poor off pay money for the

life on shore, it wasn't much but I knew that at the time there were

considerable easy to get shipped on some other ship.

We waived good-by and then marched together, in the single file

along the gangway to ashore. We arrived by a taxi cap in Frisco, and

took a communal room from the Hotel Bay, there were the harlot and

the little Dan and I were soon lack of six dollar. After eating the sup,

I took walk town to the down and bought a new trouser for the

dollars, and there was just left twenty-five.

Next day Ivesen said he has accepted an offer to sign on

Franksville, a ship that was bound for Europe. "Crazy deed." I said.

There was arguing again with the employing agent in the local

shipping office. As I entered the office the agent gave a glance over

me and said." Well, there is just a think I like to clear up. You have

serves just a short term aboard. You are going out and in. Now you

come and demand a new ship to be sign on. Would you tell me why

I should to find any ship more to you?"

That all made me feel very angry, and I had the feeling that the

agent must have something special against me.

At four o'clock I was back in Hotel and as the little Dan wasn't

there sat down for a while waiting for him, then as he seemed not turn

up I went down to the café below, there were few customers and the

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little Dan was sat also there. He was sitting sat at the table

accompanied by a girl, very common looking American girl. "Hallo,"

I said and joined,

"I have been looking for a ship," I said, there is anything but the

bastard in that office. No a job, so better go to St Petro."

"I will stay here," the little Dan said,

"It's you lookout" I said," Anyway I will start off and travels tomorrow

morning."

In St Petro I checked in the Hotel Crest, for a week, and paid six

dollar for the room. I was quite surprised next day to be find Ivesen

setting in the Marine Club, his mustache was hanging down,

"Are you here" I said with astonished.

"Martin!" he cried out, "Glad to see you. I am here as you see."

"What happen?" I asked.

"Look, there was an abuse aboard, I got drunk and they kicked

me out in time. That all, I am now here and no money. I have had

nothing for two days."

"I have twenty left and I am afraid, I cannot help you very much."

"A drink could makes good."

"That all right," I said and paid a cola and rum.

We went to the Submarine Cafe and found a new girl there. She

was a Mexican girl and very beauty; I drank great deal and then

waking along the streets.

On next day as I called at the shipping office with Ivesen, there

was an offer for two ordinary seamen on a ship named 'Ocean

under', and ship named 'Westa' seeking an oilier.

We had our money wasted and there wasn't much choice, even

we both were able seaman, and could have had better payment with

the job as A/B. We took the Ocean Thunder and went

To see the ship in the harbor, and found it being semi-passenger,

bound for the Far East. With low interest we watched the vessel and

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after promised be back to the muster in the morning we retuned to

Submarine Café. .

"What to do?" I asked of Ivesen.

"To take the job. Nothing else," Ivesen said

"Anyway, it not looks good."

"It will be all right."

The Mexican girl Flavia came and sat with us.

"When you sail?" she asked.

"To-morrow, I said, "I don want, but I've to."

She was wonderful but I was frozen, and sorry about to forced

leave to-morrow. I will not sail, if so, I will be back for Flavia as soon

as possible. I though that I will not seek any other girl for myself, for

I never could fin better than Flavia, sure I will not find.

I spent the night walking down and up the streets, from bar to bar,

being very boring, I at last entered see a cinema.

Next day there was the muster aboard, and in the evening, I

quickly visited in Submarine I didn't see Flavia. She had promised

yesterday to me, that she will not cam back to the Submarine bar any

more.

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We were out on the Pacific again. I got watch from eight to

twelve. Three of the deck men, including Ivesen, and myself took

down the top tackles of the derricks, and creased all them. As I toiled

aloft with the tackles I cursed the ship. She was worst 'norsk' I ever

have been on, with that substandard grub on board and the

atmosphere and the conduct and style aboard. I swerving and regret

that I have ever sing on her. I should have waited some other to

come.

On Wednesday we were overhauled all the tackle, and were

after that job dirty as the chimneysweepers, but there wasn't

freshwater for was washing ourselves. The chief mate explained that

there are so many passages aboard that the freshwater will not be

sufficient for Manila.

Bloody vessel, firth there was the animal grub, now no water for

wash

The monotone of sea continued with all those routine aboard,

from day to day and there was nothing worth of mention aboard the

vessel but the everlasting swarms of flying fish.

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One day I, and Ivesen were up on aft mast to washing it as I saw

a huge whale pouring her water high up into air on the starboard side

of the ship. She was making noise as if a huge pig was grunting.

I was sunburned and slim as real sailor used to be.

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We were sailing down the coast of Luzon, the sea calm and with

the high air temperature.

At five o'clock the ship was secured in port of Manila and the

gangway lowered. I always take a long walking after a long voyage,

on the strange shore, to shift the foreign smell in air and feel the firma

terra under. I saw her crossing the street and coming over. "Sailor?"

she asked with sing sang voice and told that her name was Linda. We

went together up to her place, I just drank a bottle coca-cola and

after fifteen minutes there was fourteen pesos s less in my purse.

It was small hour as I retuned aboard. And in the morning I arouse

to paint the shipside. The day heated up, it was hot and the day wore

slowly, I was stupor with fatigue and the heat around and being not

slept enough.

When evening came I was fresh and went ashore with Ivesen, We

called at the seaman club, and latter in the night we went to the Life

bar, there were people sitting at the tables, almost all them, local

trades and seafarers from the ships, and, of course, there were the

girls, too.

I sat with Berit, the name sounded very western, for the girls, and

young people had their great idols in America and they kept the habit

123

to adopt those western names. By the night I had neither money

anymore nor honey either, I retired back to the ship, in good order.

The work never ending on a seagoing ship, we painted, and

painted in the tropical heat.

I got ten pesos advance from the 'spark' and when got sold a loaf

of cigarette, I went ashore. I sat in the seaman club, then in the café

of the gatepost, and in the life bar. In the small hours I went again to

the café of the gatepost and found a girl there. She was sitting by

herself and I went over. She told her name; it was Rita and its

sounded good in my ears. She wore red frock

And she had long, black hair, se was beautiful in my eyes, and I

was delighted to be met her. We sat and drank cola, mixed with rum.

I felt been falling in love with Rita, She was a harlot, so what? I

also was a wandering sailor, what I could ask more, she was not

worse as I am and we get well along, I considered the situation.

It was cool in the early mornings; the sun not yet dried the iron wall

from dew, and the early moment of the morning still and fine.

Every morning we started the painting work, to be paint outside,

and inside the ship.

After the supper I borrowed four pesos from Ivesen and went

ashore, I went to the 'shipping canteen,' to met Rita there.

We sat there together for the mind night, with my poor knowledge

of the Spanish language. I was with her by five in the morning. With

great hurry we made the ship shaped by clearing the decks and

lowering the booms.

Rita came see me off and I saw her standing on the quay waving

her hand for farewell. We put to sea at six o'clock form Manila

bound for Japan.

There was storm blowing and we were anchoring five mils off a

lee shore waiting in shelter the storm to blow itself out. It raining and

storming all the day then the gale abated.

were high swell running and tossing and rolling the ship as we sailed

out from behind the shelter shore.

I washed my clothes in off watch; socks, pants and singles.

There was again the great expansion of the Pacific and the same

monotony of existence between the water and the sky, and the never

adding rolling of the ship and the same daily task aboard, to painting

and to washing the ship.

On Wednesday we came on the road of Kobe in Japan where

the 'spark' received a radio message, which ordered us at once, to

continue our voyage to port of Hirohata. It was late when we get the

ship tied at berth no: 3 then with great hurry we washed ourselves and

attired for ashore.

I and Iverson and an able seaman name Dutch-took a train and

by it we drove to Himeji, Why we had got so far, I had not idea.

We were sitting in a dinging house in a street that was lined with

the doors and there were in very oriental way, line of slippers out side

the doors. At fist we talked about the girls. I said that we have came

into quarter where probably not a girl wanted hung with the sailors,

even there were plenty of girls sitting at the tables of the bar.

"I wonder if there is any one as a business girl in present "said the

Dutch.

"Or any butterfly," I said.

I became aware of the girl at the next table, I have watching her

and she have replied to my staring whit a warm and pleasant smile,"

Maybe you would like some drink ," I started, She nodded and so

I went over.

Nico was nice girl, not a bit like a harlot. I drank much whisky and

after all that talk and laughing I took a room and we spent night

together.

I had lost totally my sense of days. Drinking so much whisky and

sake, and making so much love with so beautiful girls. When I next

time woke in the reality, it was Saturday and I had just a dim memory

of the couple past days.

We sailed in the evening and evidently Duck was missed the

departure and was deserted.

On Tuesday we passed the island of Okinawa

I cursed my salary being so slow. Despite the fact that there

probably had not enough the balance; I put demand of one hundred

and fifteen Hong's dollars, on the money list. By the evening we were

off the Batman, hearing straight towards Hong Gong, and still along

the Wednesday we drove with half speed to be arrival in the next

morning.

It was three o'clock in night when there was a lands fall, it was

the coast of China and in the daybreak we made into the port of Hong

Gong, and when the anchor was letting go, we were riding on the

road. During the riding at the road of Hong Gong there was the

speedboat service between the shore and the ship. The time was

limited, however I could not resist the call of the land and dropped

myself into boat and speeded ashore. I spent the day ashore as a

tourist, shopping and walking in the Kosvoloon. Lovely harbor it

was, but no time to linger longer ashore. When I was on way to return

I saw the Blue Jack flying above the monkey island, it indicted the

ship being stand-by to hive up the anchor.

We were heading with the full speed, through the calm water

towards a next tropical port in some tropical Island.

During the evening the engine was lowed down and the speed

dropped into twelve knots for avoid being arrival in the next port

before daybreak. Wonderful tropical full mooned lit the sea making

the night shining; the calm sea was lit by moonlight so bright that one

could have read a book in the light of the moon.

As the sun rose we drove in the St Fernando and anchored off

the Maxillas in afternoon

The chief mate ordered me to be the night watch aboard and I

went on poop deck to rest.

With the sunrise in the morning we hived up the anchor and

started for the port, mooring her at last at the wooden wharf, which

was in danger tumble down, and was trembling great deal as we

were driven by spring, to get the ship alongside.

It was a small port by the small town. The mountains were

towering behind the town, and the environment of the small town

green and soft, there was seen the long beach with white sand and

the trees. Blue sea was breaking wit surf over the sand.

After the duty aboard the ship was done and the evening had

came, I visited in the Star bar, drinking no more as couple of beer

and after selling four loafs American cigarettes I returned aboard the

ship.

Next day I was falling in love again. Why I had to find the best one

in the last night. The girl Ester was something best what I could find.

I was in love but not so fool as many times before.

We put the ship to sea half past the supper.

After one day at sea there was the Cebun. The morning of arrival

was hot as in hell and as I had been at watch all the night I was free

go to shore. I sat in Sally Store dirking Mallore and whisky. There

was two orient girl Sadie and Sally, she was flat faced brown eyes

and she had pretty legs and so was Sadie, they had equal legs and

faces and there was very little difference between those two sisters.

I, and Westerberg spent whole the evening with these two sister,

sitting in the Elsa's place, Sidie said she had to go home and she left

us later night. Westerberg tried to pick up Sallym along the night but

Sallym did not paid a smallest attention to him, so Westerbeg gave

up and started drink. "The world is going crazy" he sighed.

The next day was Sunday and I slept until six in the evening and

believing it being morning I went ashore.

I did not have any more money and Sadie said, "No more fuck

to-day," and turned her back to me. I sold my shirt to get pay the

drinks. One-eyed pimp entered the bar and said that he has good

girls for us.

I said I will have no a girl to day. The one eyed shrug. "Why, I offer

good girl for good men."

"No money, no honey," I singed out.

"Go then you ship to do your masturbation," the one eyed said.

I stood up and seized the man by throat and held it until his artificial

eye squeezed out and fell on the floor, I slaked and the man rattled

holding his throat, then bend down to find his class eye, when found

it, picked it up and sprang out of the door.

"You rely make him afraid."