http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/9d554d1e6a423d94f8629fd1d4bb04df.PDF c0fa191e950cfd0d3b50666e31b16ff5 PDF Text Text .i^mm SEAFARERS LOG • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL* M rV I SOVTHCS Story On Page 3 PR Dock Strike Ends: SIU Crews Return To Ships : V; ,./• • :• • Story On Page 3 ' -r-i. 'i'i 4\ 11 \ n\ -y.v CfCWiny l/p In operations after the end of the long­ shore strike in Puerto Rico, Seafarers haul their gear aboard the SS Kathryn, a Bull Line^ship in New York. The Kathryn was one of over 2Q SlU-contracted^ ships idled as a result of the AFL longshore union's strike for an improved contract. SIU crews were also dispatched to Bull Line, Waterman and Alcoa ships in other East Coast andHjrulf ports asT mountains of cargo were loaded for ship­ ment to the Island. (Story on Page 3.) •t - • .I V. • ' ' *' K*. r/" Th^ Indo-China Truce — And You! A SEAFARERS LOG SPECIAL REPORT Story On Page 2 [rfl �mr fi" hh" ' Page Two The Indo- ^'E'AFAnERS %&a AMuti t. 1954 Trnce—Ahd Yon! What effect will the Indo-Chlna truce have on: # The number of SlU ships calling In Indo-Chlna? • The possibility of Communist attacks on SlU ships? e The cargoes slated for other southeast Asia countries? The effects of the recently-ended Indo-China war will be felt everywhere for years to come. And the American merchant marine, which has been a major strand in the Indochinese lifeline—as a matter of fact in the lifeline of all Southeast Asia —is right in the middle of the storm. Briefly, this is what the loss of northern Indo-China under the truce means to the world in general and to the men who crew America's merchant ships. • The trade, land and resources of 14 million people have been lost to the West, with every possibility that 12 million people in the southern parr of the State of Vituoan around Saigon will eventually go"* a far richer prize than Korea that- the harbor is completely Communist, along with mil­ ally over which Americans fought so jammed with US ships because lions more in Laos and Cam­ bitterly for three years. From the the Defense Department has di­ Seafarer Eye-witness Report By Peter Prevas—SS Seacomet Saigon, Vietnam, Indo-China—"Tlie ammunition docks'' (where many ships unload first) "are fourteen miles from here and the only transportation available is at 0800 hours and 1700 hours because the road is blockaded at both ends. At various points on the road there are forts with barbed, wire strung around them. In the night the Communists come out of .the jungle and there have been . . . several acts of violence... "Aboard the ships discharging ammunition there are about 15 legionnaires who are on 24 hour guard duty. Coming up the river to Saigon, soldiers rig up machine guns on the fantails of all ships ... The French are unable to give us the proper security." VIETNAM— Country 41vided Touchly along tht 17th Parallel. South- ViitRam compriMt an area of 30,000 iq..RU., with a popu­ lation of 10,000,000, a large rice iurplut and the ehief port and urban center, Sai­ gon. North Vietnam in­ clude* an area of 77,000 aq. mi., with a population of 12,000,000; it is a food-deficit area despite its rich rice fields, but it has important export resources in iti an•thracite coal mines, tin, lead, sine and wolfram. bodia, the two other Indo-Chinese point of view of the military man, verted all arms deliveries to the states. Result: eventually no more Indochina is the military key to South for fear that the supplies SIU ships will carry goods to these a very large part of Southeast Asia. would fall into Communist hands If the Communists do manage to at Haiphong. Just how long Saigon areas. seize it all (which is expected in will hold out is anybody's guess. • Other huge, populous and im­ the long run) they would be follow­ It's expected though, that for the portant southeast Asia areas are ing in the footsteps of the Japanese directly threatened including the in 1940. The Japanese occupied time being, the US will continue Philippine Islands and the port of Indo-China first before Pearl Har­ to pour aid into southern IndoChina, and step up its assistance to Manila; Malaya bor. Thailand and Malaya. A lot de­ and the island of Indo-China Is also a rich prize pends on whether the US can Singapore and Thailand CSiam). to the economy of the Communist succeed in forming a line extend­ As a matter of world, because it is one of the few ing from the Philippines, to Malaya LAOS^ThB Bon-CoBifact, the entire places in Asia that has a surplus to Thailand to become the new of rice that will now go to feed a barrier in case Saigon goes Com­ muniata hold entire area of southern part of hungry 91,000 aq. mi^—with popula­ China. munist. Asia, including tion of 1,200,000- except fbr These are the long range pros­ such vast countries as India, Pak­ two aalientt in the north. One Seafarer who recently re­ The Communiets agree to istan, Burma and Indonesia is un­ pects. The immediate problem turned from Indo-Chlna reported recognlic the Frencn-apender the lengthening shadow of the faced by Seafarers on their ships that the atmosphere and the mood aorcd Government of Laoe. is one of going into ports like is the same as when he saw the Communist threat. Saigon and Haiphong that are in­ • To Indo-China alone the US fested with Communist sympathi­ countries of Europe one by one fall CAMBODIA-The nonsent 2.5 billion dollars worth of zers and active Communist agents. under the control of Hitler before Coramuniata hold entire area World War II. "Everybody over goods in recent years. US mer­ Haiphong, the port of Hanoi in the of 54,000 aq. mL with a pop­ INOOCHINAt chant ships and the seamen who north, will be evacuated within the there has the jitters," he said. "It ulation of 4,000,000. Cctm CMnmwmt 4(44*1 looks like we seaman are again in munifte agree to recegnire man ships there now will continue next ten months. As the French French-aponiered regime. a front seat to history." NMXMMMIIKII aceti to operate at the very edge of the troops withdraw, the underground no man's land between the Com­ Communists can be expected to be­ munist and non-Communist worlds. come increasingly bolder. , In doing so, these ships and men Nor are conditions in Saigon, in are exposed daily to a variety of incidents, each one of which could the Southern part of Vietnam have grave consequences. An at­ much better. Theoretically, under tack on a single US merchant ship the terms of the truce, the Com­ could touch off another Korea- munist guerrilla forces are sup­ posed to leave the southern section type war or more. of the divided country and move • Thailand is likely to become north in the same ten-month period the key front in the south of Asia, that the French evacuate Hanoi. just as South Korea is the key front in the north, and US aid Communist Move to Take Over shipments that formerly went into Communist leader Ho Chi Minh Haiphong and Saigon can now be has already called for Communist expected to flow in increasing occupation of Saigon and his sup­ amount to Singapore and Ko Si porters are already hard at work, Chang, the port for the Siamese aided by corrupt politicians. The capitol of Bangkok. conservative US publication "Busi­ ness Week" quotes a Saigon busi­ Country Of Rich Resources as saying "Everyone is Of itself a land largely unknown nessman Vietminh (Communist) here: the to Westerners, Indo-China is actu- coolies unloading our ships, the pedicab.boys even the secretaries in my office. Why shouldn't they be? What have we ever done for Aug. 6. 1954 Vol. XVI, No. 16 them?" As I See It Page 4 Further, "Business Week" goes Burly Page 16 on to say, the black market is be­ Crossword Puzzle ..; Page 8 ing deliberately cultivated by Seafarers check the back pay list of Scatrain Lines at SHJ headquarters for money due under the Editorials Page. 9 French interests at the expense of retroactive provlsioa of the new freight contract. Other SlU-oontracted fkelght eompanies were Galley Gleanings Page 15 the population. The French, it readying similar lists which will net Seafarers thousands of dollars in back pay. Inquiring Seafarer Page 8 charges, are now milking Saigon Labor Round-Up Page 8 for whatever they can get before A sizable group of SlU-contracted freight companies are nearing completion of back wage Letter of The Week Page 9 they have to pull out. And local lists while other SIU companies are now ready with thousands of dollars for the men who • Letters Page 16 Vietnam politicians, the magazine •f" Maritime Page 8 declares, "are more likely to work manned their ships. operators. Companies not listed in New York or in Mobile of his Meet The Seafarer Page 8 with Ho's agents who are now mov­ In many cases the back below have not yet set a specific new address. Notices, Personals Page 17 ing more and more into the open." owned to crewmembers has date and procedure for handling American Merchant Marine SS ' Off Watch Page 14 is the kind of situation that already been sent out. The back wage payments. Corp.—^Payments will be ready in Port Reports Pages 1.1, 13 theThis Seafarer finds when he comes bulk of the companies that have In all cases when writing a com­ three to five weeks. Seafarers Quiz Page 14 to Saigon. Seafarer Peter Prevas— not begun payments are expected pany be sure to give the name of should contact the., company at 17 Ships' Minutes Page 17 in the accompanying eye-witness to swing into action within the the ship, the dates of sign-on and Batteigr Place, New York City. SIU History Cartoon Page 6' report—describes the conditions next couple of weeks. payoff, your rating, social security Bloomfleld Steamship Company Sports Line ...Page 15 now prevalent in Saigon. Inasmuch as retroactivity ex­ number and Z number. —August 19 will be starting data Top of The News Page 6 Seafarers in the port at the time, tends back to October 1, 1953, the Alcoa Steamship Company: for payments. Inquiries should ba Vote of Thanks Page 9 Prevas reported, including crew- average Seafarer will receive Checks have already been put in addressed to the company- at PO Washington News Letter.. Page 7 Welfare Benefits Pages 18, 19 members from the Steel Admiral, checks from more than one ship the mails to the Jast-known address Box 1450, Houston, Texas. of the Seafarer, except if a man is Bull Steamship Company — All Welfare Report ..Page 18 Alcoa Pioneer,.Seacomet and Beau­ and company. Tho following is a partial list still aboard an Alcoa vessel. Those checks have since gone out in..tht Your Dollar's Worth Page 5 regard, had a meeting about these problems including the difficulties of companies and their plans men on the ships will get their ^nail. Seafarers who have not PublfshMl biwMkly at tho haadquartars of tho Saafarars Infarnational Union, At­ they have been having with local for handling retroactive payrolls. back pay at the next payoff. Any received payments from this com­ lantic A Gulf District AFL, «75 Fovrth authorities over possession of Tanker companies are not included iSeafarer who worked for Alcoa and pany should get in touch with the Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY. Tel. HVaeinth 9-fMO. Entered as second class matter American currency. in this round-up as negotiations are changed his address since last New York office, 115 Broad Street, at the Post Office in Brooklyn, NY., The latest word from Saigon is still in progress with some of the October should notify the company (Continued on page'17) < » under Nie Act of August 24, 1*12. mCML REPORT Co's Ready Back Pay Lists SEAFARERS LOG A't; �ill!#. Aivust 6. 19S4 SEAFARERS Pase Three LO€ SO US-Flag Ships Given Transfer OK Mobile SIU representative Louis Neira hands shipping card to a waiting Seafarer while other men await their dispatch cards. Men were among 70 crewmembers shipped to the Waterman ships Monarch of the Seas and Morning Light to resume service to Puerto Rico at end of longshore strike. WASHINGTON—^The already weakened Ameri­ can merchant marine was dealt a stunning blow with the^nnouncement this week by Maritime Administrator Louis Rothschild that approval had been granted for the transfer of 80 American-flag Liberty ships. Included on the list of ships seeking ships of the American merchant to fly "runaway" flags are marine." Hall stated that this not means the loss of thousands 26 ships now under con­ only of jobs in the industry, it also tract to the SIU. SIU Secretary - Treasurer Paul Hall termed the Roths­ means setting these ships up in business against us. "In a short time such transfers could drive all but the subsidized American ships child move "a torpedo to the midright off the seas." Acted Alone Rothschild acted apparently sin­ gle-handed although both the House and Senate maritime com­ mittees had previously requested delays on the transfers until Con­ gress had a chance to set policy on the US tramp shipping fleet. These CHICAGO—Windings up a requests had held up the transfers Holds bulging with cargo, SIU ships on the Puerto Rican run were back on the sea lanes since May, but now with Congress three-day convention at the Atlantic Hotel, delegates rep­ as the government of Puerto Rico seized the docks to end a 35-day longshore strike. Sixty- in its closing days, the Maritime resenting 50,000 AFL' longshore­ five hundred AFL longshoremen went back to work after the island's legislature hastily Administrator seemingly felt free to go ahead with the transfers men completed the business of set­ passed a law permitting Gov->' ting up a new autonomous union, ernor Munoz Marin to seize and a fourth Waterman ship, the posals by the union call for a 20- without much possibility of inter­ Morning Light, has been put on cent wage package to be spread ference from Congress. the International Brotherhood of the docks. the run temporarily to take care over a two-year pediod. Rothschild has specified that Longshoremen (AFL). Most directly affected by the such transfers should go only to In the course of the convention, tie-up, of course, was the SIU- of the cargo that piled up during the flags of Panama, Liberia and delegates drafted and approved a manned Bull Line which concen­ the course of the walkout. Honduras, the three runaway flags constitution for the union, elected trates on the island run. Two Bull Alcoa was the least affected by known for their low-cost competi­ a president, sec­ Line ships, the Hilton and the the tie-up since its ships all by­ tion with American ship operators. retary - treasurer Marina, were in Puerto Rico at the passed San Juan and made their Appearing on the back page and 15 vice-presi­ time of the strike, but both were regular island-hopping stops Wires To Companies of this issue is the full text dents, and made able to sail after the strike began. throughout the Caribbean. When The Maritime Administrator has of the amendments to the SIU plans for a spe­ The rest of the 17-ship fleet was the strike ended, the Alcoa Run­ wired all the applicants setting the standard dry cargo agreement cial convention laid up, with the exception of one ner in New York was loaded to full other "conditions" for the trans­ as signed by SlU-contracted next year. Nor­ ship put on the Santo Domingo capacity, over 11,000 tons, and sent fers as follows: dry cargo operators. Money mally though, the run. With the strike over, all Bull on her way to San Juan. • They must not trade with Iron items of these amendments union will meet Line ships are now operating. One other SIU ship, the Barbara Curtain countries. are retroactive to October 1, once every three Frietchie, is still tied up in Puerto Waterman, another major oper­ • The ships must remain under 1953. years. ator in Puerto Rico, had the Clai­ Rico as a result of a dispute over Lonr American ownership. Also in this issue is the new Meanwhile, the borne and Azalea City in San Juan the hiring of longshpremen for her • The owners must post bond to wage and overtime scale in ef­ AFL cut into the vote lead of the throughout the strike, while the operations. It's expected that this show that they would pay mort­ fect on SIU dry cargo ships old ILA as the National Labor Re­ Monarch of the Seas was laid up will be cleared up within a day or gages that they owe the US Gov­ under the terms of the lations Board started its tally of in Mobile because of the tie-up. two. ernment. amended contract. Negotia­ disputed ballots in the May elec­ All three ships are now moving Meanwhile, negotiations are still The last requirement is the only tions with tanker operators for tion for New York dockworkers. in progress over the wage issues new "condition" for the transfers. changes in the tankship agree­ The new union picked up 56 votes of the strike with a settlement re­ As was pointed out in an article ment are still going on. as the Labor Board countetf 670 ported close at hand.' Present pro-V in the May 14 LOG, these opera­ disputed ballots and now trails the tors were in hock to the Maritime old ILA by 263 votes. Still to be Administration for the sum of $16 disposed of are 1,097 more disputed million since many of them had ballots. never paid a cent on mortgage The New York regional office has principal owed to the US Govern­ recommended that all but 630 of ment. Under the original transfer the remaining ballots be thrown proposals they would not even out" as? in valid. The 630 votes con­ Nominations for all SIU At­ have legal obligation to pay off sist pi the ballots their mortgages. lantic & Gulf District offices of hatch" bosses SIU Opposed '' will be open on August 12 fol­ whose eligibility The SIU and other maritime Is still in dispute. lowing presentation of the secre­ unions have been bitterly opposed The AFL-IBL tary-treasurer's ballot report to to the transfers on the grounds convention was the njembership on August 11. that they only worsen the prob­ attended by 212 Under the terms of the Union lem of remaining US-flag ships delegates includ­ constitution, the ballot report will which have to meet more and more ing several rep­ contain the secretary-treasurer's of the low-wage, low-cost runaway resenting AFL recommendations on the structure flag operation. At the very least, longshoremen in Slaughter of the SIU election ballot, that is, the SIU held that the Maritime the New York the number of offices that are to Administration should require re­ area. Aside from adopting its con­ be filled by election, the titles of placement of transferred ships stitution and changing the name the offices and the division of of-, with equivalent tonnage under the of the organization, the delegates fices between headquarters and US flag. made plans for intensive organiz­ the various outports. The latter requirement had been ing efforts on the Great Lakes and If approved by the membership, a general rule with the Maritime in the New York metropolitan area. Administration until it "relaxed" They received assurances from the recommendations will form the its transfer policy last January. AFL President George Meany that basis under which Seafarers can Since then pressure has been grow­ full support would be given to fur­ nominate themselves for the vari­ ous elective offices. Nominations ing from tramp operators to ap­ ther organizing in New York. prove transfers under the most Among those elected at the con­ will run for a full month, from lenient circumstances. vention were Larry Long of St. August 12 to September 12; Full details on the number and Already transferred this year un­ Louis as president; E. L, Slaughter, Duluth, Minnesota, secretary-treas­ type of elective offices as well as der the "relaxed" policy are sev­ In New York the Bull Lines Kathryn took a full erew and resumed eral Liberty tankers as well as four urer; and John Dwyer, Vincent on the nominations and election regular serviee to Puerto Rico. Here A. Veya, Oiler, prepares to dry cargo ships. Three of these Erato, Chester El and Carlyle procedure will be carried in the turn to by" turning over shipping card from SIU to A. Oquendo, had been under contract to the Bums from the New York area as next issue of the SEAFARERS engine department delegate. SIU. LOG. four ofi the ,15 viicerpresidents. AFL's Pier Union Maps Tie-Up Ends; Bull, Alcoa, New Drive Waterman Sailing To PR LOG Prints Pact Changes SIU Ballot Report Set �• ^•r-v.;^.;'^;v twu 'S^EAFAnERS LOG Ancul f, MS4 Roadway Truck Takes Bite From NO Hail \ i-- '•. UNDER OUR AMENDED FREIGHT AGREEl^ENT, THE OPERAtors are now putting travelers' checks aboard the ships to be Issued to the crews when they get draws in a foreign port. When all the kinks have been worked out your Union Is hopeful it will put an end to beefs that have arisen over currency exchanges. Without being a specialist in international finance, the seaman knows that in many countries the American dollar is the only kind of dough that commands any purchasing power. In a lot of places, the local cur­ rency comes in thousand-note units but it seems the bigger the units are, the less the local currency is worth. Now going into this matter a bit further, a great many of fiiese coun­ tries have two different rates of exchange. One rate is the "official" rate, which is usually way out of line with what the current^;^ ls worth. The other is the "free" rate. For example, if you were vtO -take a look at a currency exchange rate list you would find that on the official rate the Seafarer in Brazil is entitled to only 18 cruzeiros to the dollar. These same currency exchange charts list a free rate on which you could get about 60 cruzeiros for your dollar bilL It's quite a pain­ ful difference, if the skipper or the company agent has issued cruzeiros to the Seafarer at the official rate. When your Union asked the shipowners to issue draws in dollars to keep Seafarers from getting skinned on these deals we found that in Examining truck damage to the canopy in front of the New Orleans SIU hall, are (left to right) some instances the operators could not, or would, not, obtain the dol­ Seafarers George Neyrey, DM, John Stewart, DM and Lee Massicot, AB. The canopy was knocked lars in certain ports. Now as you well know, the travelers' check is loose from its moorings when a haulaway truck pulled too clo^ to the curb. as good as the dollar anywhere in the world, and a lot safer to carry around. That was why the Union set up this special travelers' check clause in our amended agreement. * ! Naturally with something brand new like this, never before attempted in the maritime industry, there might be a few snags along the line before the whole thing is working smoothly and all the ships are prop­ WASHINGTON—^Both House of Congress are pushing toward adjournment with some erly supplied. Headquarters would certainly appreciate hearing from major maritime bills passing the final test but others, notably the permanent "50-50" bill, the membership how they feel the clause is working out. getting lost in the shuffle. t t 4 ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THAT Already approved by both built by them would get ten year permanent "50-50" bill, eagerly the House and the Senate is charters, while the Navy would sought by maritime interests and of shore leave at certain military bases, seems to be working out: as a build five on its own and charter unions, but opposed by result of the SIU's action in winning a new Defense Department rule. the bill calling for construc­ them out to private operators. All maritime the administration and the State The original regulation issued in November,. 1951, gave the head of tion of 20 high speed tankers, five by the Navy and 15 by private in all, 30 new tankers woulcj be Department, is bottled up in the the Eighth Army in Korea authority to decide whether or not civilians to the US fleet. House Rules Committee. The bill could come ashore in Korean ports. The result was that even after operators for long term charter to added Other bills going through are had already passed the Senate. the Korean truce, local commanders were issuing orders prohibiting the Navy, as well as another tanker one calling for conversion of four Maritime interests are convinced leave to merchant seamen. The practice spread and before long Sea­ trade-in bill. The second bill Government-owned Liberty ships would provide for private con­ to modem-type propulsion as part the House would vote for the bill farers were being denied shore leave in a variety of other places far struction of 10 more new tankers of an experimental program, 100 if the Rules Committee would al­ removed from Korea. As a result, your Union got together with Defense Department offi­ in return for which the Govern­ percent mortgage guarantee for low it out, but chances are con­ sidered slim that this would be cials in Washington and a new order was issued advising the local mili­ ment would take a "trade-in" of construction of special type ves­ done. The Rules Committee de­ tary people that every effort was to be made to provide shore leave for 20 T2s. These older ships would sels, apparently on the line of Sea- termines the order in which leg­ merchant seamen. go into the Government reserve train-type ships and authorization islation reaches the floor of the Just a few days ago, headquarters received a report from the SIUfleet. for the Defense Department to buy House. manned Seamonitor while it was iir the small port of Pohang, Korea. The Navy bill gives the opera­ The Kings Point bill, as passed It appeared that when the ship arrived in port, the crew was in­ tors assurance that 15 other ships or lease six rail car carrier ships. Another bill deals with the con­ by the House, would provide for formed that no shore leave was permitted. But a few days later, mili­ struction of new passenger liners a permanent merchant marine tary headquarters in Korea informed the officer in charge of the port for American President Lines and academy with status similar to that all restrictions should be lifted and seamen should be permitted conversion of Mariners for that that of West Point or Annapolis. to land. company. This was the first instance of shore leave restriction called to the This bill is also opposed by the Bills that have run into a snag administration and is not expected attention of headquarters since the new regulations went into effect. are the permanent "50-50" bill and to make any headway ..in the The lifting of the restrictions in this instance indicates that all is working out well on that score. the Kings Point Academy bill. The Senate. Hope Dims For ^50-50' Law R.Sweeney, Former SIU Patrolman Winner A !$tar in Studies. Athletics The SIU lost one of its old-time Gulf district members when Ray W. Sweeney, former patrolman and port agent, passed away aboard the Seatrain Louisiana on July 6. He was 51 years of age. An engine department man throughout his Sailing days, Swee­ ney joined the SIU in Mobile on March 15, 1939, a few months af­ ter the SIU A&G District was char­ tered. For sev­ eral* years he served as e n gine patrolman at headquarters, Sweeney and at Galves­ ton. He also served as temporary port agent in Galveston for a brief period. In 1947 Sweeney went back to sea, sailing "regularly on the coastwise ships of the Seatrain Lines.In accordance - with his last wishes, Sweeney's remains were cremated and his ashes placed aboard the Seatrain Louisiana to be cast on the sea. The ceremony was carried out in the port of Savannah on Tuesday, July 27, at 4 PM. Crewmembers and Seatrain Lines sent flowers, as, did the •Upion, to pay respects, to the de­ parted brother. "It's SO wonderful that I still can't believe that it's true," said 18-year-old Jack Game, son of Seafarer lEddie S. Game and one of four 1954 SIU scholarship award winners who will be studying at college this fall+ with the aid of a four-year $6,-' hand in these matters, since the 000 grant provided by the SIU rest of the family, his mother, dad, and younger brother and sister, Welfare Plan. The youthful scholarship win­ figure he can manage very well on ner, whose home is in Bryson City, his own. Game piled up an enviable North Carolina, is the only child record throughout his schooling, of a Seafarer to win the coverted both in the classroom and out of award this year. The remaining it, and graduated first in his class three awards in the annual com­ of 73 at Swain County High School. petition went to active Seafarers. Bom in Pine Level, a small In 1953, the year the SIU scholar­ town near Raleigh, NC, he also also ship program began, all four win­ lived for a short while in both ners, three girls and one boy,-were Norfolk, Va., and in Wilmington, children of active SIU men;. NC, before the family eventually moved to Whittier, NC. Whittier is a small place nestled among the This is the third in a series of feature articles on the four mountains near. Great Smoky 1954 award winners under the Mountain National Park in the SIU Scholarship Plan. western part of the state, where he entered grammar school imd Still very much excited over his spent all of his childhood years. good fortune, young Game intends In high school he took a college to enter- the University of North preparatory course and crowded in Carolina in September, .but hasn't a lot of extras besides. He was yet decided exactly what course elected president of his cl^s for he'll pursue over the four-year four straight years, was vice-presi­ period. Although he admits to a dent of the student council in his great interest in mathematics, he junior year, president the last year, isn't quite certain whether he'll and served as co-editor of the shoot for a degree in accounting, school yearbook. engineering or something else Although these. various posts completely afield, of those courses. kept him busy,, he-alsq managed to' Apparently he's to haye a free sandwich .flito his; reg.ula)i school. Jack Game courses some subjects on the distinctly practical side, such as typing and bookkeeping, . which helped him in part-time and sum­ mer jobs. He spent the. last four summers working either at a serv­ ice station or motor, court and -tbis year has a job in the accounting department for, the - Indian drama "Unto These Hills," which is being produced at the nearby village ot Cherokee. . With all of this, and the ability to , maintain nearly ;a. straight "ik". average in all courses. Game was not idle on the athletic field either. A three-letter man, he won his spurs in baseball (1st base), foot­ ball (right halfback) and basketball (forward), and was captain of both the baseball and basketball teams which won the Ipcal jppjrterence championship in those sports. He also made the ajl-cbnference tournament basketball team in both his junior and senior years, gen­ erally averaging 20 points a game. In baseball, he finished his last season with a' batting average of .480. The family has another fine athlete tod. Jack admits to many hours of practice in the gym with his younger brother, Bobby, 16, who has also been a three-letter man each year he's been in high school. Bobby, who has hopes of playing pro baseball someday, hasn't lost a single game in high school and has what Jack calls "a tremendous strike-out record" as a pitcher. All in all. Seafarer Eddie Game has a stand-out family and is proud of the fact that his Union made it possible for his son to win a four-year college scholarship. Sail­ ing in the steward department on SIU ships since-1946. the elder Game has-been sailing regularly for the past year on Ore-Line ships out-.ef-<fialUiDfil«b// u. �a>iSS62: irr"'fTliiiria»ii tT:,7rT.viJJ !J Ancmt 6r If 54 SEAFARERS LOG ^Pare Five Canada Loses Ocean Fleet MONTREAL—Once the possessor of the fourth largest ocean-going merchant fleet in the world, Canada now has only 19 deep-sea dry-cargo ships operating under the Canadian flag, and the largest of these, a 9,000-ton immigrant liner, is up for sale. All vessels sels were manned by members of the-*' SIU's Canadian District. No Canadian-flag shipping is Alarmed over the situation, advo­ The disappearance of the cates of an immediate buiid-up of operating out of the major port of Canadian-flag merchant fleet, which had as many as 600 ships in 1945, is accounted for largely by whole­ sale transfers to foreign flags. Over one million tons of Canadianowned shipping is now under-Brit­ ish registry and lesser amounts under other flags. the country's merchant marine point out that government subsidy policies are far too inadequate to match the lure of foreign wages and standards. Although Canada exports about one-third of her total production, most of it is now mov­ ing on foreign vessels. Your SllJ Meeling Rights A group of Argentine unionists in Buenos Aires take seats as Del -Mar crew prepares to show film depicting operations of the SlU. Ship's Delegate Mike Casanueva served as interpreter for the film's commentary. Argentine Workers 'See' SlU-Crew Shows Film NEW ORLEANS—From Seafarers aboard the Del Mar (Mississippi) a group of Argentine maritime workers received first' hand information recently about how the SIU secures and maintains the top condi--*SIU contract, said Casaneuva, ^ho tion ih maritime. as interpreter for the com­ More than 60 officers and served mentary in the SIU film. Many members of the Asociacion Maritima Argentina (Argentine Marltime Association) visited the Del Mar while the ship was in B'uenos Aires and saw a showing of the Union's color documentary film, "The Seafarers." The meeting was arranged through the cooperative efforts of Albert Pinaranda, a former Sea­ farer now living in .his native Ar­ gentina, Eduardo Brown, an offi­ cial of AMA, and Mike Casanueva, ship's delegate, and Dick Martinez, BR, on the Del Mar. The Argentine maritime workers showed great interest in the Sea­ farers' Welfare Plan and in wages and conditions guaranteed under questions also were put to the Sea­ farers about membership rights guaranteed under the Union's con­ stitution and shipping rules, invited Ashore The Del Mar crew was invited by the officers of the association, which represents some 70,000 waterfront workers, to be guest of the AMA and its members at a barbecue and tour of AMA head­ quarters during the Del Mar's next stay in Buenos Aires. "We made many good friends during this affair who will help to make our future visits to this port even more enjoyable," said Mar­ tinez. In order to constantly remind all SIU members of their con­ stitutional rights in SW membership meetings, the following state­ ment is read at the opening of all SIU meetings throughout the nation. These are the democratic principles which guide all SIU meet. ings: Any member present at this meeting and in good standing, who so desires, has a right to nominate himself to any official meeting job in this meeting. This also applies to a place on any committee that may be elected at this meeting. Any member present in good standing has the right at any time, if he so desires, to challenge the decision of the chair or ask for a division of the house on any sucn question. Any member may also request a show of books of each man present who may vote on any question. Copies of the minutes of tonight's meeting will be available in advance of the next regular meeting in the business office for the benefit of any member in good standing who wishes to read or study same before the next regular meeting commences. In addition to tonight's minutes being made available, the mem­ bership is advised that in each SIU business office where a Port is maintained in the continental United States, minutes of ali SIU meetings, regular, special, financial, or otherwise are always avail­ able to any member in good standing who-desires and so requests to read and study same. The officials and committeemen who will be elected at our meet­ ing here tonight as well as all of our other members present will be guided in the conduct of this meeting by the following. 1. The Union constitution. 2. Majority vote of the membership. 3. Robert's rules for order. If, in the opinion of any member in good standing present, he is denied by this meeting any of the above-mentioned rights, he is requested to call this to the attention of the secretarytreasurer, by registered mail, special delivery, return receipt re­ quested, before the next regular meeting so that the secretarytreasurer will have sufficient time to submit copies of any such protest and a report on same to the membership at the foilowing regular membership meeting for action thereon. In order to establish whether or not there is a quorum present, will all of those members in good standing please hold their books up so that they can be counted. The membership count shows that there is a quorum present. Therefore, this meeting will now come to order. The first point on the agenda tonight will be the election of officials for this meeting. YOUR DOLLAR'S SEAFARERS GUIDE TO BETTER BUYING Beware Finance Company 'insurance' Nowadays three out of five 'cars are bought on time payments. Judging from the reports by the SIU Welfare Services department. Seafarers too tend to do their ear l^uying on the installment plan. In buying a car on time, often the finance company or dealer provides the insurance and adds the co^t to your monthly payments. This may seem like a convenient way to secure auto-insurance, and in fact, sometimes the finance company insists or high-pressures you to buy it from them. But this could turn out to be both expensive and dan­ gerous. For one thing, the rates charged by a finance company or dealer for insurance are generally higher than charged by many mutual companies and other low-cost insurance sellers. But even more important, often the finance companies provide only enough insurance on the car to protect their own interest in it. That is, they insure the car against fire, theft and collision damage so if the car is damaged they are sure to be reimbursed. But they do not provide liability insurance to protect you from being sued. Now of bourse you could go out and buy liability in­ surance in addition, so that if your car hurts someone else the insurance company will pay the amount of damage up to the limit of your policy. But often the buyer of a car on time payments does not even realize that he has no stich liability protection.- The New York State Insurance Dept. last year reported that mahy buyers are completely Unaware that insurance policies supplied by finance com­ panies provided no liability insurance. Now that state at least requires finance companies to prominently say so on the policy form if it does not include bodily injury or property damage liability insurance. -Nor does New York any longer permit finance com­ panies to compel borrowers to buy auto insurance from them when equivalent or better coverage is available from other companies. In that state, at least, you can shop for your insurance when you buy a car on time. Seafarers living in other states should watch these points too. Actually the liability insurance is more important for you to carry than collision insurance reimbursing you for damage to your own car, especially if yours is an older one. In fact, it doesn't pay to carry collision insurance on an older car because of the high rates for this type of coverage. Note that any non-reimbursed damage to your vehicle is always tax deductible if*you itemize your de­ ductions. If you do feel you want collision insurance to protect a comparatively new car, than consider buying the $100deductible type instead of the $50-deductible. Because more owners buy the $50-deductible, the companies tend to charge disproportionately more for it, since there are then many more claims, and it costs them as much to handle a small claim, as a larger one. The $100-deductible policy costs 28 to 45 per cent less than the $50 tj'pe, de­ pending on the company and your area. Shopping For Insurance • As you see, it pays to shop for your own insurance. The lowest-cost companies; some of whom sell insurance for as much as 35 per bent below standard rates, are generally tnofe selective about whom they will insure. "iThey tend Vancouver at all these days and even in the coastal trades the Brit­ ish flag is becoming more frequent than the Canadian. About half the normal Great Lakes tonnage is idle and construction for this service as well as deep-sea operation is nil. Few observers hold out any hope for a revival of the industry. 'Runaways' Seen Threat By British For some time now, US maritime interests in general and the SIU in particular have been complaining of the deadly threat facing the American mer­ chant marine by low-cost, lowwage operations under the runaway flags. Now it appears, the flight of shipping to the runaway flags of Panama, Liberia and Honduras is growing so great as to cause Brit­ ish shipping considerable concern. This of itself is an indication of the low level on which the run­ away ships operate because few nations have been more successful at low-cost operations than Great Britain. While no British ships have been transferred foreign yet (although that too may comet a recent pub­ lication of "The Seaman," organ of the National Union of Seamen of Great Britain, expresses concern over the decline of British shipping and the growth of Panamanian and Liberian operations. Where once Great Britain had one-half of the world's merchant ships, it now is down to 20 percent. Few ships are on order for Brit­ ish-flag operations, the magazine added, and shipowners are com­ plaining that they cannot pay for new ships. Written exclusively for THE SEAFARERS LOG. by Sidney Margolius, Leading Expert on Buying to avoid the very young and very old drivers, and try to select those with good safety records. But you should try them first. Here is a list of iow-cost companies, with the least expensive ones listed first, together with addresses of their home offices if you can't locate their local rep­ resentatives: Factory Mutual Liability Ins. Co., Providence, RI; California Casualty Indemnity Exchange, San Francisco; Auto Club of Southern Calif., Los Angeles; State Farm Mutual Auto Ins. Co., Bloomington, 111.; Farm Bureau Mutual Auto. Ins. Co., Columbus, O.; Government Em­ ployes Ins. Co., Washington, DC; California State Auto. Assn., San Francisco; Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., Boston; Hardware Mutual Casualty Co., Stevens Point, Wise.; American Mutual Liability Ins. Co., Boston; Keystone Auto Club Casualty Co., Philadelphia; Employers Mutual Liability Ins. Co., Wausau, Wise.; Lumbermen's Mutual Casualty Co., Chicago; Allstate Insurance Co., Chicago; Detroit Auto. Inter-Ins. Exchange, • Detroit; State Auto Ins. Assn., Indianapolis; Utica Mutual Ins. Co., Utica, NY; Employers Mutual Casualty Co., Des Moines, la.; Ameri­ can Motorists Ins. Co., Chicago, 111.; California Compensa­ tion Ins., San Francisco; Auto Owners Ins. Co., Lansing, Mich.; Merchants Mutual Casualty Co., Buffalo, NY. Younger Drivers As you may know, auto insurance rates for younger drivers are highest of all because of the bad accident record of this group. But one company. State Farm Mutual, has only one rate for all classes of drivers, including the youngsters. While State Farm Mutual makes no extra charge, it is selective and won't accept all young drivers. Still, it Is worth trying this company first if you are in this situation. -<^1 •-^1 >>1 '^1 m �'v-- rase Ite SEAFARERS Aesm* t, 1*84 LOG HINT BLOOMFIELD PLANS MERGER Reports in maritime circles late last month concerning a ^ssible merger between the SlU-cpntracted Bloomfield Shipping Company and States Marine Lines remain unchanged AGREEMENT NEAR ON IRAN OIL—All details of an international this week, as the projected link-up has apparently not gone beyond the talking stage. agreement to bring Iranian oil back into production are on verge of — ^ Bloomfield, which currently completion. The Iranian government has been negotiating with eight ...And Another jWp' Flies 'Runaway' Flag large oil companies to arrange for producing, refining and selling of them active at this time and Iranian oil on the world ihatket. If the agreement goes" through it v.- b:. ir t 'manned by Seafarer crews, began will end a three-year paralysis of Iranian oil fields brought about operations just three years ago when the Iranian government seized the properties of the Anglowith five Victory ships and three Iranian oil company. Libertys. It has since added the Si t Pelican Mariner, which it is operat­ DROUGHT SEARS MUCH OF US-^An extremely dry summer with ing on charter from the Govern­ rainfall far below normal is producing drought conditions through­ Shipping sales, London, July 15—The French Liberty SS Cher­ ment. out much of the country, particularly in the Middle West and South. bourg (ex Moses Austin) carrying about 10,717 tons deadweight, built The company recently was suc­ Severe drought is reported In parts of New Mexico, Colorado, all of in 1943 ond managed by the Cie. Generate Transatlantique, Paris, cessful in a bid for a Government Oklahoma and Askansas, most of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and on behalf of the Ministere de la Marine Marchande, acting for the subsidy for cargo services from the Missouri. Also affhcted are Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, French Government, has been sold, through Messrs. Barry Rogliano Gulf to the east coagt of Great Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. Salles, Paris and Marseilles, to Grenville SA of Panama, for US Britain. Efforts to secure a subsidy $515,000, payable in full in cash on delivery at Marseilles. The KOREA PRESIDENT VISITS WASHINGTON — Syngman Rhee, vessel is to be transferred to Liberian registry and renamed for its Mediterranean service met with failure. president of South Korea, has visited Washington on the invitation Antonios. of the US Government to discuss the future of his country. He pre­ . Larger Fleet The above item, reprinted from to a Panamanian company for sented his expected demand that steps be taken to unify North and A much smaller operator than a shipowner's magazine which cir­ $515,000 and is to be immediate­ South Korea, but it is not believed that the/ US Government will do culates among shippwners through­ ly transferred to the Liberian reg­ States Marine, the SIU company is much to change the situation there. apparently providing serious com­ out the world, is in a capsule the istry. Result: the French economy ft Si 4 story of the decline of the Ameri­ is propped up by $515,000, the Li- petition for the oldeir and larger PLANE INCIDENTS INCREASE TENSION WITH CHINA—Two outfit, which comprises 21 US-fiag can merchant marine. berian-flag fleet gains an addition; First the ship was given to the the US is out one more ship and vessels, several more operated un­ encounters with Chinese Red warplanes in which a British transport French government by our State the US merchant fleet has another der Government charter, and sub­ was shot down and two MIGs downed have greatly increased ill-feel­ Department in 1947 to help re­ ship in competition. Multiply this stantial additional tonnage under ing between the US and Red China. The first incident took place when Red Chinese planes shot down a British commercial airliner with the build the French economy. Now by several hundred and you have a foreign flag. The object of a merger, as inter­ loss of ten lives, including three Americans. Three days later, US the ship, managed by a French major cause of the US merchant preted by maritime observers, Navy planes searching the area off the South China co.ast for survivors steamship company, has been sold marine's illness. would be to integrate competitive .shot down two Chinese MIGs that intercepted them. The action took services to the advantage of both place at the same moment Red China was broadcasting an apology to companies. States Marine operates Great Britain. on all 'US. coasts, offering cargo 4i "3< t service to the Far East, Mediter­ HAWAII, ALASKA STATEHOOD PUT OFF AGAIN—The House ranean, Northern Europe, Persian of Representatives Rules Committee has tabled legislation calling for Gulf, South and East Africa and statehood for Hawaii and Alaska. Previously the House had voted Great Britain, plus an intercoastal statehood for Hawaii and the Senate had approved statehood for both, service between Gulf and Pacific but the Rules Committee refused to send the differing bills to a joint There can be no mistake that we're now living in the era coast ports. Bloomfield conducts ats Senate-House conference. This kills the legislation for the year at principal operations out of Texas of the H-bomb. Insurance companies are now scurrying to ports, and maintains home offices least. 4 4" it write into their policies a clause freeing them from atomic in Houston. URANIUM TUNNEL 'CURES' DRAW FIRE—Wisconsin authori­ Speculation concerning the mer­ ties are investigating a Lone Rock, Wisconsin, farmer, Kenneth Crook, or hydrogen damage to mer-ger centers around the question who has been charging fees up to $10 to visit his "uranium tunnel." chant ships. which denies payments "for loss whether a merger would mean a Hundreds of people with chronic ailm'ents have been visiting, the The lead-off has come from or damage caused by nuclear reac­ loss of identity for one of the com­ tunnel and holding "radioactive" bags against the disabled parti Japanese marine insurance com­ tion or an atomic disintegration." panies, with the combined outfit of their bodies. The State Medical Society has asked the state at­ panies who are now writing in Apparently the Japanese in­ operating all the ships of both com­ torney general to determine if Crook is practicing piedicine without their policies an escape clause surance writers have taken their panies as one fleet and the buzzle a license. action as a result of Japanese fish­ of what would happen to the sub­ 4 4 4 ing boats being caught in a radio­ sidy contract. BRITISH AGREE TO ,OUlT SUEZ—An agreement to pull .80,000 active "fall-out" following US Union Has Critic of Subsidy Policy British troops out of the Suez Canal area has been reached between hydrogen bomb tests in the Pacific While it is believed the merger British and Egyptian negotiators. The withdrawal will end 72. years Cable Address early this year. If any of their would carry the subsidy agreement of British military occupation in Egypt. Part of the agreement specifies insured ships get caught in similar with it, the fact is that States Ma­ that military bases in the area will be available to Britain again should Seafarers overseas who want circumstances, the company wants rine has long been a critic of exist­ the Arab States or Turkey come under attack. to get in touch with headquar­ it speUed out that they're not ing Government subsidy policies. ters in a hurry can do so by 4 4.4 gonna pay the bill. cabling the Union at its cable FILIBUSTER ENDS, ATOM BILL PASSES—A bill to provide for However, despite this long-held be­ The move by the Japanese may lief, States Marine earlier this year peacetime use of atomic energy and exchange of information with address, SEAFARERS NEW become standard for all insurance indicated) its intent' to file for sub­ other countries passed the Senate after two weeks of de<bate and fili­ YORK. writers shortly and then we'll all sidy aid from the Government. buster. The main purposes of the bill were not at dispute but the Use of this address will as­ have another item to look out for Meanwhile, neither company has debate was over provisions calling for private development of atomic sure speedy transmission on when we scan the small print of elaborated any on the merger re­ power and electricity as against public development. Democratic Sen­ all messages and faster serv­ the policy oflfered by the Super- ports circulating through the in­ ators from the Tennessee Valley states led the fight on the bill, term­ ice for the men involved. Atomic Insurance Company. dustry. ing the bill the "biggest giveaway in the nation's history." New Marine Ins. Policy: No 'Atomic Damage' Pay Cartoon History Of The SIU mm CMeg Service Bows No. SS li i:^.- Although the SIU won NLRB certification to repre­ sent Cities Service seamen in December, 1949, after winning two elections, efforts to negotiate with the company were rebuffed right from the start. Mean­ while, the discredited CS company union^ CTMA, sud­ denly • moved t»^ beve- the first eleetisa' thrown out. The company union bid to keep itself alive was promptly squelched by the NLRB, but CS continued staUing on opening pact taUu. Trying a sew tack, the SIU took its case directly to company stockholderevia full-page newspiqucr ads waaning that a strike war imminent unless CSciMBii(|« ltetune. Btung by the SIU action, CS officials agreedto meet with the Union less than VZIiours aftW its attitude was ma^ public. Talks began, but strike preparations continued. Finally, on Marck 1^ ISSO, an interim agroonmt was reached, endlnff of the longest and MtWeet anOruidon camiudjiMf e» recerdi •' �SEAFARERS Amgmt 9. 1»54 SIU NEWSLETTER from WASHINGTON LOG Pace SeTca Del Mar Plays Host to Liberian Ambassador IT NOW ;SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THAT CONGRESS WILL approve a supplemental appropriation of $82,600,000 to strengthen and improve the merchant marine. This amount was requested by President Eisen­ hower but .completely ignored by the House Appropriations Committee when the bill was reported out on the House side of the Capitol. However, by a vote of 123 to 41, the House of Representatives restored the $82.6 million for merchant marine activities, which favorable action was quickly followed by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The action gives positive support to the principles of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 in that it will allow (1) $44.6 million for payment of construction subsidy and national .defense allowances on four passen­ ger-cargo liners for two American companies; (2) $26 million to initiate the trade-in-and-build tanker program; (3) $11.1 million for the pro­ gram wherein the Government wiil experiment in the modernization of four reserve fleet Liberty ships as a basis of developing plans to modernize the remaining Libertys in the event of an emergency; and (4) $1 million for Maritime Administration administrative ex­ penses during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1954. t BECAUSE RUSSIA SEEMS TO BE AGREEABLE TO RETURNING some 90 ships to the US acquired under Lend-Lease during World War II, she is now engaged in a substantial effort to replace this tonnage. Russia is attempting to place orders in Europe for upwards of 200 merchant ships, but most nations are very cautious in accepting these orders because of p.*st difficulties with that nation. Another angle is that Russia does not want to pay in cash but wants to pay for the ships in terms of goods. 4" • t 4* THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF 20 NEW high­ speed tankers did not 'turn out exactly as the US Defense Department had hoped for. In the beginning, due to the . acute shortage of tankers available for emergency purposes, the military had supported a bill in' Congress that would have called for construction of this tonnage entirely by private enterprise, with the Military Sea Transportation Service then to charter the tankers for 10-year periods. However, on the House side, the legislation was amended, so that, as it went to the White House for approval, it provided for construction of 5 of the tankers by the Government and 15 by private industry. The 20 tankers, when built, will be operated by private operators under charter agreements with MSTS, on the basis of the lowest re­ sponsible bidder. Under terms of the proposal as it cleared Congress, the charter contracts would be made by the Government with those operators who do not operate foreign flag ships. In addition, another important aspect is that during the 10-year charter period the operators will not be able to transfer ships to foreign flags. These provisions will help those lines who are really interested in developing the American merchant marine. 4" • 4" 4" SINCE 1938, THE US HAS SHIFTED FROM A NET EXPORTER of petroleum .products to a net importer. For the past eight years, we have been exporting monthly between 500,000 and 800,000 long tons of. tanker-borne products. Between 1946-50, US ships carried about one-third of this trade, but in 1951, 1952 and 1953, we carried only 24, 19 and 17 percent respectively. The first few months of this year show a further decline of US par­ ticipation, with 16 percent for January and 15 percent for February. The bulk of the American tanker fleet engages in coastwise and intercoastal trade. Latest figures show that tanker tonnage in our foreign trade was only about 1,300,000 deadweight tons, a drop of more than 30 percent in one year; during the period 1949-1952, about a million tons of our fleet was in the foreign to foreign trade, but with increased foreign-flag competition and reduced cargoes, this dropped to 546,000 tons by July of last year and 269,000 tons by July of this year. In contrast, the petroleum tonnage in our domestic trade was over 3.8 miliion deadweight tons in July of this year; the tonnage in our non-contiguous trade since 1949 has averaged about 100,000 deadweight tons; and in. mid-1954, only 95,000 tons were operating as compared to 130,000 tons in mid-1952. ... 4" 4" Clarence L. Simpson, Liberian ambassador to the United States, is greeted by Mississippi Shipping Company president H. X. Kelly following Simpson's address at shipboard dinner party. Ship's steward department turned to in true SIU style to make affair a big success. Here Waiter JCenyon Parks heads for main dining saloon with food. 4" CONGRESS HAS MADE PERMANENT THE AUTHORITY OF this Government, in time of emergency, to acquire, either through requisi­ tion, purchase or charter, foreign-flag vessels lying idle in our ports. In time of war, legislation of this type is good in that it makes foreign-flag tonnage and foreign seamen available for use. For example, such~a law was in effect in World War II, and it enabled the US to acquire some 715,000 tons of shipping from our allies, with foreign seamen making a substantial contribution in the manning of our bottoms. On the other hand, we furnished our allies with more ships than they made availabie to us. We delivered to foreign nations, in the last World War, 5,500,000 gross tons of ships. t i '4i IN WHAT AMOUNTS TO THE LARGEST SHIP ACQUISITION PROGRAM OF any single line, the American Presidents Line, Ltd. had agreed with the Government to build two new combination passengerfreight vessels, purchase four Mariners, and purchase the passenger ships President Cleveland and President Wilson from the Maritime Administration.' This will result in almost - complete replacement of the company's fleet now in the 'round-the-world service. Inaugurated in 1924. APL is expected to pay around $53,000,000 in acquiring three vessels, while the Government's share in the cost of new construction and modification of the Mariners under subsidy law will be in the neighbor­ hood of $12,800,000. End Panama Crew Beef SlU-Style The Greek crew of a Pana­ manian ship, the Ionian Skip­ per, got rid of a hard-timing captain and got all the money that was coming to them at pa^yoff in Tokyo thanks, in part, to the aid given by a Seafarer on the spot in Japan. In a letter sent to head­ quarters, crewmembers expressed their thanks to Seafarer Kenneth Collins for assisting them on their beef. Second steward Henry Gerden supervises as Waiter Bill Presley According to "Nippon Times" newspaper clippings and the text readies tray of dessert. Dinner was held on July 28 in New Or­ of the letter, the Ionian Skipper leans. Company operates four SlU-manned freight ships that arrived in Japan destined for the regularly call at Liberia and other West African ports. scrap pile. The captain so in­ formed the crew when the ship got there and told them they would be repatriated on a freighter and would get their full pay "later." Led by the first mate, the crew refused to pay off until they were guaranteed their full five months pay to date as well as separation pay under Panamanian maritime Two major accidents within the space of a couple of hours, law and decent repatriation on a one of them fatal, marred the outbound voyage of the SIU- passenger ship.^-The captain retali­ by howling "mutiny" and cut­ manned Barbara Frietchie from Philadelphia last month. ated ting off their food supplies. Seafarer Joe Lupton, former-^ Met SIU Man dispatcher in Norfolk, was supporting the hatch boards was of place. Desperately looking around for killed instantly when he was moved out somebody to help them out, the Beam Fulled Out dumped accidentally into the hold. The result was that as far as eye­ crewmembers went to the United Shortly afterward, while local witnesses could tell, the 'hatch Seamen's Service and happened to Coast Guard and city police were boards on which Lupton was stand­ run into Collins there. He supplied still taking evidence aboard, deck ing fell into the hold because of them with needed advice, and with engineer Prescott Spinney was the shift in the position of the the assistance of the Seamen's severely injured by the hook on hatch beams dropping the un­ Service, and an attorney, Collins a slack runner that swung free fortunate bosun to his death in went to work on the company agent and the Panamanian consul. from a cargo of pipe. the bottom of the hold. The upshot of it all was that the Brother Saw" It Lewis and another AB lowered a owner sent his nephew to Tokyo Luptoh's death was all the more stretcher into the hatch and painful because his brother. Dee brought the body to the deck. by air to straighten out the situa­ Lupton, was AB on the same vessel Lupton was carried ashore and tion. He fired the captain and chief pronunced dead as soon as the engineer, dismissed the mutiny and witnes>sed the accident. charge and agreed to pay the crew Ship's delegate Thurston Lewis police ambulance arrived. all they lu-'d asked for—and more. Lupton who was 35, is survived reported that Lupton, who was As the crew put it in their letter bosun, was standing on some hatch by a wife and two small sons, both boards trying to maneuver a sling of them under five years of age. to headquarters "he (Collins) got load of traSh out of the hold when Crewmembers took up a collecUon things organized . .. and we got all the accident happened. The hatch and sent flowers to Mrs. Lupton. that we were supposed to get. "I will close wishing that we beams had not been removed, but After the two accidents the ship the boards had been taken off the sailed for Puerto Rico, only to get could have a strong union like trapped there by the longshore­ yours and .. . we are glad that one after two sections of the hatch. In the course of maneuvering men's strike. At last word it was of your members helped us as we the sling load out of the hold, it still being held up by a dispute ourselves would never stand a was reported, somehow the beam over who should unload the ship. chance . . Jinx 'One-Two' Hits Ship; Bosun Killed •i (\ �Pace EieM; SEAFARERS LOG MARITIME I Figures released last month by the Port of New York Authority Indicate that New York held its own in the handling of the nation's water-borne foreign trade last year. The port dispatched 19.7 percent of the country's total foreign commerce in 1953 as against 18.9 percent for the year before. Its share of the general cargo business amounted to 32.6 percent of the national total, only one-tenth of one percent off the 1952 figure . . . Battered by rising costs in every other direc­ tion, ship operators who use the Suez Canal got a break when tolls Question: Would you welcome a went dbwn eight percent on July 15 to the lowest level since the canal photography contest for Seafarers? opened 86 years ago. About 35 ships a day use the short-cut waterway most of them tankers. August C. Horbac, 3rd cook: I 4' Japan's Kawasaki. Steamship Company will launch a new route certainly would like to see one, and since I have serving the Caribbean and West Africa this fall when the Nikko Mam p::'! a camera myself sails in October for US West Coast ports. From there, the vessel will I would submit call at Caribbean ports in Colombia and Venezuela, then cross the some of my owp Atlantic to Gold Coast, Nigeria and Belgian Congo. Three other Japa­ pictures if nese companies are also working up a service to West Africa, which thought they would entirely by-pass US ports and handling in the US for trans­ w e r e g 0 o shipment ... A former New England fishing vessel, the 78-foot Monte enough. Anyway Carlo, has been turned into a research ship and is on her way to a contest would chart the exact location of the earth's magnetic North Pole "once and make the men for all." With an 11-man scientific expedition aboard, the ship is head­ try harder to take ing for "somewhere around the northwest area of Prince of Wales better pictures and give us all island," about 1,200 miles north of li^nipeg, Canada. something to learn.- 4- 4" 4" " Latest statistics on the French merchant marine show that 737 ships with a total tonnage of 3.5 million tons ai'e in service today, including 248 ships totalling 1.4 million tons built within the last five years. Seventy-four ships of nearly 600,000 tons are on order or already under construction . . . The US Coast Guard's International Ice Patrol is expected to end its season's work shortly, following the an­ nouncement that trans-Atlantic shipping can once again use Track C, the northernmost and shortest of the North Atlantic routes to Europe. The announcement indicated the end of the danger from floating ice which, at the end of May, had penetrated as far south as 1,100 miles due east of New York, forcing shipping to deviate from Track A, the most southerly route, to steer clear of the hazard. The patrol season began in February. • t) Laid up for the last 20 months In the Government-maintained re­ serve fleet at James River, Va., the 18,000-ton liner La Guardia, built during the war as a P-2-type transport and later Converted, is expected tc go into tourist service between California and Hawaii if two bills before Congress don't run into trouble. She would be operated by the newly-formed Hawaiian Steamship Company, Ltd., which is chaK Icnging the virtual monopoly on the route held by Matson for the last 70 years. The 574-foot vessel has an operating speed of better than 20 knots . . . Bids on the first major construction contracts for the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project have been requested by the Ontario Hydroelectric Commission, with work expected to get undenvay in September. The job calls for the building of two temporary dams near Cornwall on the US-Canadian border. The entire Seaway development Is expected to be completed by 1960. 41 4' West Germany's boom in ship construction, which has knocked Japan out of second place among the world's biggest shipbuilders, is giving real concern to British shipyards and the more than 200,000 shipbuilding workers in Great Britain. The West German industry, aided by lower wages in. the shipyards, has been furnishing keen competition to Great Britain in the post-war years . . . Following her third hull check in two years, the liner United States sailed on time for her scheduled Atlantic crossing after a four-day stay in drydock at the New York Naval Shipyard Annex, Bayonne, NJ. Normally examined at Newport News, Va., her birthplace, the speed queen by­ passed Newport this time to save the two-day round trip down there. 1. 5. S. 12. 13. 14. 15. 18. 19. 20. 21. 23. 27. 29. 30. 33. 35. 36. 38. 40. 41. 44. 46. 48. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. ACROSS Cloak Sooner than They run the «hip Region Heavy weight Old Norse letter One of the Bahamas Plant stem Thought Affirmative Large truck for moving Place to buy things Batting prac­ tice fly Russian moun­ tain range Food fish Propellers On the ocean La . ex­ plorer "Bone in the '• King: Fr. MacArthur'a nickname Tight Dora Girls Isthmian ship One in debt Unit of work Man from Copenhagen Rowboat Kind of whisky Kill DOWN ' i; Garden flower 3. Rugged crest of^biU 3. 4. « 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 16. 17. Clark's partner 22. in exploration 24. Man from Lapland 25. Ike's "theatre" 26. in Europe, 1944 Wandering 27. Girl's name An animal 28. Trip Enclosure: 30. Abbr. 31. Tiny 32. Stage show Moines. Iowa 1 2 3 4 1 12 15 18 20 16 Insects Cargo from Duluth Uncooked Raised rail­ ways: Abbr. Cape on Juan de Fuca Strait Capital of Norway Cushion Avail Southern general 34.- Abrupt rise of . land 37. It carries blood 39. Man's nickname 41. victory 42. Sports ring 43. Andy , Yankee infielder 45. Employer 47. Boys 48. Turf 49. One and one 50. Ever: Poet 51. Years of life (Puzzle Aniswer On Page 17) 4 t 4 G. H. Dingle, chief steward: It seems that almost everybody takes pictures now, and a lot of men would like to enter a contest. I think it should be an open con­ test, judged ac­ cording to tech­ nique and the quality of the picture, rather than the subject. That would tend to improve pic­ ture-taking. 4i 4i ft O. M. Jones, chief pumpman: think its a good idea.-1 have a good camera and would be glad to enter. A contest should be open to all types of cam­ eras and both color and black and. white. It should be judged on ability and imagination in using a camera. Certainly seamen have lots of good chances to take unusual and interesting photos. 4" 4" 4" D. W. Kimbrell, chief electrician: I would like the kind of a contest in which the pic1 ures are classi­ fied according to subject matter and judged that way. That's the fairest way of do­ ing it. For my­ self, I prefer tak­ ing pictures of machinery and equipment. t 4i D. D. Lupton, AB: I guess it would be a good idea. I have no interest in it my­ self, but you see lots of men on the ships with cameras all the time. They would probably be in­ terested in show­ ing off some of the stuff that they take on the ship and in the ports. I'd enjoy seeing their results. August 8. 1954 MEET THE SEAFARER RAY HAMMERER, AB One of many Seafarers who a Navy blimp appeared overhead started sailing during World War and the submarine did a quick dis­ II and then decided to make it a appearing act. That was the closest lifetime occupation is Ray Ham­ he came to any real excitement. merer. At the age of 17 Hammerer As far as he was concerned, it headed for saltwater in 1944, and, was rather a dull war. liking it, has stuck to it ever since, Sailed Tankers the last thfee years on SlU-conWhen the war was over. Ham­ tracted ships. Although he started sailing at merer kept on sailing with the the height of the war. Hammerer tankers mostly and later, hooked found life at sea relatively tame up with the SIU in the port of Since and harmless, and unlike many Lake Charles, Louisiana. seamen, has no exciting experi­ then he has been sailing all kinds of ships but prefers the Far East ences to relate. Actually, by 1944, the worst of runs which are traditionally popu­ the German submarine and plane lar with SIU men, one reason being meance was under control and that on those long runs a Seafarer well-anned and well-protected con­ can come home with a nice juicy voys were getting through un­ payoff and save himself a good scathed in large numbers. Most of chunk of dough if he has a mind to. His favorite shore spot, though, the loss of lives and ships came during the harrowing days of 1942 is in a different part of the world that's not touched too often by SIU and ,1943. "Nothing really happened to ships—the Azores. The towns are me," he said, "I was on a hospital clean. Hammerer says, and the transport going to Italy and Eng­ prices are reasonable on both solid land picking up the wounded from and liquid refreshments. the invasions of northern France The Azores haven't been ruined and the Itaiian campaign. On a by the military yet," he said, "al­ hospital ship little or nothing hap­ though the US has some Armed pens because they are well pro­ Forces bases there." The islands tected by other ships and well- are Portuguese possessions, but marked so that they are not fired have a large number of English on by enemy vessels." settlers which make it easy for Fair Game English-speaking Seafarers tq get On a couple of occasions, though, around. he recalls that some hospital ships Maternity Benefit drew a few shots while running Hammerer, who is married, has with their lights out. "Then they two' small children at home, a girl, treat you us fair game." The only time he came near to and a baby boy, Raymond Jri The any trouble, he recalls, was on latter came under the SlU's $200 the motor ship Syracuse, a tanker maternity benefit, which helped a operated at the time by the So- lot when the hospital and doctor cony-Vacuum Company. The ship bills came in, When not on a ship, Ray can be was making a short run from New York to Paulsboro and was just found at home in the Bay Ridge off the New Jersey coast when a section of Brooklyn. But if it's a German submarine surfaced nearby weekend, he can be seen out on the road with what one Seafarer and ordered them to stop. friend jokingly • referred to as -a Fired Shot The sub came to the surface, "houseboat," a big Cadillac lim­ he believes, because it knew that ousine that he picjted up used. the tanker was not carrying any "When you go on a weekend armament. It fired a shot across with two small childen, a crib, a the bow of the tanker to halt it, .play pen and all .the other stuff and then using a blinker light, you need, a large car comes in very asked the tanker crew where they handy." He added that he is plan­ were going and what they were ning a large family, and maybe in carrying. the long run will have to buy him­ Before the chit-chat got very far. self a bus. A union loan of $250,000 is keep­ ing a large eastern millinery man­ ufacturer in business. The loan, made by the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers Union, went to the Kartiganer Hat Cor­ poration, employing 1,500 people at three plants. 4- 4" The AFL has asked the Senate to vote a seven percent increase to all US employees. An AFL spokesT man said a pending bill to give that much to" Post Office employees should be broadened to include all Government workers. ^ $ Countering a trend whereby clothing manufacturers have been Gar^nd Haga, bosun: Ifs a good moving to non-union areas to oper­ idea because we seamen take lots ate low wage plants, the Interna­ tional Ladies Garment Workers o f pictures in Union, AFL, is building a plant of foreign ports and its own to compete with a runaway get a first hand operator. A $40,000 factory is be­ view of things ing erected in Appomattox, Vir­ other people ginia, which will then be turned don't see. I tHink over to a union manufacturer to be a contest should operated under a union contract. divide pictures on the basis of the 4^ 4> 4^ type of camera Blind broom makers who had and then int6 gone on strike against a proposed smaller groups ^y. subject. cut in rates by the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind are back at work in Pittsburgh. Arrange­ ments were worked out with the Association to assure a guaranteed maintenance of take home pay even if the rates paid were reduced. 4" 4" 4" 4" 4" 4" A strike that has been running for more than 17 weeks is still on at the Hohler Company, manufac­ turers of plumbing and bathroom fixtures in Hohler, Wisconsin. The United Automobile Workers (CIO) which Js conducting the strike charges that the company has re­ jected all mediation and arbitra­ tion offers including one from Governor Walter Hohler, nephew of the company's president. An Oregon union official who was serving on a local jury had to go hungry because he wouldn't cross a picket line. Lee Estling, business agent for Painters, Local 1277, in Eugene, Oregon, was called for jury duty in that city. At lunch time the jurors were marched across the street to a local hotel that was being picketed by the Building Service Employees Union. Estling refused to cross the line— and'was locked up in the jury room for the lunch hour. Ji; ; �•>y-h Aurust «. 1954 SEAFARERS SEAFARERS 0 LOG Ae«etl^ «, 1954 Wonder What Hit Him ...! !' Vol. XVi, No. 14 Published biweekly by the Seafarers International Union, Atlantic & Gulf District, AFL, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32. NY. Tel. HYacinth 9-6600, Cable Address: SEAFARERS NEW YORK. PAUL HAIL, Secretary-Treasurer Editor, HERBEBT BRAITO; Managing Editor, RAY DENISON; Art Editor, BEHNAIID SEAMAN; Photo Editor, DANIEL NILVA; Staff Writers, HERMAN ARTHUR, IRWIN BPIVACK, AL MASKIN, Gulf Area Reporter, BILL MOODY. ISO Page Nine LOG LEnER of the WEEK -••J III Death Of A Fleet ^ Nine years ago a major maritime nation with a tremendous export trade owned 600 ocean-going ships. Today that same country, whose economy has grown immensely in the last nine years, owns a mere 19 ships, and some of these are due to go on the block. The other 581 ships have been transferred to foreign flags. That nation is our northern neighbor, Canada. What's happened is that in nine years the Canadian flag has virtually vanished from the high seas because Canadian operators were permitted to run away to any convenient flag where operating costs are cheaper. "The harsh reality of the 'situation is that US shipping is following the same course, although at a slower rate. The only factors that have kept US ships from speeding the process are the protected coastwise, intercoastal and islands trade, subsidies for a limited number of operators, and the effects of the 50-50 provision in our foreign aid bills. Canadian ships_ had none of these protective devices. The rapid decline of the Canadian fleet is startling. The peak of 600 ships in 1945 dwindled to 65 ships in June, 1953, to 44 ships in November, 1953, and to 19 ships today. Canada doesn't have a single ship operating off the Pacific Coast. Its only passenger ship is idle and its largest single company is 'operating at a deficit. Yet this is a country which lives on trade and exports one-third of its entire national product. As long as major maritime nations permit transfers to runaway flags this decline will continue. Even Great Britain is feeling the pinch. And here in the US the Maritime Admin­ istration, which is charged with responsibility for US ship­ ping, is once again opening the door for transfers specifically to runaway flags despite many protests against this practice. Recently, another major maritime nation, Greece, took steps to deal with the problem by passing legislation requir­ ing all ships owned by-Greek citizens to register under the Greek flag. It's time Uncle Sam sat up and took notice. t J. Next 111 Asia The shift in military fortunes in Indo-China has had a profound effect on our merchant fleet, proving once more the intimate connection between world events and US maritime. As in Korea, US ships are once more being called upon to help shore up defenses against Communism. Now it is Saigon that is jammed with ships and soon the muddy river that leads up to Bangkok will see more and more American flags. Military experts declare that the US and its allies must hold, all the lands at the edge of the continents. Since the US is'the major power in the western alliance, it means that US merchant ships will be called on to do a major part of the job. • Certainly it's generally understood that the United States is going to have to supply practically all of the equipment, training and other assistance that will be needed by the people of Thailand and other countries if they are to resist Communist aggression successfully. It makes no sense then, .to permit the depletion of the merchant marine in the regular commercial services while the country, is depending so heavily on this same merchant marine to maintain lifelines of defense abroad. 4" Thanks To Del HI ai* ilifc; i'S'&H A group of Argentine maritime leaders who knew of the SIU only through hearsay are now better acquainted with the, operations of the Union, thanks to the alert Seafarers aboard the Del Mar. Crewmembers of the Delta Line's cruise ship made arrangements for a special showing of the SIU film, "The Seafarers" when the ship was in Buenos Aires on its last trip. Although many of these Argentine representatives have been in contact with Seafarers before and had heard much about the operations of the SIU, the crew felt that showing the motion picture of the Union in its day to day functions would carry much more of an impact than the written or spoken word. Consequently they requested that a print of the movie be forwarded for them specifically for showing to our South American neighbors. They report that the Argentine maritime representatives were considerably impressed with what they saw, and now have a much better idea of l^ow a union like the SIU operates. A vote of thanks should go to the Del Mar crew for helping another part of the world learn about the activities of the Notes Problems in Steward Job To the Editor: I am writing you this letter, which I hope you will publish in the LOG, because some questions have been troubling me for some time, and I would like to find out what the members, and also the officials of the Union, think of them. Perhaps this letter will draw some reaction. In the first place, it seems to me that the Union has become more and more interested in the effi­ ciency of the men on the jobs. Now, doesn't it stand to reason that, all other things being equal, the man with the longest service record should be the most efficient man for a job? MOST SEAFARERS SEEM TO It doesn't seem Franklin want a ship's fund (although there right to me to go are strong voices raised to the con­ aboard a ship and see a young man trary) but the fly in the ointment who has been a member of the SIU is always how to finance it without for four or five years supervising fuss and annoyance. Usually the oldtimers who have been members crew gets together at a shipboard of the Union for 12 or 15 years. I meeting and votes that every man have seen men with excellent rec­ should drop a dollar or so in the ords as stewards serving as cooks kitty. Then one crewmpmber who or bakers under a much less quali­ incautiously accepts the job ol fied individual. treasurer has to go around try­ What is the incentive for a sea­ ing to collect, something which man to make this rating his goal, may or may not be an easy task. and to work and study to attain it, Arrival Pools if fie has no assurance that all his Consequently Seafarers have ability and experience will count? No matter how you look at it, an come up with a variety of painless oldtime steward who serves as a methods of extracting the small chief cook or baker on a ship is a change that goes into a ship's fund. On some ships an arrival pool demoted steward. serves the purpose, with a nice Outsiders Make Slurs I have heard many slurs made pot for the man who comes closest by shore laundry drivers, ships to the moment of dropping the chandlers' representatives, drivers hook. Others look to collect the for the various food companies, money at the ship's payoff. longshoremen, shipping company The newest, and most pleasant employees and licensed personnel. method to come to light recently These slurs have been directed was devised by against the men I have just writ­ Seafarer James ten about by these outsiders who H. Thompson do not understand how our Union while aboard the operates. Alcoa Patriot. Also, I say that a man cannot be Thompson ran a a good steward and a good cook bingo game for at the same time. The jobs are not the crew and similar enough. turned over the There is also the problem of the profits to the congestion in the ranks of stewards ship's fund, pro­ Grice caused by upgradings. Like many viding Seafarers critics, I can't offer any really con­ with a little leisure-time recrea­ structive suggestions, but perhaps tion in the process. a good stiff examination would A more direct method of collec­ help remedy this situation, or per­ tion was employed aboard the haps a requirement calling for six Winter Hill (Cities Service) where years of sea time. chief cook Ben Grice was detailed Perhaps it would help to have a to get $1 per head from the crew. Group 1 in which only stewards Everybody knows a happy chief could register and a group lA ex­ cook is essential to good shipboard clusively for the two senior cooks. feeding, so chances are that I think that would cause many men brother Grice accomplished his to register in Group lA, where mission without too much dif­ their chances of getting a job ficulty. ^ould be twice /is good, and leave Thompson, who lives in Mobile Group 1 for those men who sin­ cerely desire to improve their and ships out of that city, is an abilities as stewards. Many times I engine department man. He has have seen cooks take a steward's been a Union member since March job because it was open and not 1, 1951, joining in New York City. He's 25 years old and married. because they really wanted It. These questiqns, as I say, have Grice Is an oldtimer in the ship­ been troubling me for sonie time, ping business and has held SIU and I would appreciate hearing membership for 11 years, joining whatever tlie members have so say in New Orleans on June 5. 1943. about them. The 56-yeaivold Seafarei' was-born Harry L Franklin in the State of Mississippi, but now Vote has home and family in Haynesville, Louisiana. Speaking on the subject of the ship's funds it should be reported that Leon Kyser of the Patriot took jurisdiction over the cash af­ ter Thompson got through collect­ ing it. Crewmembers gave both Kyser and Thompson the tradi­ tional hearty vote of thanks for a job done in proper style. WHILE WAITING TO SHIP out on his favorite run, the Bull Line to Puerto Rico, Seafarer Red Campbell took a hand in the work of the quarterly financial commit­ tee elected at headquarters every three months. Campbell kept one eye cocked for the end of the Puerto Rico longshore strike while checking the Union's financial status along with the other mem­ bers of the quarterly committee. IT'S A LONG WAY FROM Scotland to Seattle, but not too far for Seafarer Robert McCulloch, who made it with time to spare. McCulloch served as chair­ man for the last Seattle port meeting where, incidentally, ship­ ping is still hold­ McCulloch ing up very nice­ ly as it seems to have become the center for Far East operations. McCulloch as the name shows, is of Scotch ancestry. He was born there just before the first World War, on April 28, 1913. He's been shipping SIU for the last 11 years though, joining the Union in New York on June 12, 1943. He works out of the galley. • >; Permits Apply For Membership The membership has voted to admit 15 permit card hold* ers each month to membership in the SIU. Permits who wish to apply for membership can get their application forms in any SIU hall. The fifteen men will consist of five from each ship's department and will be screened by a membership committee in headquaiiers. I �^ "''' ^mm SEA-fiOme SWEATSHOP Face Tea P-r-'-4>'' • I' fi"' • ' • ,.Mm^ L The hval kla, or "grab" reachesf skidway to seize a whale's tail the animal inboard. V ^ Except for a handful of old sail­ ors who may once have been on a whaling expedition, most Seafarers are completely unaware of the kind of seagoing life led by the whale­ V- man. What Herman Melville did to ac­ quaint the outsider with the life of the old-time New England whaling man in "Moby Dick" has been duplicated in some degree by a Scotch medical man in "Of Whales and Men," an account of a modern whaling voyage in Antarctic waters. Reading this book makes it clear why the American whaler, once the leader of the industry, no longer exists. No Amer­ ican seaman of this century would tol­ erate the conditions under which whal­ ing men live. And the bountiful produc­ tion in this country of soy beans, peanuts and other sources of vegetable oil make it unnecessary to rely on whale oil, the chief product of a whaling expedition. However, for Great Britain and other land-poor European nations the whale is a prime source of margarine, vitamins, fertilizer and other essential products. The result is that every year the whal­ ing ships go south, mostly from Scotland and Norway, for an eight-month trip to the South Atlantic that makes a summer­ time Persian Gulf tanker shuttle look like a picnic excursion. From the day the factory ship takes on bunkers at Aruba (no beauty spot, as Seafarers well know) until its return to the home port, the whaleman sees no glimpse of civiliza­ tion. The whale factory ship's only other stopovers are one outbound and one inbound stop at the foul-smelling whaling station on bleak South Georgia Island where only penguins and seals lived before. There the crews can have the pleasure of wading through huge stagnant pools of stinking whale remains - which are about everywhere. It's not deemed necessary at the station to dis­ pose of whale garbage other than to dump it on the ground. •'i'vi.'r • Aocnst e. 1954 SEAFARERS I.OC .r- Five Months At Sea For the five-month period of the whal­ ing season, December through April, the factory ship and its fleet of catcher ves- *els are constantly at sea hunting the whale in an area known fqr its winds and storms. Shore leave comes at the home port at the end of the voyage, after which the whaleman can look forward to four months of idleness. Except fbr certain key ratings, such as the gunners, the whaling man is poorly rewarded for these months of backbreaking and dangerous work. His earnings depend on equaling or passing a quota set by the shipowner. The gim­ mick is that the number of whales that can be taken in a single season is fixed by an international board so as to pre­ serve the whale from extinction. Conse­ quently the size of the pie that can be sliced up by the whaleship crews is lim" ited, and if one factory ship has a good season and exceeds its quota, it is at the expense of a fellow whaleman on another ship. No wonder then, that the whaleship man is known contemptuously as a "Nprth Sea Chinaman" by better paid merchant seamen who regard whaling wages "hs fit only for the half-starved oriental. Nor does the shipowner in the whaling business show much solicitude for the health and welfare of his crews. The author, as the ship's medic, had good reason to protest the inadequate treat­ ment accorded injured men who had to lie in the sickbay for months, or ashore at South Georgia waiting for repatria­ tion. The concern of the shipowner does extend to depriving the whaleman of al­ cohol, a ban which is gotten around by many ingenious moonshining devices. Floating Slaughterhouse Actually, the whale factory ship is nothing more or less than a floating slaughterhouse and its catcher ships are the high-powered ocean cowboys who go out to "lasso" the wild bull or cow whales, big blue and finback monsters aibout 90 feet in size. Once caught and brought back to the factory, the whale is hauled up the skidway in the stern by powerful winches. There in the stern section some 30 tons of blubber are skill­ fully, cut away by the flensers who oper­ ate in much the same manner as their forerunners did on the old wooden whal­ ing ships, except that in Melville's time the flenser had to do his work while the whale was lashed alongside the ship. Once the blubber has been stripped, the winches go to work again and haul the now "skinny" 70-ton remains to the foredeck where the meat land bone are hacked and sawed apart and then dumped into appropriate open manholes. Below decks, giant pressure cookers and other devices process the remains into fertilizer, oil and edible whalemeat. To carry on this entire procedure day by day for five months running without a single break, requires a massive fac­ tory ship capable of handling immense amounts of supplies, and a crew of 700 men. The factory ship is best described in the author's own words as follovvs: Two Tankers Stuck Together "Imagine two large oil tankers stuck together beam to beam, so that their funnels are abeam and not ;fore and aft. Place the two in an immense bluntbowed hull, with a wide shallow draft and a freeboard of prodigious height. Then cut off the stern... carve a great obscene-looking hole where the stempost was, and run a tunnel that could ac­ commodate two railway trains from the waterline between the two screws at a gently sloping angle up to the main deck, just forward of the funnels... "In her superstructure, a factory ship is divided In two—the reason being that two vast areas of deck space, each capa­ ble of accommodating two or more ninety-foot whale carcasses, must be left clear in the middle of the ship; below this clear space is the factory, a maze of machinery occupying three decks... and below that again are the tanks, capable of accommodating 20 thousand tons or more of oil, and reaching down to the bilges..." ' The factory ship, is, of necessity, geared to handle whales in an unending stream because the regulations require that every whale killed with the excep­ tion of the one used as a fender must be aboard and cut up within 33 hours of capture. When the catcher ships are bringing them in hot and heavy, the crew goes on a 24-hour schedule to proc­ ess the carcasses. But despite the speed of handling, the stench of the dead whale is a formidable thing to reckon with. Consequently when the voyage is over the ship is given a complete bath throughout with strong caustic cleanser, live steam and seawater, followed by plenty of fresh paint. But when all is done, the ship and the men who sail it, still stink far and wide. Impressive Measurements Nothing however in the strange and fascinating story of a whaling trip is more fascinating than the whale himself. The huge mammal who turned to the sea many ages ago when it could no longer survive on land, is a never-ending source of wonder, even to the profes­ sional whaleman. Measurements that were taken of one good-sized blue whale are impressive. The particular whale in question was 89 feet long, ten feet high and 46 feet around the beam. It pro­ duced 26 tons of blubber, 56 tons of meat and 22 tons of bone. Its tongue alone weighed three tons and the carcass comtained eight tons of blood compared to the puny six quarts of the human body. The total weight of this particular whale was 120 long tons, from which 27 tons of oil were extracted. Here again, the best way of describing the whale is to quote the author: "The length of the beast U that of a railroad car, and its height and girth are about the same. An elephant could walk under its upended jawbone without touching at any point. Its fins are the size and weight of a pretty large dining-table and its flukes would make an excellent pair of wigs for a fighter aircraft... Its blub­ ber. . .would keep all the votive candles burning in St. Peter's, Rome, for a cen­ tury or more; and its meat would supply a hamburger.. .to every person in Bos­ ton, Mass." (That would make about 800,000 hamburgers). "Its tongue would overload a fair-sized truck and it would take six very strong men to lift its heart." Burned By Decay What happens when the cax "vss of ths monster starts to age also makes for in­ teresting information. At the conclusion of the season, the factory ship took on a carcass that had been used as a ship fender ^or nearly a week. The whale'f belly had since exploded from the ac­ cumulation of decay gases in its intes­ tines. The outer flesh on the whale, un­ derneath the blubber, had decayed into a liquid mess, but a foot further down the heat of the decaying carcass had been so great that the meat was actually cooked and blistering hot. Perhaps then it's the wonder of the whale that draws the whaleman back to the Southern Ocean year after year, to hunt it in the face of incredible hardship. . (O/ Whales And Men by R. ». Robe-4. ( son. Alired A. finopf, $4.50.) iiWfl "I rnMmrnV 1 wmsk iiiiiillf lliSiill /iiiililll iw \ M ff"""* Yjrfigjf ' •mM JT* " V ^lili r . , J �Ancnst e, 19S4 SEAFARERS LOG Pare Elevea ;1I out on the )r dragging Secured by the grab, a fin whale is hauled up the skid for flensing. These whales make the best whale steaks. V B* m Fleet of fast catcher ships lies at anchor off South Georgia Island, waiting for whal­ ing season to bjegin. The small vessels can do 15 knots, speedy enough to catch up with whales that swim at 12 or 13 knots themselves. . /• Whdle gunner sights along his harpoon gun while await­ ing his prey. Harpoons have explosive warheads de­ signed to maim or kill the whale. • I:?-; • • -. f ^IliliiSi'^ f-t > f I b::i^ ii X ' ^ • '" •* |. ' Jl -..Ik" • I -1 .•u.. I _ • -J , <* This harpoon was idle while black gang carried but major repair on crushed bow at sea. There's no time or place for drydocking vessels. lilii i V - ,' ,• 5. ' ' P^irx-xixo:-:'': ^ ?" =• J I Close up of the "grab" shows its size in relation to man. Claw-like apparatus is a Norwegian invention which helped make modern whaling possible. '.•j| ••'-I •'ll • 3 isl "•'il Crewmembers stow hunks of whale meat down through manholes into cookers below. Large photo at left shows entire slaughterhouse eperiation on foredeck. Four typical crewmem­ bers on whaling expe­ dition are shown above.. ^1 �te:. . . • SEAFARERS Pus* Twelva Adtfnstr S. 1954 LOG PORT JtfiPOAIS.. Lake Charles: Shipping, Polllieaf Situallons Are Good From down here in the garden spot of Louisiana we can report that things are beginning to move along nicely. Calling in here during the past two weeks have been the Brad­ ford Island, Chiwawb, Sal em Maritime, Royal Oak, Government Camp, Winter Hill and Lone Jack (Cities Serv­ Connell ice). The Chiwawa spent a week here due to the fact that her tanks needed cleaning very badly, and the boys really cleaned up on her in, money, too. We also had the Val Chem (Val­ entine) in port at nearby Orange, Tex. This ship has a* fine bunch of SIU men on her. We signed the Government Camp on for Japan and her crew was happy to get offshore after running coastwise for so long. On/the labor front here, all is well at present now that the elec­ tions are over. Most of labor's friends were elected and from here we put in office a district attorney, a Court of Appeals judge and a congressman friendly to labor. A number of smaller offices were also filled by people friendly to la­ bor so we didn't do badly, even though we lost the US Senator's race. Helhnan In Hospital At this writing we have one man in the hospital here. He is Karl A. (Swede) Hellman, who broke his kneecap when his car collided with two others. He is now in St. Pat­ rick's Hospital and will be trans­ ferred to the marine hospital in Galveston as soon as he can be moved. For our Seafarer of the Week we nominate Henry M. Connell, better known as "Tampa Red." A long­ time member of the SIU, "Red" is now sailing coastwise as a chief cook because, he says, that way he doesn't get too far away from his sweet milk. We never knew, though, that Budweiser put up milk. Red says that SIU men en­ joy so many benefits it's hard to pick out a special one, but he sure likes the idea of paid vacations. At the last meeting here, T. J. Moore was chairman and I. W. Thompson was recording secretary. Both sail in the deck department and both did a fine job at the meet­ ing. The way the rain has been com­ ing down here for the past 20 hours, we may soon be able to go fishing out of the hall windows. In fact, even while I've been writing this the water has risen about five feet, so I think I'll go check my fishing gear now. Leroy Clarke Lake Charles Port Agent I;-- • i t Philadelphia: Puerto Rico TIe-Up Hits Shipping Here 1^:-' Although the longshoremen and employers here reached an agree­ ment in the beef which tied up the port for two weeks, shipping dur­ ing the last report period remained at a low ebb. This was primarily due to the longshoremen's beef in Puerto Rico, which resulted in Bull Line laying up itis entire fleet and cutting off one of our main ship­ ping arteries. The overall picture in the port'^loolaf^ vern nrqmisiilB, though, as we have two of Bull's ships here, and as soon as the strike breaks—which should be at any moment at this writing—we can expect at least several days of a boom. Three Ships Pay Off Paying off here during the past two weeks were the Republic (Trafalgar), Cantigny (Cities Serv­ ice) and Seamar (Calmar). These three ships also signed oti. In transit during this period were The Cabins (Cabins); Fairhope, Andrew Jackson and Iber­ ville (Waterman); Steel Flyer, Steel Artisan and Steel Navigator (Isthmian); Robin Locksley (Seas Shipping); Seatiger (Colonial), and Greece Victory (South Atlantic). A. S. Cardnllo Philadelphia Port Agent i, $. t. Seattle: Grew Balks At Sign-On, Likerty Bell is Stored Shipping has been good in this port during the past two weeks and we expect it to continue that way. Paying off here were the Alcoa Pegasus (Alcoa), Liberty Bell (Tramp Cargo), Cecil N. Bean (Drytrans), George A. Lawson (Pan-Oceanic) and John C. (Atlan­ tic Carriers). On the Liberty Bell the com­ pany tried to chisel on the stores and the crew wouldn't go for that, but after a requisition for addi­ tional stores was filled, they signed on for the Far East. Food Beefs Squared Away In transit were the Pennmar and Yorkmar (Calmar). There were a few food beefs on these ships but these were squared away. On the beach here are Frenchy Michelet and G. Sims. Sims is studying for his third mate's ticket and hopes to get it in about three weeks. We know that if he ever sails topside he will do a good job. In the marine hospital are F. Fondila, H. Harvey, S. Johannessen, J. Krohn, V. K. Ming and B. Smith. Jeff Gellette Seattle Port Agent Meeting Night Everg 2 Weeks , Regular membership meet­ ings in SIU headquarters and at all branches are held every second Wednesday night at 7 PM. The schedule for the next few meetings Is as follows: Aug. 11, Aug. 25, Sept. 8. All Seafarers registered on the shipping list are required to attend the meetings. Curley Byrd emerge the winner. This has now become a fact. Earl Sheppard Baltimore Port Agent Baltimore: 'Very Bood' Shipping Is Seen Conlinuing Galveston: Shipping in this fair city of ours has been very good during the past two weeks, and it should stay that way during the next two weeks. During the last two weeks we shipped 208 men on regular jobs and 17 men on stand-by work for a total of 224. We registered 218 men, but quite a few of these were permit men and the bookmen- in this port have been well taken care of. The following ships paid off dur­ ing the last two weeks: Compass (Compass), Cal­ mar (Calmar), An­ drew Jackson and Fairland (Water­ man), Albion (D r y - t r a n s), French Creek (Cities Service), Carolyn (Bull) Baltore, Chilore, Cubore and SanLlppy tore (Ore), and Oremar (Calmar). Ships signing on were the Com­ pass (Compass); Calmar, Alamar Oremar and Bethcoaster (Calmar); Steel Flyer (Isthmian); Carolyn (Bull); Andrew Jackson, Fairland (Waterman); French Creek (Cities Service); Trojan Seaman (Troy), and Baltore, Chilore, Feltore, Cubore and Santore (Ore). In transit were the Ocean Nimet (Ocean Trans.), Steel Scientist and Steel Navigator (Isthmian), Alcoa Puritan (Alcoa), Robin Goodfellow and Robin Locksley (Seas Ship­ ping), De Soto, Madaket and Iber­ ville (Waterman), Bethcoaster (Cal­ mar) and Marina (Bull). New Hall Progressing Work on the new hall is progress­ ing rapidly, and we are sure we will take over this hall in from four to six weeks. In carrying out the policy set down by headquarters to reduce operating expenses, there have been some slight changes made in this port, but these changes will affect only the operating expenses and not the efficiency of the port. There are still a few oldtimers on the beach here, including John Taurin, Albert (Piccolo) Solberg, Danny Lippy and Harry Johnson. In the hospital are Robert A. Stokes, Jesse A. Shonts, Albert Willis, Samuel Doyle, Joseph T. Torra, August A. Smith, Jesse A. Clark, Heinrich Wiese, Samuel H. Mills and Richard Foust. . As I stated in my last repojjt, I was sure the final outcome of the Democratic primaries would see Weather And Shipping Fair In Texas Port They have been having a heat wave all over Texas but as usual the temperatures here in Gal­ veston have been the lowest in the Southwest. Southern breezes from the Gulf keep the mercury down and make it ideal for fishing and swimming, and also for observing the local bathing beauties. This is a mighty interesting pastime, especially for a man who has been out at sea for a while. Shipping has been fair here dur­ ing the past two weeks. Paying off were the Margaret Brown (Bloomfield) and Steel Advocate (Isthmian) and signing on were the Margaret Brown and Government Camp (Cities Service). In-Transit Ships Intransit were the Edith (Bull); Cantigny, Government Camp and Bents Fort (Cities Service); Topa Topa and Lafayette (Waterman); Seatiger (Colonial); Southern Cities (Southern Trans.); Del Viento and Del Campo (Mississippi), and Seatrains New York, New Jersey, Savannah and Texas. There were a few minor beefs on some of these jships but they were all squared away to the satis­ faction of the crews. Joe Atchinson is on the beach and J. Watt is back here after being put ashore in Florida for hospitalization. He is just about ready for action again. Keith Alsop Galveston Port Agent i" 3) Wilmington: 4" Shipping Up; Pianfer Pays Off And Signs On Shipping picked up in this port during the past two weeks, due primarily to the fact that the Alcoa Planter, which was originally sup­ posed to come into Seattle, came into San Pedro instead, and so she paid off and signed on here. With this payoff and the in-transit ships we shipped 35 men during these two weeks, but the future remains uncertain. The in transits here were the Golden City, John B. Waterman and Raphael Semmes (Waterman), Pennmar (Calmar), San Mateo Vic­ tory (Eastern), Alcoa Pegasus (Al­ coa) and Coe Victory (Victory Car­ riers). ISrnest Tiiley Wilmington Port Agent RECORD Shipping Figure's July 17 to July 31 REG. DECK 17 102 28 76 13 11 10 62 • •• • T5 32 34 30 24 PORT Boston New York ..... 1 Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Savannah •Tampa Mobile New Orleans Galveston Seattle. San Francisco Wilmington • •TotaM':.v.:;/-n • i REG. REG. TOTAL ENGINE STEW. REG. 14 11 42 85 83 270 24 14 66 80 62 218 14 7 34 27 10 6 40 13 17 54 54 170 §9 66 210 86 32 22 . 80 25 21 89 26 . 33 45 11 , 10 1,377 ^ j • ' , ift - • . A; - SHIP. DECK 5 127 10 81 9 5 3 34 57 23 39 25 13 431 SHIP. SHIP. TOTAL ENG. STEW. SHIPPED 10 19 4 97 333 109 7 28 11 55 208 72 5 4 18 7 19 7 9 2 4 33 104 37 78 55 190 53 14 16 103 30 34 81 25 31 35 12 10 395 374 .1,200 Boston: Shipmates Pay Hoaor To Deceased Brolhers The SIU crew of the Seatiger (Colonial) collected $34 and pre­ sented it to Mrs. Catherine O'Con­ nor, mother of Francis P. O'Con­ nor, who died in Florida. Brother O'Connor, who was stricken while sailing oh the Seatiger, died at the Key O'Connor West Naval Hos­ pital on July 20. A wreath was sent by the Union. The Union also sent a wreath to the funeral of Ralph M. Chur­ chill, who died at the Brighton Ma^ rine Hospital on July 19. He was stricken while working as cashier aboard the Evangeline (Eastern). Shipping is still slow here in "Beantown." We paid off and signed on the Winter Hill and Sa­ lem Maritime (Cities Service) and in transit were the Republic (Tra­ falgar), Steel Vendor (Isthmian) and Iberville, Wacosta, Madaket and Chickasaw (Waterman). Among the men on the beach here are J. Cash, C. Moss, E. Rob­ erts and J. Rubery, and in the ma­ rine hospital are J. Garello, F. Alasavich, J. Penswickand W. Beohner, James Sheehan Boston Port Agent ii 4> Norfolk: « More TaPkers Gail, Bringing Mora Jobs Things are looking up in this port, with the increasing number of tankers coming into Hampton Roads furnishing a number of jobs for us. During the last two weeks the Royal Oak (Cities Service) and The Cabins (Cabins) paid off and signed on. In transit were the Fairporf (Waterman), Alcoa Puritan (Alcoa), Andrew Jackson (Isthmian), Jeffer­ son City Victory (Victory Carriers), Ocean Nimet (Ocean Trans,) and Southland (South Atlantic). In the hospital are Hugh L. Meacham, Anthony Scaturro, Char­ lie Horton and Henry Riley, Ben Rees Norfolk Port Agent �0^ Anciut 6.1954 SEAFARERS LOG Page Tbfrteca ......... PORT MtEPORTS New Orleans: Death Benefit Cards Shenld Be Filled Ont pleased to learn that they have been discharged from the hospital and expect to be ready to ship out soon. William E. Murphy, Sam Marinello, R. L. Kelly, F. Pastrano, H. E. Humphrey, R. E. Hommel and M. E. Alexander are among Sea­ farers recently hospitalized. It is hoped they will be ready for duty again by our next report. Since the last report the Alcoa Runner (Alcoa), Steel Navigator (Isthmian), Del Mar.^ Del Viento and Del Campo (Mississippi), and the - Chickasaw, Antinous and DeSoto (Waterman) paid off here. The Alcoa Runner (Alcoa), Steel Advocate (Isthmian) and Del Oro, Del Santos, Del Alba and Del Mar (Mississippi) signed on. Ships calling' in-transit were the Alcoa Corsair, Alcoa Patriot, Alcoa Cavalier and Alcoa Polarus (Al­ coa), the Steel Advocate (Isth­ mian), the Del Alba (Mississippi), the Seatrains Louisiana and Geor­ gia (Seatrain Lines), the Topa Topa and LaSalle (Waterman), the Margarett Brown (Bloomfield), the Southwind (South Atlantic), South­ ern Cities (Southern Steamship Co.) and the Mae (Bull Lines). Lindsey J. Williams New Orleans Port Agent The importance of the member­ ship filling out Welfare Plan bene­ ficiary forms was demonstrated here this week when Oscar Norm, one of the real oldtimers in the Union, died of a heart attack. Brother Norm, who had a host of friends among the membership here, left no surviving relatives, nor had he filled out the necessary form to designate a beneficiary in case of his death. As a conse­ quence, a muddled legal situation was ereated regarding disposition of the $2,500 death benefit to which every man who sails SIU is en­ titled. Of course, this is an extreme case, but occasionally difficult situ­ ations have been created for wid­ ows or relatives because the de­ ceased had neg­ lected to fill out the form which would have re­ sulted in auto­ matic payment of 4- 4" l" the benefit to the Parrott person who he Savannah: would bave preferred to designate as his beneficiary. These forms are available in the hall here just as they are in all of the other branches. It takes only a few minutes to fill in the Shipping has been average here necessary data, and members who during the past two weeks. The have not done so should avail Salem Maritime (Cities Service) themselves of this opportunity on paid off and signed on while intheir next visit to the hall. transit were the Steel Advocate Members shipping out of this and Steel Navigator (Isthmian), port are being reminded that re­ Southland (South Atlantic), Robin tail merchandise can be purchased Wentley (Seas Shipping), Yaka in the Seafarers Sea Chest outlet (Waterman) and Seatrains Louisi­ located at the rear of the first floor ana and Georgia, which each called of the SIU building in New Or­ here twice. leans. First class merchandise can Ray Sweeney, well-known Sea­ be purchased here by any member farer and former Union official, at a saving. passed away aboard the Seatrain Senator Is Reelected Louisiana July 6. Voting was orderly and rather "50-50" Bill Backed light in the recent election in Loui­ At the last meeting of the Cen­ siana. US Senator Allen J. El- tral Trades Council here, the coun­ lender was re-elected by a big ma­ cil went on record as supporting jority over his two opponents, the "50-50" ship bill and has sent l^nator Ellender's principal oppo­ out communications accordingly. nent, Frank B. Ellis, carried New On the beach here are R. J. FalOrleans by 4,000 votes, but lost ger. Jack Nelms, A. H. Smith, Roy the remainder of the state by a big Nash, A. D. Edenfield, J. Rosa, total. Leo Weeks and I. Peacock. Representative Hale Boggs of In the marine hospital are G. New Orleans, whose record in Con­ Menendez, C. C. Slater, L. A. Degress has proved him to be a Witt, J. Littleton, P. Bland, J. T, friend of the working man, also Mobre, R. C. Shedd, A. F. Mead­ won re-election with ease. ows, C. H. Kent, J. H. Morris, L. Shipping continued fair during F. Swegan, H. C. Bedfood, L. F. the last two weeks. About one- Weeks, R. Carrollton, W. C. Sand­ third of the men who shipped were ers and W. J. Wolf. permit men, indicating that the Jeff Morrison job situation is not too rough for Savannah Port Agent bookmen. Seafarers D. Baker, A. Phillippille and M. Perez are to be com­ mended for donating blood to the Seafarers Blood Bank at the USPHS hospital here. It is through the contributions of such unsel­ fish members that we are able Stu, A&G District to maintain an adequate supply to BALTIMORE 14 North day St. Mulberry 4540 take care of hospitalized brothers Earl Sheppard. Agent BOSTON 276 State St. who may be in need of blood. James Sheehan, Agent Richmond 2-0140 Friends and former shipmates of GALVESTON 21st & Mechanic Phone 2-8448 J. M. McDavitt, G. R. Mitchell, H. Keith Alsop, Agent 1419 Ryan St. L. Parrott and J. J. Adams will be LAKE CHARLES, La Shipping Is Average; '50-50' Biii is Backed How to Apply For Birth Pay Applications for the mater­ nity benefit must be supported by the following documents: • Your marriage certificate. • Baby's birth certificate dat­ ing birth after April 1, 1952. ^ • The discharge from the last ship you sailed on before the i babY was borh; Leroy Clarke. Agent Phone 6-5744 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. Cal Tanner. Agent Phone 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 523 BienviUe St. Lindsey Williams. Agent JdagnoUa 6112-6113 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave.. Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6600 NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. Ren Rees. Agent Phone 4-1083 PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St. S. CarduUo, Agent Market 7-1635 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. T. Banning. Agent..: Douglas 2-5475 Marty Brelthoff. West Coast Representative PUERTA de TIERRA, PR . Pelayo 51—La 5 Sal Colls, Agent Phone 2-5996 SAVANNAH 3 Abercorn St. Jeff Morrison. Agent Phone 3-1728 SEATTLE 2700 Ist Ave. Jeff GlUette. Agent Elliott 4334 TAMPA ,1809-1811 N- Franklin SL ttay White. Agent Phone SM323 Mobile: Three Inactive Ships Schedaled Tc Crew Up With three inactive ships due to take on crews and sail, shipping should show considerable improve­ ment here during the next two weeks. Also, the next two weeks should be pretty busy because the following ships should be in here for payoffs or in-transit: Arizpa, De Soto and Iberville (Waterman) and Partner, Ranger, Pennant, Pil­ grim, Corsair, Cavalier and Patriot (Alcoa). During the last two weeks ship­ ping, while a little on the slow bell, was satis­ factory, with 103 men shipped to regular jobs and 117 sent to vari­ ous relief jobs in and around . the harbor. We had nine payoffs, seven sign-ons and three ships Sullins in transit during this period. All of these ships were in ex­ tremely good shape and there were only minor beefs. Outside of the pickup in ship­ ping, the big news here is about the "big pay-off" and all the gang here are waiting for Waterman and Alcoa to start their retroactive wage payments soon. According to our reports, Alcoa is slated to get started about August 1 and Water­ man about August 15. At this writing the AFL long­ shoremen's strike in Puerto Rico has not heen completely settled, and this has resulted in the tying up of some Waterman ships, but in the meantime the SIU has repre­ sentatives on the island protecting the interests of the Union and the membership. Shipmates Aid Sullins The members here wish to ex­ tend their deepest sympathy to Fred Sullins and his family on the recent death of his mother. Mx'S. Sullins passed away in Hamilton, Ala., while Fred was steward on the Ocean Lotte in Korea, and the crew of the Ocean Lotte donated some $200 to help him fly back to attend the funeral. He wishes to extend his thanks to -all his ship­ mates who were so kind to him in his troubles. A few of the oldtimers on the beach here are J. T. Morton, W. J. Anderson, W. Phurrough, F. L. Verner, F. Stevens,' D. K. Nunn, E. Webb, M. Oswald, H. Young, J. Dixon and F. Reid. In the hospital here are Willie WILMINGTON. Calif 505 Marine Ave. Ernest Tllley. Agent Terminal 4-2874 HEADQUARTERS . 675 4th Ave.. Bklyn. SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul Hall ASST SECRETARY-TREASURERS Robert Matthews Joe Algina Claude Simmons Joe Volplan William HaU SUP HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 PORTLAND 522 N. W. Everett St. Beacon 4336 RICHMOND. CALIF 257 5th St. Phone 2599 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. Douglas 2-8363 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Main 0290 WILMINGTON 505 Marine Ave. Terminal 4-3131 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave.. Brooklyn STerling 8-4671 Canadian District MONTREAL.......634 St. James St. West PLateau 8161 HALIFAX. N.S 128tt Hollls. St. PhonO! 3-89n Reynolds, Fred Sullins and W. G. Moore. On the labor front, the building trades workers are striking against the contractors for a wage in­ crease and we are sure our friends will win out. Another lahor dis­ pute involves the taxi drivers of the Teamsters Union and the De­ luxe Cab Company. We are urg­ ing all our members to be careful of the cabs they select because of this beef. Cal Tanner Mobile Port Agent New York; Three Ships Ceme Out Of Lay-Up, Mere Due New York is still enjoying fine weather and good shipping, and who could ask for anything more? The boys are all taking advantage of the added recreational facilities here in the hall and from all the comments I have heard they are well pleased with the new set-up. ^Shipping has been good in all departments and all ratings dur­ 4" 4" 4' ing the last two weeks. In fact we San Francisco: had the biggest turnover in men that we have had since the first of .the year. Most of the ships pay­ ing off had a big turnover in the crew and on top of that we had Lately we have found that som6 three ships that came out of laycompanies are getting lax about up and took on full crews. They were the Ann Marie and the Eve­ calling in replace­ lyn (Bull) and the Ocean Betty ments, and we (Ocean Transportation). There have had to were no ships put into lay-up dur­ speak to some of ing this period. Jhem about this. Shipping should be equally good At any rate, we during the coming period as we would like to have a couple of more ships com­ stress this point ing out of lay-up and a number of to all the mem­ ships due in for payoffs from long'' bers— make sure, runs. This usually means a good you let the Union Lefeo Turnover in the crew. kndw when you leave a ship, so we can make sure Paid Off 15 Ships the company orders the necessary During the last two weeks we replacements. paid off 15 ships, signed 9 on for­ If a man quits a ship without eign articles arid serviced 14 innotifying the Union, and if a com­ transit ships. pany is lax about ordering a re­ The following were the ships placement, that ship may sail paid off: shorthanded. This not only results Choctaw (Waterman); Val Chem in the loss of a job to a man who (Valentine); Jeffei'son City iVicto­ could be working, but creates a ry Carriers); Lone Jack and Brad­ hardship for the crewmembers who ford Island (Cities Service); Hilton remain on board. and Mae (Bull); Ocean Nimet Transportation); Mary Shipping here has held its own (Ocean during the past tw o w eeks. We had Adams (Bloomfield); Crack-no payoffs hut three ships signed er State Mariner and Greece Vic­ on—the Coe Victory (Victory Car­ tory (South Atlantic), and Seatrains riers), Alcoa Pegasus (.\lcoa) and Texas, Georgia, New Jersey and New York. Young America (Waterman). Signing on were the Ann Marie In-transit were the Afoundria, (Bull); Robin Wentley and Robin Raphael Semmes, John B. Water­ man and Bienville (Waterman), Goodfellow (Robin); Jefferson City San Mateo Victory (Eastern), Robin Victory (Victory Carriers); Steel Gray (Seas Shipping) and Pennmar Scientist (Isthmian); Peninsular Mariner (Waterman); Ocean Nimet (Calmar). and Ocean Betty (Ocean Trans­ On the Pennmar we had some portation), and Cracker State Mar­ beefs, but these were all settled iner (South Atlantic). before the ship left here. In-transit were the Seatrains Oldtimers on the beach here in­ Savannah and Louisiana; the Alcoa clude F. Schmiedel, T. Moriarity, Ranger, Alcoa Puritan and Alcoa W. Kramer, W. Bause, F. Kustra, Runner; Iberville, De Soto. MadaJ. Lefco, V. Johnson, J. Thomas, ket and Lafayette (Waterman); H. Johnson, C. Mazur, J. Bright, Seamar, Massmar and Bethcoaster R. Ferron, F. McCall, W. Parks (Calmar); Edith (Bull), and Seaand G. Fournier. tiger (Colonial). In the hospital are S. Bunda, J. Have Very Few Beefs Childs, O. Gustavsen, C. Neumaier, All of these ships came in with J. Perreira, W. Singleton, P. S. very few beefs, mostly for minor Yuzoir and M. E. Folts. repairs. Tom Baitning The majority of the ships are San Francisco Port Agent now beginning to pay off under the new pay scale which gives the men quite a few added dollars to take home. In the very near future we expect to have all the companies paying off under the new contract but it will take some of them more FORT WILLI AM... 118V4 Syndicate Ave. time than others to make up the Ontario Phone: 3-3221 POPT COLBORNE 103 Durham St. retroactive pay. We will keep you Ontario Phone: 5591 posted as to when they will be TORONTO. Ontario 272 King St. E. EMpire 4-5719 ready to pay off, so just be patient VICTORIA, BC 617V4 Cormorant St. as this is like money in the-bank. Empire 4531 Claude Simmons VANCOUVER. BC 565 Hamilton St. PaclBc 7824 Asst. See.-Treasurer SYDNEY. NS 304 Charlotte St. Members Leaving Ship Shonid Notify Union Phone 6346 20 Elgin St. Phone: 545 THOROLD. Ontario 62 St. Davids St. CAnal 7-3202 QUEBEC 113 Cote De La Montague Quebec Phone; 2-7078 SAINT JOHN 177 Prince William St, NB Phone: 2-5232 BAGOTVILLE. Quebec Great Lakes District ALPENA 133 W. Fletcher Phone: 1238W BUFFALO. NY 180 Main St. Phone: Cleveland 7391 CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave.. NE Phone: Main 1-0147 DETROIT 1038 3rd St. Headquarters Phone: Woodward 1-6857 DULUTH 531 W. Michigan St. Phone; Melrose 2-4110 SOUTH CHICAGO 3261 E. 93nd St, Phone:-Ssfea 6-341* Tampat Port's Business Slow; Four Ships In Transit Shipping was very slow in this port during the last two weeks, with no payoffs, or sign-ons. In transit were the Del Alba (Mississippi) and Chickasaw, DeSoto and Antinous (Waterman). . . Ray White . .TaihiiA:;Poci Agent . ^ •4=55 I �J:.^{^'•^i i-:- ,. SEAFARERS Pks* FoniiecB ;p •• K-fe- Anrnst «. 1M4 LOG ItV Heave Ho, Awaaay We Co' OFF For San Mateo, Aground In Korea WATCH This is a new feature designed to offer hints and information on hobbies, products, developments, publications and the like which "At last the word was passed from the bridge and the winches began turning. The Seafarersnew mc.y find helpful in spending their leisure-time hours, both wires from all 14 sets of beaching gear grew as tight as fiddle strings, the tug heaved on the ashore and aboard ship. -Queries addressed to "Off Watch," SEAFAR­ hawser, and the old girl began to move. Once she started, she never stopped. She kept ERS LOG, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY, will be answered in the column or by mail, wherever possible. right on going until we were-*^ out in deep water where the For the benefit of boating enthusiasts, and many Seafarers are like TV Star Entertains On The Florida anchor was dropped and we everyone else in their enjoyment of a sort of "busman's holiday," rode like a duck, slightly down at the Outboard Boating Club of America (OBC) has an attractive 16-page the head but otherwise fairly evenbooklet called "Outboard Handling," which can be obtained free of keeled. A rousing cheer went up charge. The subjects covered include a description of the common and everyone retired to the messboners that cause accidents and how to avoid them, the installation hail for coffee and a bull session. and handling of the motor, trimming and maneuvering the boat and And so the San Mateo Victory several others. Copies can be obtained from the club, at 307 North (Eastern Steamship!, which went Michigan Avenue, Chicago 1, 111. aground April 5, during a run to Sasebo, Japan, was towed off the rocky beaches of Cheju Island, Seafarers who dabble in metal handiwork, furniture antiquing, glass Korea, according to the graphic working, jewelry soldering, copper fitting and casting may find a new account of salvage operations sent clean-buming, lightweight propane torch a handy tool for their to the LOG by Seafarer H, C. Mcpurposes. The Bernz-O-Matic master torch, designed for amateur Curdy, the steward. use, weighs less than four pounds and is less than three inches in "The day after the accident, diameter. Easy to light, without pumping, priming or pre-heating, the McCurdy writes, "the Navy salvage torch produces a hot (2300 degrees F.), easily adjustable flame. Ask ship Grasp came out from Sasebo about it next time you visit your hobby shop. to survey the damage and consider salvage operations. Several other salvage ships were used as well A word to the wise: Don't become your own clay pigeon! If your as a number of smaller boats. pleasure is to pile off the ship while in port or on the beach and head There was also an average of 50 for the woods to hunt game with your shooting iron under your arm, Navy salvage mgn working around don't try to make a shooting gallery out of your foc'sle. The Institute the clock. Our own deck crew was for Safer Living of Boston just published figures showing that indoor on call at all times, while we of shooting accidents—many of them of the didn't-know-it-was-loadcd the steward department stood variety—took more than 1,000 lives in the United States during the ready to feed the salvage men in past year. Most" of them, occurring while the victim was cleaning or case a storm prevented the small examining his gun, might have been prevented. Such accidents also boats from taking them back to Enjoying snack with crewmen of SlU-contracted Florida is NY taused non-fatal wounds to nearly 50,000 other persons in 1953. their ships. TV comic Larry Storch (seated, left). Storch was star entertainer in Florida's cocktail lounge on trip to Nassau. Others in photo On Rocks Ode Month are (1-r) utility Gonzales, steward delegate Lopez, waiter Suarez, "A lot of hard man hours," Mc­ Acclaimed by the critics from near and far, the movie "On The cruise director Martinez. Curdy reports, "were put into the Waterfront" which is just making its appearance around the country seemingly impossible task of pull­ should tempt movie-going Seafarers who are familiar with plight of ing three-quarters of the San Ma­ and to the crewmen on the Sah a collector of Japanese works of racket-bossed longshoremen and the effort to clean up the docks. teo's weight off the volcanic rocks. Mateo. Nevertheless, after a month art. Featuring the familiar figure of Marlon Brando and a talented cast It was not until May 5, one month at Cheju Island, the crew was Also, McCurdy says, there was of both Hollywood and television players, the movie also offers a after we hit, that the ship made mighty glad to reach Nagasaki, so good news waiting for the men glimpse of former boxing and wrestling headliners Tami Mauriello, its first move, about 15 feet. Then, much so that it "went Japa­ when they finally did get to Sasebo, Abe Simon and Tony Galento, playing the roles of waterfront "hoods." before the beaching anchors could nese," with three crewmen becom­ for there they learned of the sign­ be reset, the high tide we had ing serious students of the Japa­ ing of the new freighter agreement waited a whole month for began nese language, one becoming a with pay gains for them retroactive Shutter-bugs who haven't tried out the new "sub-midget" flash-bulbs to drop, so that the next night. student of judo, and one becoming to last October. for both indoor and outdoor lighting are in for a treat, as all reports May 6, had to be the final effort, indicate the "midget-midget" lamps do an all-purpose job for both because the tide would not be high amateur and pro photographer, and are at the same time easier to enough for another month." LOG-A-RHYTHM: carry and use. Sylvania's Bantam "8, the Dura-Mite "8" and-the We The May 6 effort, as previously inghouse Number 8 all offer similar advantages, plus the feature of stated, was successful, and the fol­ a lower cost than larger lamps like the Press 25. They're said to be lowing day was spent preparing to safer and less likely to suffer damage when carried loose in a pocket get the San Mateo under tow to or camera case, which makes them desirable from the shipboard the Mitsubishi graving docks in By Anthony Wayne Phillips photographer's point of view, who is. faced with a special storage Nagasaki. There, McCurdy reports, problem for his camera gear. the ship spent the next 47 days, You're here beside me having more than 200 plates re­ Thank you, Daddy, Every single day. placed and having considerable For being a pal to' me, work done on her deck machinery Even while you're sailing And when you're here and in her engine room. For, in The highest sea. There's lot's to do. addition to ripping a huge gash Every day are my pal. in her port side when she hit the You There's something new.. Yet you're so far away. rocks, the ship had been subjected I pretend you are here Sometimes we go fishing to the incessant Jarring of the Both night and day. Twice a week, blasting under her hull during the A proud man these days is Seafarer B. F. (Bill) Lowe, Right in our private. salvage operations. Some fellows, I s'pose, chief steward aboard the Julesburg (Terminal Tankers). Make-believe creek. Navy, Crew Work Well Can not understand And good reason he has to be, too, for Bill's nephew, young Throughout the month-long sal­ How making believe The biggest fish vage operations, there were only Would be so grand. Billy Newt Lowe, age 11, re-"^ In this creek are caught. minor differences in Navy-mer­ And our greatest battles cently became the local hero with both hands, dragged him into chantmen relations, McCurdy says, It's 'cause. Daddy, Here are fought. ditch and rolled him on the of Fouke, Ark., when his quick agrass. paying tribute both to the Navy When I play this way. "I had to hold him with thinking and fast acting prevented We also have one hand roll him over with death or serious injury to a 6V6- the other,"and Our mountain lodge— he explained. year-old playmate. I mean, of course. Someone asked why he Our old garage. Young Billy and his playmate, pulled the child intoBilly the ditch? Ray Dale, built a fire in a hole saw the grass was green there," When we are there hunting they dug near - (1) Which of the 48 states has more mineral springs than any other: We have such luck. he replied, and adults marveled their homes. (a) California, (b) New York, (c) Arkansas? at his quick thinking and prompt We always come home Then they got (2) What is a remedy for counteracting a poison and stopping its With an elk or a buclj. action.. some fuel oil to action called? Had No Time To Think feed the flames. (3) Working .together, two men can do a certain repair job in 18 Then at the seashore "I didn't have time to think," Some of the fuel hours. One of them, working alone, can do it in 22 hours. How long We romp, swim and dive. Billy said. "I ju^ knew I had to oil got on Ray's would it take the other man, working alone, to complete the job? And pick up seashells put out that fire in a hurry. Why, shirt, and when (4) In sports, what is known, as "The House that Ruth Built." {From our neighbor's drive). he was blazin' all over." he bent over the (5) If you suffer from pj/ropbobia, of what are you afraid? I know that my playmates flame it licked at For several days after that Billy, (6) If you had some sweetbreads would you: (a) broil them, (b) Would, snicker and sneer the oil and set who is the son of Newt Lowe, a spread them with jam, (c) eat them with ice cream? B. F. Lowe If they knew I pretended his clothes afire. Red River farmer, went to school (7) Who is reputed to have been the oldest human being ever to That, you were here. Panic-stricken, he started running. with seared hands and wrists and have lived? "He was running pretty fast," dime-size blisters on the ends of (8) Earl Warren is now Chief Justice of the United States. Who was But is it silly Billy said later, "and I had to his fingers. But there wa-s a glow the last Chief Justice: (a) Tom Clark, (b) Charles Evans Hughes, (c) For a Seafarer's son To pretend-there are two Fred M. Vinson? chase him. I caught him once and in his "heart and that came from threw him to the ground, but he the knowledge that he had prob­ (9) Many Seafarers who have visited the Far East are familiar with Instead of just one? the liquor known as sake. From what is it made? jumped up and ran again, and so ably saved the life of his little Now the day's ended a- i": playmate. . " (10) If one-half a number is added to twice the number plus one- And I'll go to bedi ^ I had to chase him again." half, the result is 48. What h; the number? And there Is a glow in the heart The second time Billy caught But all of these dreamsK., ; the younger boy, he grabbed him of his uncle. Seafarer Bill Lowe. i Answers on Page 17) Will stay in my head.- Daddy, My Pal Playmate Saved From Fire By Seafarer's Nephew, 11 ls»» ^ •'' • • •• r^"• P5-3 ' Qiiiz Corner �A«ffiut f. 19S4 SEAFARERS With Beer Over Buck A Bottle, Masan Trip Is A Real ^Dry Run' With beer seUing at over a buck, a bottle, a trip to Masan, Korea, is a real "dry run," according to Seafarer D. D. Story of the Morning Light (Waterman). The Morning Light recently returned to New Orleans after carrying the first US relief cargo of codfish and grain to-^ Masan. The rate of exchange in Masan, Story reports', is 180 won* to the dollar. And so, with beer selling at 200 won a bottle, and with the cost of entertainment running along the same lines. Sea­ farers hitting this port might just as well stay aboard ship and play poker, he says. Good Launch Service Making the situation even worse. Story says, was the fact that the crewmen got really good launch service to shore.- But once they got there— "For once," Story writes the LOG, "we got a. good break from the Army, and during the 21 days we laid at anchor in Masan we had the best launch service I think any SIU ship ever got. But with those prices the way they were, we would have been just as well off if we'd been paid with rope yarn." Aboard the Waterman C-2, Morning Light, in Masan, Korea, mayor and police chief of Masan, together with US Army officers, inspect cases representing first US relief shipment of food to this port. Morning Light carried^codfish and grain to feed Korean people. US Help To Philippmes Pays Off As a result of the economic and moral aid given by the United States, the Philippines are being completely overhauled, internally and externally, so that they bid fair to become the chief fortress of Western democracy in the Orient. This is the report to the LOG made by Seafarer Harry Kronmel. As a crewmember Awningless Persian Run Burns Up Artisan's Crew . Pace FIfteea LOG Bv Spike Marlin Whenever the appetite gets jaded it's the customary thing to try a little imported delicacy to perk it up. The same seems to be true in the fight game. And If like in the grocery store, the fancy-sounding import turns out to be just another herring, the customer is only to blame for buying. Imported fighters have long been a standard gate-stimulator in the boxing business. They are even more in demand now because of Ihe admitted scarcity of home­ grown talent. * However, looking over some of the stuff that the outlanders have been sending us recently it seems that the foreigners are a little thin on talent too. Or else, they are keeping the anchovies and caviar at home and sending us all the herrings. French Production Most of the recent imports have come from France which is finding it just the way to get some more American dollars. Among them have been Pierre Langlois, Mickey Laurent, Jacqdes Royer (a noble­ man no less but somewhat roughhouse in the ring) and an Algerian named Hocine Khalfi. The latter was the most impressive of the group on the strength of a wellfought upset of featherweight champion Sandy Saddler, but he has been taken into camp by fight­ ers far inferior to Saddler. None of the others.are worth a look-see. All of these French imports seem to fight along the same lines, some­ what approximating Paddy DeMarco. They usually seem tireless and in excellent condition, but they are purely and simply spoilers, who go in there to push, maul and wrestle. Langlois is the best known of the group because he has been here the longest and has fought practically every top-notcher in the middleweight division. Win, lose or draw, he just isn't impressive. The Germans have sent us one likely - looking fighter, Gustave Scholz, who punches very hard, but has yet to meet anybody of dis­ tinction. Several Italian fighters, in­ cluding the Minelli brothers, fea­ ture slick defensive boxing more in the European tradition. An ex­ ception is Italo Scortichini who goes out and gets his lumps like any Red Hook club fighter. Then there is Don Cockell, an English heavyweight who is making a career of fighting Harry Matthews. The best looking of the imports to come around recently is an Argentine middleweight named "Kayo" Lausse. The nickname is not misplaced because when he lands a punch there is an unmis­ takable thud of authority that goes with it. However, he fights a bit too slowly and deliberately to match two or three of the better middleweight; around. Big Fisherman aboard the Steel Seafarer (Isth­ mian), Kronmel recently visited the islands for the first time since A recent trip which Seafarer 1947. He found that the" physical A1 Thompson made to Louisi­ features of the islands, particular­ ana didn't prove fruitless—or The crewmembers of the Steel Fabricator (Isthmian) may ly in Manila, have been given a fishless—as this photo shows. have been boiling during their Persian Gulf run, but the face-lifting, and also that the A1 hooke4 this 23V^-pound crewmembers of another Isthmian ship, the Steel Artisan, government has been stabilized so catfish at Pine Grove in St. that the Communist menace has are really burned up over-^ Helena Parish. With A1 is his On the Steel Artisan, the crew been greatly reduced. theirs. brother, Ralph. Both of these things Kronmel The Steel Artisan crew re­ reported on their return to Phila­ attributes to the $2 billion which ported their reactions to the LOG delphia, there wasn't any kind of the US allotted for the islands' following the recent publication of an awning to protect them. And, say the crewmen, imless post-war reconstruction and re­ an article telling how the Steel Fabricator crewmen sweltered un­ Isthmian provides them with an habilitation. Manila Docks Rebuilt der the Persian GuK sun because awning, many of them may not be The LOG opens this column as an exchange for stewards, cooks, keen on the idea of heading back As a seaman, Kronmel was most bakeve and others who'd like to share favored recipes, little-known their chief mate made them use a dirty and ripped old tarpaulin as to the Gulf. The hottest days are interested in the waterfront. He cooking and baking hints, dishes with a national flavor and the like, yet to come. found that since .1947 Manila's en­ suitable for shipboard and/or home use. Here's Juan Sanchez' recipe a fantail awning. tire dpck area has been rebuilt, for chicken asopo {chicken with rice). and that work is progressing Asked about a recipe for the LOG, one of Juan Sanchez* swiftly on additional piers. The only reminders of the war days, he fans suggested chicken asopo (chicken with rice). says, are the hulks of many Juan says that chicken and rice is very ixice and although sunken ships that still litter the a popular Puerto Rican dish,** harbor. somewhat expensive to make. More water may be needed in Great advances have been made A restaurant will offer it on order to cook the rice. Three ,F Vbu ARE SlCk OR INJURED too, he reports, in the construction its menu for from $2.50 to $2.75 pounds of rice, no more, is finally AND ENTER A PRIVATE NOSPIJAL added to the chicken along with of homes, streets and roads, and per serving. schools. the vegetables and sufficient NOTIFY TNE UNION AND THE^ For chicken asopo, take one water. The whole is allowed to Kronmel recalls that in 1947, U.S.P.H.S. -PROMPTLY/ after the Japanese occupation bunch of chopped celery, three or boil for about a half hour. The ended, civil war raged between four cloves of garlic chopped very recipe serves about 27 persons. the government forces — marked fine, two green peppers cut in Juan has sailed in tlie stewards by corruption and broken promises small pieces, two chopped onions, department for the past 15 years —and the Huks, whom he calls a small jar of spanish olives, one and prefers sailing to any type of "well-meaning but ill-advised pa­ small can of pimentoes, several work on the beach. He has been bay leaves, six sliced fresh toma­ with the SIU for about 13 years, triots." Taking advantage of the unrest, toes, if available, a small can of having joined the Union in 1941. He sails the Kathryn of Bull the Communist; infiltrated the tomato puree and about two guerilla fox'ces to the point where pounds of uncooked ham cut into Lines on trips to his native Puerto the Huks were taking their orders chunks. These ingredients are put Rico. He" is married and the father with two or three tablespoons of of four children, two boys and two directly from Moscow. It was at this stage that the olive oil in a ten gallon pot and girls, and makes his home in San Filipino people appealed to the allowed to simmer for about five Juan, PR. US for help, and it was this help minutes. ^fter the vegetables have been which enabled them to establish a simmered, the pot is filled half new democratic government under full with water and the chickens President Ramon Magsaysay. This government instituted a are added. The amount of chicken series of reforms which cut the needed for the dish is perhaps the Huk menace to a trickle and with reason it is not regular fare on it the threat of Communist domi­ ships. Take 12 three-pound chickens nation. And, as this threat of Com­ and cut each chicken into six munist domination was reduced, pieces. The chicken is added to the the Filipina peojde^ were able vegetables and cooked for .about steadily to increase" the strength two hours or until the chicken is ef th^r demoeratie isstitutionsi .fen<teL...; ™ -S j;i r I.'., 'p • :J i •J r �Page SMfceH < S.EAFARERS L E T T E R S ' Persian Gutt Hun Very Hot And Dry ^ J To tit Editor: As anyone who has ever made the Persian Gulf run before knows, even under the best of conditions this run still smells. However, add a few extra unpleasantries and you have a teal stinkeroo. After leaving New York, we be­ came suspicious of things to come when our good master. Captain C. A. Ryan, neglected to put the wheel on the "Iron Mike." We were informed by the ship's dele­ gate that the captain on a previ­ ous voyage through the Suez had only two AB's aboard who were capable on the wheel and he wanted us to get some practice. Thus, we reasoned, after clear­ ing the canal successfully, we had proved our worth as helmsmen and we would be rewarded by a respite from "Mike." How wrong we were. Suez past and no mishaps, but still the same old grind of handwheeling. ' That the company would go to the trouble and expense of install­ ing automatic steering on these ships and then not use it is beyond our comprehension. No Fish At Damman, our only form of recreation was either fishing or trying to promote beer from the various foreign ships tied up along the pier. Since the fish weren't biting, we concentrated our ef­ forts on beer using money, clothes and small favors to bargain with. We were doing very nicely when a few jealous heads topside did their best to stop this. One of the ships alongside (a Dutch ship with good Heinikens beer) had no cold water for drinking purposes, so at meal time we allowed them two pitchers of ice water, which was no strain on the cooler. However, the chief engineer and the first assistant, not having the ingenuity to promote anything for themselves, issued orders that no more drinking water was to go across the dock. The next day, we resorted to the next best thing and gave the Dutch ship's crew two blocks of ice. Everyone who is aware of the heat in this part of the world knows how a person ap­ preciates a drink of ice water once in a w hile. It is noteworthy that during the time that we had Stateside beer on board we were allowed an un­ limited quantity of ice available to us with no apparent strain be­ ing made on the ice making ma­ chines. However, now two blocks »f ice a day for drinking purposes couldn't be spared. Air-Cooled Room Incidentally, the chief engineer has a room that is air-cooled by be­ ing tapped into the reefer system. The logical conclusion is that the -powers that be topside were trying to discredit us, the unlicensed personnel, in the eyes of our Dutch friends and they were going to show them that they were running the ship, union or no union. At our next stop, Basrah, we were allowed to blow our respec- 'AtgMk C. 19S4 LOG tive tops although it proved to be quite expensive. Our next stop was at Bandrashapour, a place so hot it consists of almost nothing but the heat. Flies and mosquitoes, however, ^are in .abundance. There are only two local gin mills that sell beer, if it can be called beer, and other concoctions. But because of the terrific beating we took in the rate of exchange, we couldn't even en­ joy these two miserable spots. The official rate of exchange is 32 rials to the US dollar, a fact which is nof recognized anywhere except aboard the Steel Artisan. At the American embassy in Te­ heran the personnel receive 80 rials for one dollar. Elsewhere the exchange is 90 to one US dollar. On .a Norwegian ship here at the port, the crew received 100 rials to 9 kroner ($1.25) through their agent. Add to this the price of a bottle of beer — 35 rials — and you can see the hosing that we took. When we approached the ship's delegate as to why'' we were not getting a reasonable exchange, our good captain was offended. He af­ firmed that he would have no part of any such transactions and we of course believed him. At any rate, he received most of this valueless currency back. Clarence W. Owens Ship's delegate Ex'SMU Man Meets Ships At Pusan To the Editor: First, I should like to express my appreciation for the fine way I was treated aboard SIU ships that have visited Pusan. I try to get aboard every one of them to see if there is anyone I know or just to sit around and "shoot the breeze." I have never been refused" a cup of coffee iand many times I have been invited to stay for a meal. That means a lot to anybody who has to eat Army chow and drink Army coffee. The Ocean Lotte was shut­ tling out here for a while and she Moran really had a swell crew on her. T got to know, the crew on her through an old ship­ mate, D. Van Alstine, who is day­ man on her. We have a few exSIU men here in my outfit, the 501st Harbor Craft. Thomas J. McGuinness and R. Weaver are members of my outfit. Just a bit of advice before clos­ ing. All seamen that come to this port should beware of the MP's. Any and all seamen are fair game for them. I think they have a daily contest to see who can bring ^ if if in the largest number of seamen in one day. No matter who wins, it is' the seamen who a^w^ys lose. Pvt. Elmer P. Moran* 501st H/C&M/M Co. To the Editor: APO 59 c/o Postmaster I should like to express through San Francisco, Calif. your paper my heartfelt thanks to i> if if the SIU, the Welfare Services De­ partment and most especially to Leroy Clarke, agent at Lake Charles, La., for their help to mother and I during a time of To the Editor: despair. I was shocked recently when I When my read in the New Orleans news­ brother Edward papers that Brother Moon -Kouns W. Parsons was died of a heart attack while enlost off the Alaroute to his camp at Pearl River. wai this past De­ And I know that all of my SIU cember, Leroy fellow-patients at the marine hos­ Clarke became, pital here in New Orleans felt the in every respect, same way. a friend of the I think I can safely say that family. The hour Brother Kouns was known through­ was never too Edw. Parsons out the world. He was well known late or the de­ in Europe and South America, and mand too great for him to be of of course he was a familiar figure assistance to us. in every US port, from San Fran­ To the membership, I would like cisco to New York. to say that you are part of a great Here in the Crescent City he organization, and with men like was known by nearly everybody, Leroy Clarke behind you it should young and old. ease your minds concerning your Were Children Together loved ones, as they do, believe me, I will miss Moon as I would a put forth every effort to be a real brother, because he was like source of comfort in a time of a real brother to me. We were grief. children together, some 35 years We were surprised to learn that ago, and the two of us, together such a large outfit would devote with his brother Frank, sold papers so much time and interest to the together before World War I. We loss of one of its members. It is went to school together and played now possible for us to understand hookey together and swam to­ why Ed was such a devoted mem­ gether in the Mississippi, and we also boxed many times on the same ber of the SIU for so long. card when we were both amateurs. John G. Parsons Thanks SiU For Brother^s Sake Burly Pays Tribute To Moon Kouns A MM Carte In fact, only a few weeks before his death I sent a story into the LOG about' the fights he had in his heyday. Moon is gone now. He has taken the final count. May his soul rest in peace. Spider Korolla i. i. if Oldtimer Asks For SiU LOG To the Editor: Would you place my name on your mailing list so that I chn read and enjoy your up to date news about the things that are happen­ ing on "our seas," and let us hope they continue to remain our seas. I have been reading any and all publications concerned with the sea and shipping for the past sev­ eral years and I can truthfully say that your paper is at the very top of the list. Whenever I get the chance to read your paper, which is very seldom, I read it over and over. Times have certainly changed a lot since I first went to sea. Changes for the better I'm glad to say. Joe Dewey (Ed. note: The LOG is coming your way; you will receive it every two weeks, as published.) Death Ot Kouns tsGreatLoss To the Editor: I hope you will be good enough to publish this letter in the LOG as I would like everyone to know how sorry I am to learn about the death of Moon Kouns. I knew Moon very well as a friend, as a sea­ man and as an official of ' the Union, and he was tops in every McCann' way. I would also like Moon's family to know how sorry I am to learn of his death. Perhaps they will find some consolation in the knowledge that he will always be remembered by the men of the SIU. P. J. McCann Wants LOG Sent To Korean Post To the Editor: . I would appreciate it very much if you would have the LOG sent to me. I have 16 more long months of duty here in Korea and the LOG will help me keep up with the news of the Union. Pvt. Glenn E. Walton, Jr. US 51273675 HQ Btyy 8th FA Bn APO 25 c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif. To the Editor: (Ed. note: Your name has been I wish in this manner to con­ to the mailing list and you vey to the SIU membership and added will receive the LOG regularly the Welfare Serv­ from now on.) ices Department if if if my heartfelt thanks for the aid without which I could not have To the Editor: won my recent I am now serving a hitch in Ko­ custody case and rea, and I am writing to you to say regained custody "hello" to all the Union brothers of my son, Bruce I sailed with for three years be­ Edgar Cousins. Cousins fore starting my Army duty. When all others I want all the members to know failed me, the Welfare Services that I miss the sailing, and the Department came through, and the chow, and the good old SIU spirit. SIU legal staff retained counsel for I would appreciate it very much me in my home town of Butler, Pa., if you would send me the SEA­ and saw my case through to a suc­ FARERS LOG so I can keep up cessful conclusion. This is just an­ with what's going on in the Union. other instance of the wonderful I would particularly like to be service given to SIU members by remembered to Don Hall, feed their Welfare Services Depart­ Brady and Allan McArthur. ment. Pfc. J. M. Blanco, 51234264 Clarence L. Cousini 49th Trans. Trk. Co., HPO 358 c/o Postmaster, San Frandisco, if i Calif. (Ed. note: Your name has been added to our mailing list and you will ^receive the LOG regularly.) To the Editor: it it if I would like to take this oppor^ tunity to thank the officers and crew of the Evelyn (Bull) for con­ tributing to the donation taken up for me by Dave Rivers and "Moe" To the Editor: I wish to extend my deepest Mahoney. I think .it was a wonderful ges­ thanks to my shipmates on the ture the way the officers and crew Ocean Lotte fpr their generous contributed and I sure appreciate contribution, following the death of my mother, which enabled me to the help that was given to me. I hope to be a shipmate of all of fly home to her funeral. This crew donated $200 for this these men' again as soon as I am released from the marine hospital purpose and I will always remem­ ber and appreciate their kindness. here in Baltimore. Fred Sullins Johnny Talbot Court Fiyht Won Wiith SMU's Help From Korea^ He Greets SiU Pais Crew^s Donation is Appreciated Shipmates^ Gift JFins Gratitude By Bernard Seaman 0(BV/WMATA PAY-I'M HUNG/2Y-J COCLP ;-/.S �Page Serenteea SEAFARERS HOG JMffvil f; ItM ... DIGEST ofi SHIPS' MEETINGS ... Ship's delegate re­ Three messmen asked that ni^t lunch fired In Long Beach and replaced In San JOHN •;.' WATERMAN (Wattrmin)/ time on deck standing over the men. Michael MIchsllfc. July 5—Chairman. E. Hansan; Saeratary, There are a few complaints about the ported that cots wlU be Issued by steward or snack dishes be returned to the sink, Francisco. Motion made and carried by A. Parkin*. Motion made and carried to aee patrolman about rearranging deck maintenance and cook'a quarter*. The agent in San Francisco will be contacted about getting a variety of brands of cigarettes. Discussion on sea chest sup­ plies that will be available at the payoff In Baltimore. Ship's delegate warned that any member performing while on the West Coast will be reported to the Union. Any crewmember with a beef will contact ship's delegate or speak up in the meetings. $31.30 was reported In ships fund. steward's department and the crew agreed that the chief steward should make his rounds each and every meal to see that his department Is running like It should be. TOPA TOPA (Waterman), July 13— Chairman, Robert L. Carriss; Secretary, Gerald E. SInkes. Larger coffee pots to be purchased. Draws to be put out any time between ports. A repair list will be made out by eaOh department. and each member will have to sign for same. All garbage should be dumped off fantall and not aft of midship house. Engine utility reported missing. Replace­ ment will be picked up in Yokohama if possible. Discussion about steward de­ partment not keeping laundry and gear locker clean according to schedule that was posted. Captain J. P. Sterrltt, who is In command of this vessel, was unani­ mously praised by the crew for the services given to them. THE CABINS (Cabins), July IS—Chair­ man, Bernard Kimberly; Secretary, C. S. Smith. Motion made and carried that a patrolman be present at the next payoff. All crewmembers will donate $3 to the ship's fund. Bunks need fixing. Ship's delegate issued a warning about drinking aboard the ship and asked that the crew be quiet and have respect for the other STEEL ARTISAN (Isthmian), July IS— crewmembers who are trying to sleep. Chairman, Dick Grant; Secretary, Ed McInis. Motion made and carried to have patrolman check on domestic water, and rates of exchange In Iran. Medical at­ tention Insufficient. Vote of thanks given to the steward department for a Job well done during voyage. Suggestion John E. (Jack) Rossi made to build up ship's fund, and to ALCOA PLANTER (Alcoa), July Get in touch with your sister, Chairman, Jo* M. Cash; Secretary, J. F. have awning stanchions built aft. Ceiia E. Harris, at 2319 Arthur Castronovor. Ship's delegate asked that ALCOA RUNNER (Alcos), July 13— Ave., Silver Spring, Md. a repair list be made up and for each department delegate to look the Items Chairman, Jack Kennedy; Secretary, over. Washing machine to be rebuilt or Clement Hospedales. Sailing hour put up a new one Installed. Library to be ex­ only four hours before sailing. Patrol­ Edgar Luzier changed as the one aboard has been on man will see mate about putting same up Contact your mother at Route 2, two trips. Steward department was eight hours before sailing. Motion made given a vote of thanks for a Job well and seconded to give the negotiating Box 89, Webster Springs, W. Va. committee a vote of thanks for a Job done. well done. Motion carried to have ship's ALCOA J>ATRIOT (Alcoa), July 14— fund amount to $2 per man for one trip Steward, Santore only. Chief cook was asked to cut the Chairman, Cloud* Holing*; Saeratary, E. Contact Mrs. Martha Justice, in M. Baaslay. Letter concerning shore steak a Uttle thicker. leave in San Juan to be turned over to Portsmouth, Va., regarding your ROBIN HOOD (Seas Shipping), July 18 the patrolman upon arrival In Mobile. Brother Holing* to check on price of rec­ —Chairman, William Dunham; Secretary, shipmate, the late Roy Justice. ord player. $44.43 reported in the ship's Louis D: Guellnlss. Crewmember logged for failing to show up for shifting ship fund to date. Walter B. Haliett in Mombasa, and another member logged JOHN B. WATERMAN (Waterman), for missing ship in Mombasa previously. Contact Mrs. James R. Burns at July 14—Chairman, L. Curry; Secretary, Section 34 and 40, Article 2, General E. Hansan. Ship's delegate reported Rules of Agreement discussed In present 129 Forest St., Wilmington, Mass., things not running smoothly: lots of situation. Motion made and seconded to regarding the death of your troubles with the captain. Crewmembers cable SlU Welfare Department aid In have no business topside except on ship's continuing hospitalized member's allot­ mother. business. Patrolman will be contacted ment terminated due to Indisposition. about cleaning meat, vegetable and chill Members were asked to return cups and Michael Toth boxes. The captain will not let anyone glasses to the pantry. All hands were asked to cooperate with the messman In work overtime. Contact your brother James. keeping messhall and pantry clean. Vote STEEL ADMIRAL (Isthmian), July S— of thanks given to the steward depart­ Anyone knowing the whereabouts Chairman, James Hsnnars; Secretary, ment for doing a fine Job. of Michael Toth, of East Pitts­ William E. White. Everything Is running $EA COMET II (Seatraders), June 36— burgh, Pa., is asked to contact smoothly except there is a little trouble with the chief mate spending too much Chairman, Roy Tallakscn; Secretary, James in New York at VA 3-2274. FORT HOSKINS (CH|*s Service), July 17—Chairman, Denial Brsuex; Secretary, H. W. Schneer, Ship's delegate com­ mented broadly on handling of previous repair lists by topside. Some minor re­ pairs are being completed. Suggestion made that firemen and oilers foc'sles be rearranged so that an entire watch can be called at one time without waking those men not on watch. 'Ship's delegate cautioned all watches to be present when their tour of watch Is due. primarily so that no Individual Is stuck for someone else's watch while In a foreign port. CHICKASAW (Waterman), July 33— Chairman, Jack Farrend; Secretary, A. Danne. Ship's delegate will contact the patrolman pnd find out If the crew Is entitled to homogenized milk. Washing machine should be cleaned after using. Ship's delegate will take up list for ciga­ rettes to be purchased In the Sea Chest. 'EERSGNiiii: 4" t Go's Ready Back Pay (Continued from page 2) and find out if check was mailed . to proper address. Calmar Steamship Corp. — Pay­ ments are getting underway now. Company office at 25 Broadway, New York, iS handling all details. Dry Trans, Inc.—Payments are being made now to men on the ships paying off. Men no longer on the company's ships should write to the company at 25 Broad­ way giving all data and chetks will be sent out in the mail. Eiam Shipping Corp.—Payments are ready now. Contact company at 44 Whitehall Street. Apply by mail. Isthmian Steamship Co. — Pay­ rolls are ready on the following ships: Steel Admiral, Steel Ranger, Anniston City, Hoosier Mariner, Steel Apprentice, Steel Age, Steel Advocate, Steel Architect, Steel Artisan, Steel Chemist, Steel In­ ventor. Martis Shipping Corp.—Payrolls are ready. Write company at 44 WhitehaU Street. Missiisippi Shipping Co. — Pay- ments started this. week. Mail applications only are handled. Compapy-owned ships are being handled first, with Government charters (Mariners and Victorys) taken care of at a later date. Send for applications to Mississippi, Hibernia Bank Building,. New Orleans, La. Ocean Carriers—Payments ready in three to five weeks. Write the : company at 17 Battery Place, NYC. Ocean Transportation (Maritime Overseas Corp.l — Company is working on payrolls now and will have them ready In a few weeks. More definite information will be Available later on. Ore Steamship Corp.—Payments are beginning : now. Contact com­ pany at 25 Broadway. Paoifie Waterways Corp. — Pay­ rolls; will, be ready about Augdst ;15. . Write " ^ at 30 iJBro(ul .Street, New. York. . . Pan Oceanic Navigation Corp.— All payrolls should be ready within two months. Company requests that Seafarers write to 270 Park Avenue and list dates on dis­ charges and other data that will aid in speedy settlement of claims. Puerto Rico Marine Corp. — Money is ready now. Write or call in person, at Puerto Rico office, Ponce, PR, or at 61, Broadway, NY. Seas Shipping Co.,'^All payrolls will be ready inside one month, with September 1 set as a definite starting date, possibly earlier. Seatraders, Inc.—^Money will be ready in three to five weeks at company office, 17 Battery. Place, NY. Seatrain Lines—All payrolls are ready. Contact company at 15 Broad Street, NY. South Atlantic Steamship Lines Inc.—All payrolls complete. Con­ tact company at Savannah Bank Building, Savannah, Georgia, if you have not received your check as they were sent out to last known mailing address. Southern Steamship Co.—Retro­ active wages have been mailed out to last listed address of Seafarers. Men who have not received their money should con­ tact the company's offices at 103 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilmington, Delaware. Waterman Steam^ip Corp. — August 15 is definite starting date for payments. Seafarers in Mobile can apply in person, or else write to the company at 61 St. Joseph Street, Mobile. Western. Navigation Corp.—^Will mail checks out in September. Seafarers are requested to send the company a correct address for mailing purposes. The rest of the SIU companies were unable to give a specific date at this time. Further, information on their back wage payments will be T-giveir in future issues of the SEAFARERS LOG. i 4. i t 4. t 4< 4> 4 4) 4^ 4 4" 4' 4 4 4 4 4 4 Douglas Eugene Your mother asks touch with her at Ave., New Orleans, 4> Claussen you to get in 2932 Tulane La. Joseph Saxton Contact your mother at Box 125, Robinson, Pa. Hans P. Bluhm Contact Douglas Picking at 2933 Madera Ave., Oakland, Calif. Eddie Fields Contact Eddie the Swede at 673 Chin St., Mobile, Ala. Vic Coner Get in touch with Jim Kelly at 717 Delaware Ave., Glen Burnie, Md. 4 4 4 John S. Stanley Regarding Sandra, who has scar­ let fever, contact Mrs. Joan Parker at 409 Portor Court, Orange, Tex. ^ i i W. E. (Bill) Thompson Contact your mother at 1734 28th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Fla. 4 4 4 O. W. Rosenberg Mildred and "ow live at 9210 Pembrook, Houston, Tex. Phone Myrtle 0979. 4 4 4- Friends of Frank Timmons Catherine V. Timmons, beloved mother of Frank A. Timmons, now sailing on the Steel Seafarer, passed away August 2, 1954. Puzzle Answer also that butts not be thrown on the all hands to give a big vote of thanks to headquarters for obtaining the new wage messroom deck. Increase. All stores will be checked be­ SEATRAIN GEORGIA (Seatrain), July fore signing on. Men caught spitting on 18—Chairman, A. W. Cowder; Secretary, deck and in water fountains wiU be A. Lambert, Motion made and carried to brought up on charges. paint black gang's foc'sles. The washing machine now on board is three years old - GOLDEN CITY (Waterman), Kime 20— and a new one is needed. The matter of Chairman, James C. Flanagan; Secretary, the captain sailing ahead of posted sail­ Jimmie Colder. The repair Ust from the ing time will be taken up with the patrol­ last trip was settled at the payoff in man. The patrolman will also be asked New York and aU work to be done on Brother Jimmie Golder, to put an SIU library aboard. TV set this voyage. steward, presented to members beef he voted out. had with captain regarding requisition of HILTON (Bull), July 17—Chairman, E. necessary stores in the port of Bordeaux. Guszczynsxy; Secretary; V. L. Meehan. He also asked crew to turn In any linen Each department delegate was asked to they might have in excess of standard turn in a repair list. Suggestion made issue by Wednesday for purposes of in­ that ship's delegate go to the haU and ventory. Cots wUl be issued to those re­ them after this meeting. Some see about the logs in Puerto Rico. En­ questing regarding ship being diverted gine department shower is very dirty and discussion to MobUe and possible lay-up of ship. needs painting badly. SOUTHSTAR (South Atlantic), July 5— Chairman, L. Blizzard; Secretary, Bob Porter. Washing machine needs repair­ ing. Crew to notify ship's delegate if any man misses ship. Innerspring mat­ tresses to be replaced and the same goes for mattresses. STEEL SCIENTIST (Isthmian), June 38 — Chairman, R. Hunt; Secretary, T. Stevenson. Suggestion was made that the Union send more LOGs to ships in for­ eign ports so that .they may know more about the Union activities back home. Treasurer reported $40.20 in the ship's fund. SEATRAIN NEW YORK (Seatrain), July 18—Chairman, Doak; Secretary, Lee. ROBIN KIRK (Seas Shipping), July 11 —Chairman, Joe Justus; Secretary, Joe Seiby. Ship's delegate reported that fotir men missed ship during the trip. Crew agreed to let the patrolman handle the men who missed ship and performed during the voyage. Beef discussed be­ tween steward and the chief cook. Chief cook claimed there wasn't enough meat to last out the trip and the steward said there was plenty. A committee was formed or the steward, chief cook, baker and the fdur delegates to inspect the meat box and report to the crew. Committee reported that there was enough meat en hand to reach the United States and the steward said that he would order addi­ tional meat in Capetown to make sure supply didn't run short. Loose Leaf notebook bought out of the ship's fund to keep shipboard meetings minutes in. Gangway to be put on board ship aft and to be used by crew to pro­ tect their clothes. Steward asked to get a larger variety of dry cereals, and he agreed. Discussion on preparation and method of keeping food hot squared away. Ship's fund has a total of $29.86. SEATRAIN TEXAS (Seatrain), June 20 —Chairman, R. Siiva; Secretary, Charles W. Cothran. Company installed a sink near the butcher's block. Sink in the galley still has to be installed, but this will be done later. Ship's delegate will contact the port captain about the drain board. Ship's delegate will contact the Coca-Cola company about buying a vend­ ing machine for the crew, to be paid for ROBIN GOODFELLOW (Seas Shipping), out of the ship's fund. May 16—Chairman, James Chew; Secre­ tary, F. Albne. Engine delegate reported NORTHWESTERN VICTORY (Victory someone working is polishing floor plates Carriers), June 13—Chairman, Maurice on ,watch and he wants it stopped. AU Kopenhagen; Secretary, Angel Slivestri. hands were asked to bring cups and One room was painted out; there are only glasses back to pantry. five gallons of paint on hand. Depart­ ment delegates will make out repair lists SEATRAIN TEXAS (Seatrain), July 18— and turn these over to the patrolman. Chairman, Clyde Kreiss; Secretary, C. W. Ship should be fumigated. Washing maCothran. Motion made and carried to chipe pump will be repaired by the elec­ have ship's delegate contact Coca Cola tricians. Vote of thanks went to the company regarding placing a machine cooks for their good service during the aboard. Treasurer will post on the bul­ voyage. Ship's iron and linen will be letin board a monthly financial report caUed to the patrolman's attention. Each regarding kitty funds. Ship's delegate department will clean up the laundry for put a blower on the repair list for the a week at a time. galley. TRANSATLANTIC (Pacific Waterways), PENINSULA MARINER (Waterman), June 24—Chairman, George Hays; Secre­ July 18—Chairman, C. E. Martin; Secre­ tary, George Hays. Crew was asked to tary, C. J. Nail. Discussion on last trip's take belter care of the toaster, since it slop chest and draws. It was suggested has just been repaired. Fan is needed in that the ship's delegate check with the the laundry. Repair lists will be made shore patrolman on these things. The out and given to the proper authorities. ship's delegate will check with the shore Sanitary men who are keeping the laun­ patrolman about getting two fans put in dry clean were thanked, but the crew crew's quarters. Crewmembers asked to was asked to help. Steward department keep the laundry room clean. There was was thanked for preparation and serving a discussion on delayed sailing in Mobile. of food. Vote of thanks went to Norman Leknes for cleaning up the messroom and CALMAR (Calmar), June 27—Chairman, recreation room before messmen turned Thomas Lowe; Secretary, Chuck Hostet- to in the mornings. Steward will take ter. Ship's delegate stated that the stove charge of the slopchest for the next voy­ will not be cleaned out until it is found age. He will make inquiries at the New out who is supposed to do this work. York hall on this matter. Deck engineer Two men got off ship on the west coast was thanked for the splendid work he and were replaced in Seattle. Oiler was did during this voyage to make things more comfortable and enjoyable. Quiz Answers (1) tc) Arkansas. (2) An antidote. (3) Nearly two and a half weeks (based on a 40-hour workweek), or 99 hours, to be exact. He's a slow worker. (4) Yankee Stadium in New York City. (5) Fire. (6) (a) broil them. They are meat. (7) Methuselah (969 years). (8) (c) Fred M. Vinson, who died in 1953. (9) Rice. (10) 19. FAIRPORT (Waterman), July 5—Chair­ man, M. E. Gross; Secretary, A. Isaac. No­ body is to pay off until all beefs are set­ tled. Membership would sure appreciate it if the shipping companies would air­ mail special delivery the allotment checks to crewmembers' families. Ship's fund will be used for ship's use only. Repair list will be handed in to the ship's dele­ gate. If at all possible, an extra foc'sle should be built aft for the crew. Vote of thanks went to the steward depart­ ment. Shower pressure, hot and cold water, should ba regulated midship and aft. Innersnring mattresses should be bought for the erew. Fan size should be checked in foc'sles. COUNCIL GROVE (Cities Service), July 11—Chairman. M. Morris; Secretary, Bob McMichaei. Ship's delegate will see mate about wind sheets. Crew will check with patrolman in Lake Charles about wiper's disputed overtime. v - Edifor, SEAFARERS LOG, 675 Fourfh Ave., Brooklyn 32, NY 1 would like to receive the SEAFARERS LOG—please put my name on your mailing list. (Prinf Information) SQllB SQS asssi NAME sanas nasQ Qsa QQ[S SDSQIi .afflcaas ffiaani [ZilmiiBaQ saaacas HSSH BEHHS' Qsnas] !z;!Ea ; QEDQa aaaas sasanssEaEQais saaia aaa aaiaii aass ijdsss asEa STREET ADDRESS - CITY Signed Z'^NE v.. : - • K - - . .. . STATE . V. . .. . TO AVOID DUPLICATION; 11 you are an old tub*erib*r and hava a change of addre**, pfeste give your format addra** below: ADDRESS .y .r- •OfTY ..........tlvx.'rhrr.r.r.^STAYC' ... -- ..'WA Y �PJiffe Eiffht«eii SEAFARERS LOG Aoffust 9. 1954 /•i WELFARE BENEFITS Reports Aid In Allotment Beefs 5 One new provision of the SIU freight contract that is certainlywelcomed by the member­ ship is the one calling for family allotments to continue when a man has to leave a ship be­ cause of illness or injury. Before the provision went into effect, the Welfare Services De­ partment had been able to ar-^ Such action can work consider­ showed that the man had to get range for continuation of allot­ able hardship on the family of a off the ship because of illness, but ments in some individual in­ Seafarer, if the family is depen­ that nobody had been notified of stances. Now the practice Is to be a general one under the terms of the Union agreement. Because of this, it becomes necessary for dele­ gates to notify the Union when men leave the ship. Of course, if a man gets off a ship for wilful misconduct, misses a ship or leaves his job for some other cause that has nothing to do with illness or injury the allot­ ment can still be cut off. If the company and the Union have no in­ formation as to the circumstances, the company involved is able to de­ lay payments. I- S; dent on the allotment for income until the Seafarer pays off the ship. , Up until now in the short time since the agreement was signed there hasn't been much difficulty on that score, but one or two cases have arisen in which dependents got into difficulty because the com­ pany had no information on why a man got off the ship. In one instance the mother of a Seafarer who depended on her son for support complained to the Union that her allotment had sud­ denly beep cut off without expla­ nation. Investigation by the Union his reason for leaving the ship. This case is now being attended ^o by the Welfare Services Depart­ ment. These kinds of situations can be avoided and the allotment'system made to work perfectly if the crew and its delegates will inform head­ quarters as rapidly as possible of the circumstances under which a Seafarer leaves the ship. Once the Union knows the circumstances and can so inform the company, the man's family will be assured that it will have money coming in to take care of its basic needs. 6 SEAFARERS WELFARE, VACATION PLANS REPORT ON BENEFITS PAID From.......7..-. To .CiK No. Seafarers Receivine Benefits this Period 1 Average Benefits Paid Each Seafarer Total Benefits Paid this Period Ls S3 7o.Sya- WELFARE, VACATION BENEFITS PAID THIS PERIOD Hospital Benefits Death Benefits Pisabilitv Benefits Maternity Benefit! Vacation Benefits Total 00 1 /. fSo 00 11 i Jaa oe |jfL/3 3L ii 1 II 7o J'-7jr SC WELFARE, VACATION BENEFITS PAID PREVIOUSLY All of the following SIU families Robert P. Marion, 4639 Bright will collect the $200 maternity Street, New Orleans, La. benefit plus a $25 bond from the 4> 4' 41 Union in the baby's name. Laura Lynn Sypher, born May Alan Edward Whitmer, II, born 22, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. June 9, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Carroll C. Sypher, 211 Hawley Mrs. Alan E. Whitmer, 1810 Ave­ Street, Miles City, Montana. nue Nl'a, Galveston, Texas. 4- 4* 4' Herbert R. Lynn, 1210 S.W. 25th Avenue, Miami, Fla. 4> 4^ 4) Ann Marie Cummings, born June 2, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Patrick Cummings, 20 Wise Street, Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. 4" 4" 4" 4) 4) 4) Kathleen Ann Forden, born May Jacqueline Ellen Talbot, born 31, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Michael Lynch, born June 9, 1954. Parents, Mr. and James F. Forden, 1818 Tulip Street, June. 2, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Talbot, 5208 Bellville Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. David T. Lynch, 1071 BankAvenue, Baltimore, Maryland. head Avenue, Atlanta, Ga. 4> 4* 4' 4> 4' 4» Barbara Ann Rambo, born June 24, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John William Rambo, 812 Penn Pine Blvd., Clifton Heights, Pa. 4' 41 41 * Martin Michael O'Toole, born April 28, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John P. O'Toole, 15 Sellers Point Road, Bundalk, Maryland. 4' 4" 4" 4> t> ii> Fred McDonald Easter,' born William Donald Griggers, born June 19, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Easter, 813 Athania May 30, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira W. Griggers Jr., Route D, Parkway, New Orleans, La. Evergreen, Ala. t- t- t. Jimmy Glen Stanford, born June 20, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Stanford, General Delivery, Picayune, Mississippi. 4^ 4> 4?' Kathleen Devlin, born July 13, Don Lee Webb, born April 25, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. James 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed­ L. Webb, 364 Harrison Street, Mo­ ward Devlin, 3050 Edwin Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey. bile, Ala. 4" 4" 4^ Carol Lynn Roberts, born July 3, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Roberts, 2626 E; Mura Street, Baltimore, Maryland. 4- 4i 4i • Haroline Patricia Piehet, bom June 20, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Piehet, 4227 Burgundy Street, New Orleans, La. 4* 41 4i Tracey Ann Marion, born June 26, 1954^ Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vf . ' §:'• •feki. 4' 4^ 4' - Baby Kathleen Anne Fordeq, daughter of Seafarer James J. Forden, is well-hidden as she sleeps in her mother's arms (rear center) following her ^aptism. Dad is standing, ^left. Kathleen Anne eame into this wd)rld on May 31, 1954. TotJ 11'' WELFARE, VACATION PLAN ASSETS Cash on Hand • Vacation _ . , , _ • . .. Vacation Estimated Accounts Receivable US Government Bonds (Welfare) Real Estate (Welfare) Otber Assets - Training Ship (Welfare) TOUAL ASSETS "" LSn94(, ft I9.5U1 09 MlJiSlo 0<9 1,977,93? 9.? •)7ZjtSl 7-f 1/9 aU 97 1 1 OmiEHTSt NOTICES 4> i 4^ W. Gardner You can collect two days' pay due you from Orion Steamship Company by calling at the com­ pany's office at 80 Broad Street in New York. 4" it 4" Mail is being held at the Bos­ ton hall for he following men: if:: Hospital Benefits Paid Since lulv 1. 1950 • H Sao vonioJ Death Benefits Paid Since Tulv 1. 1950• |l ooV9o« <9^ Disability Benefits Psid Since May 1. 1952 • ' Maternity Benefits Paid Since April 1. 1952 • | AUCteio oa Vacatibn Benefits Paid Since Feb. 11. 1952 • 57394 7/.S- t.3- During the month of June the Plan paid out 12 Death Bene­ fits, making a total for the year, so far, of lOA. The Plan 4" 4J' 4/ also paid out 882 Hospital Benefits during the month of Norma Lee Okray, born July 15, J'une making a year-to-date total of 5415. The amount of 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nor­ Maternity Benefits paid for the month of June was 50, which man Okray, 1320 Cambria Street, gives the Plan a year-to-date total of 273. There were I40 Baltimore, Maryland. Disability Benefits paid during the month, which gives a year-to-date total oSf 740. Applications are novi being received for next years scholar 'nip benefits. Anyone having applied for the previous bene­ fits, but failing to receive one, is ejigibj/f to try for next years scholarships, W. W. Pozen Contact the Welfare Services Nina Marie Fontenot, born July 12, 1954.' Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Department at SIU headquarters. Clements Fdhtenot, Route 1—^Box 4" 4" 4i 2D, Mamou, La. Robert Henry Graf 4^ 4^ 4> Your Coast Guard card and Larry Jacks Jr., born May 11, other papers may be picked up at 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Larry the SEAFARERS LOG office, SIU Jacks, General Delivery, Hunter, headquarters. Arkansas. 4!i t it 4" 4" 4* John M. Thompson Robert Adaire Lynn, born June Your Coast Guard discharges 15, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. from the Ames Victory may be picked up at the SEAFARERS LOG office, headquarters. Center Of Attraction Won't Show | Agostino, Vincent P.: Blackwell, David S.; Carey, Riley W.j Carmel. Ernest; Cor­ nell, David; Cousins. C.'L.; Cozier, James; Demuth, Jos. E.; Devaux. Gerald R.; DlMaio, Nick; Dolan, John J.; Foley, Charles F. Fontaine. Arthur J.; Gabaree, Harold F.; Goldnian, Jos.; Grimes, Wm.; Gustafson, James; Hammond, Martin; Harring­ ton, Wm. F.; Houlihan, . John; Hubay, Eddie; Hunt, Danny; Jaynes, Harold; Johnson, Earl; Johnson, James A.; Ken­ nedy, Wm. C. LaFrenier, Emile; Lane, John; Lapham, S. E.; Londy, Joseph: MacDdnald. F.; MacDonald, Wm. F.; McCannon, Roy L.; Mc­ Donald, Henry; McLaughlin, Wm.; McMullin, John; Moran, John; Moore, Norman; Murray, C. E. Newman, John; Nogueira, Jos.; Oliver, Irving; O'Malley, Austin J.; Parsons, Irv­ ing H.; Petrin, Arthur; Pozen, Woodrow' W.; Reardon, Anthony R.; Bobbins, Frank­ lin; Roberts, Francis P.; Sceviour, Ste­ phen; Shatter, Edison C.: Shandl, Frank J. Sieger, Eddie; Smith, J. B.; Stewart, Wm.; Stone, R.; Snares, Louis; Sutton, Charles B.; Thomson. John A.: Violanto, Anthony; Vlodek, Emanuel; Wareham. Leopold; Webber, Howard: Williams, John J.; Mitchell, Paige. Sttbmilted AugUSt..2,..I954,K A! Kerr, Assistant Administrator Past 27? Don'f Relax Yet —Army Still Needs Men iEven though a Seafarer happens to be oyer 27, the draft board is still in business as several Seafarers have found out recently. The fact that a seaman might have been exempt during the Korean emergency^ — because of his usefulness in ' call them back even though they the defense effort doesn't had passed their 27th birthday. mean that he cannot be drafted now. In fact. Welfare Services warns. Selective Service keeps jurisdiction all the way up to 35 years of age. In the past couple of weeks. Welfare Services has gotten pay­ offs for three Seafarers who were asked to leave their ships some­ what abruptly and headed for the Army. - v What has'happened Is easily ex­ plained. The Seafarers received deferment as essential to the de­ fense effort in the days when the Government was desperately scrap­ ing the bottom of the barrel in its hunt for trained merchant mar­ iners. Once the deferment was issued, they assumed they no longer had to be in touch with their draft board, particularly vvhen they were on the borderline age, of 27, when drafting normally halts. Drafted Later On What they didn't realize^^is that all the draft board actually gave them was a postponement. Once the emergency was considered over, the draft board could then At present, there are no occu­ pational deferments issued for sea­ men no matter what rating or li­ cense they might hold. Conse­ quently, Seafarers should be in constant touch with their local draft boards at all times. And if Uncle Sam's Army calls, they should notify Welfare l^ervices at headquarters or the headquarters record clerk in the event they want to retire their SIU member­ ship books. Put Number On Meeting Excuses Seafarers sending telegrams or letters to the New York headquarters dispatcher asking to be excused from attending headquarters membership meetings must Include the reg­ istration number of their shipping card in the message.From now on, If the number is not included, the excuSe can­ not be accepted by the dis­ patcher. �Ancust «, 1M» SEAFARERS SEEIN* THE SEAFARERS With WALTER SiEKMANN (SIU Director of Welfare Services.) Some of the men who have been looking for the Welfare Services office at headquarters might have gotten a little confused when they didn't locate us in our usual spot. The Union has been moving things around a bit at headquarters, so if you are looking for this department, you will now find it in the shipping hall on the second deck, « 4 t it As sometimes happens. Seafarers who go in for one tour in the drydock don't always get matters cleared'up completely and have to come back for more treatment. This seems to have happened quite a bit in the past couple of weeks with several familiar faces back in the various wards at the Staten Island hospital. Among the brothers who have had to be readmitted for further treatment is Seafarer Hendrik Swartjes of Brooklyn, who was AB on the Alcoa Runner the last time out. He went into the hospital in June, was discharged, and then had to come back in on July 19 for further treatment for an eye infection. Also there was brother Regnauld Hansen who's been having some trouble off and on with a skin condition. He's been discharged again though and is up and around now. Another brother who has been readmitted recently is Herman Sampson of Brooklyn. He was OS on the Battle Rock, a tanker, the last trip out. The hospital has gotten a few new patients too. Swartjes Lorenzo Agon of Brooklyn, who was utility messman on the Steel Navigator, entered the hospital for observation July 19. An attack of arthritis has put Seafarer Nora! Jorgensen out of cir­ culation for the time being. Jorgensen, formerly fireman on the Carolyn, comes from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Seafarer Ervin Crabtree's complaint Is a balky gall bladder that's been troubling him. He had to leave the Andrew Jackson for treatment. He'd been messman on the ship and he lives in Crichton Station, Mobile, when he's not sailing. Herbert Lege of Brooklyn, who was AB on the Steel Scientist, had to call it quits because of chronic appendicitis, and the doctors are trying to see what they can do about it. Pete De Vries, who comes from Mount Vernon, NY, is having a cyst removed. Jorgensen He was 3rd cook on-The Cabins. Seafarers In Hospitals USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND. NY Robert A. Barrett Noral Jorgensen Birdie W. Biggs NUs H. Lundquist Rol>ert Bosworth Perlecto Mangual John J. Brenncn Julius Martin Francis J. Buhl Esteban Morales Charles CantweU Harvey W. Morris John E. Brady Raymond C, Myers Charles A. Can Charles Nangle John ConnoUy Francis R. NapoU Eddie Driggers Joseph Neubauer Andrew Franklin T. Papoutsoglov David S. Furman Joseph Pasinosky William A. Gardner Pete R. Perrotti Horace B. GaskiU Floro Regalado Estell Godfrey Charles W. Rhodes Abram Goldsmith George H. Robinson Daniel Guerrero Mattl RuusukaUio Hans R. Hanssen Herman J. Sampson Alfred Hanstvedt Stanley A. Sargeant John Horn Arthur Shaw Walton Hudson Kaare Sivertsen Jacobus Huisman Warren Smith Alfredo Irizar Robert J. Sojka Chester B. Jensen James F. Thomson Vincent Jones • SAILORS SNUG HARBOR STATEN ISLAND. NY Joseph Koslusky PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA, PA. J. B. Humphries USPHS HOSPITAL MEMPHIS. TENN. Julius Parks USPHS HOSPITAL CHICAGO. ILL. Anton Prusaitis USPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH. TEXAS Edward J. Toolan USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE, MD. Frank W. Bemrlck William Nickel William BrewerWiUiam Odum George H. Bryan Cornelius E. Palmer Robert A. Stikes Jessie A. Clarke Benjamin J. Davis Warren Whitmer Samuel Doyle -Henrlck Wlese Rickard Foust Albert L. WiUis Gorman T. Glaze John R. WUson Nicholas M. Korsak Albert G. Yumal Samuel H. Mills PHILA. GEN. HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA. PA. Warren Nielson USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS. LA. James J. Adams Jack H. Gleason Albert Ayler Curtis Hancock Lloyd T. Bacon Blrgll L. Harding Samuel A. Bailey John L. Hlnton Lyle Hipp James H. Bales WilUam R. Ballard Janies H. Judson Nicolas Bastes E. G. Knapp Leonldes Billkas D. Korolla Charles E. Brady Thomas Lands Charles Burton Leo Lang Cyril Lowrey Owen Butler Jesse Lyles S. C. Carregal Joseph H. CbapeUe PhlUp McBride Lawrence Cdbts John M. McDavitt S. Cope Oscar F. Madere Thomas J. DaUas George R. MltcheU J. D. Dcmbrino J. C. Mitchell Emil# P. Davles WUliam G. Moor# T. J. Donaldson Arthur I. Nelson Wm. A. Du Rapau O. Norm Eric R. Bklund . WUUam D. Ott Ragnor A. Erlcson Stanley L. Palfrey Thomas Fields Harry G. Peek Claud# H, GllUam William T. Presley A; Quinones Andrew Stauder John C. Rehm James Stickney W. E. Reynolds J. D. Thomas James J. Ruth Roy R. Thomas Edward Samrock Jack F. Thornburg Elvin J. Saucier Lonnle R. Tickle William E. Scott J. E. Ward J. P. Shaughnessy Elroy Webb R. L. Skinner USPHS HOSPITAL MANHATTAN BEACH. BKLYN, NY Fortune Bacomo Kaarel Leetmaa Claude F. Blanks James R. Lewis Thomas B. Bryant Francis F. Lynch Joseph G. Carr Joseph McGraw Jar Chong Archibald McGuigan John J. Driscoll David McHreath John T. Edwards Frank Mackey M. W. Gardiner Vic Milazzo Bart E. Guranick G. E. Shumaker John B. Haas Robert Sizemore Thomas Isakscn Henry E. Smith John W. Keenan Harry S. Tuttle Ludwig Kristiansen Renato A. Villata Frederick Landry Virgil E. Wilmoth James J. Lawlor JEFFERSON HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA, PA. Jose Rodriguez ALEXIAN BROTHERS HOSPITAL ELIZABETH. NJ Vincent J. Stefanick USN HOSPITAL KEY WEST, FLA. Edwin Davis VA HOSPITAL MIAMI. FLA. L. A. McLaughlin USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK, VA. Cecil Betts Anthony Scaturro Henry B. Riley Arthur W. Wroton USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Simon Bunda Elwood V. Rost Henry Childs James C. Sheldon M. E. Folts .W. S. Singleton Olav Gustausen Joseph E. Thomas Kenneth S. Krienke P. S. Yuzon C. J. Neumaier John ZohU Joe Perreira USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH, GA. William C. Bedgood J. T. Moore Paul B. Bland John H. Morris R. Carrollton WUlle C. Sanders Lucius A. DcWitt James B. Sellers John E. Floyd Randolph Shedd Herman C. Kemp C. C. Slater Claud Kent Leslie F. Swegan Jimmie Littleton Leo F. Weeks Avis E. Meadows WilUam J. Wolf# Cervasio Menendez USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE, WASH. John Andringa James Krohn F. Fondlla Robert McCuUock William A. Gaddy V. K. Ming Howard R. Harvey. Norman Plummer Sverre Johannessen USPHS HOSPITAL BOSTON, MASS. Frank Alasavlch C. A. McCarthy W. W. Beohner Carter Myers Joseph Garcllo James Peiiswlck USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON. TEX. C. Barboza Duane R. Fisher George Chang Joseph A. KozlowskI Frederick V. Davis M. McDonald H. Dcshotels Murray A. Plyler Donald K. Fisher' John J. Tobln Page Nineteen LOG No Benefit Lost Froih 'Vacation' Recently mention was made in the LOG of the value of the special list in caring for long-term SIU hospital patients. Particularly interesting along these lines is the case of Seafarer John Edwards, who shuttles in and out of the Manhattan Beach USPHS hospital. Edwards, like a large num-| ber of other Seafarers, was put on the special list when the SIU Welfare Plan first began four years ago. These were the men who were in the hospital when the Plan was negotiated and who would not have been eligible for benefits otherwise. In Edwards' case, it became ap­ parent that chances were slight that he woiild ever get a "fit for duty" slip. It seemed that treat­ ment would have to be continued indefinitely. . Consequently, the veteran Seafarer, who has been sailing SIU since the very early days of the Union, m,ade arrange­ ments to spend a few months of each year living with his daughter in Cocoa, Florida. Saves Benefit In the winter months, when pa­ tients at Maphattan Beach seldom get outdoors, Edwards heads south for the Florida sunshine. He saves Back at Manhattan Beach hospital after Florida sojourn. Seafarer most of his $15 a week union al­ John Edwards (right) goes back on hospital list. Welfare Services lotment while he is at the hospital Representative Milton Flynn pays SIU benefit. so that he will have enough money to get by on his Florida visit. Then when it comes time for him to go runs out, he returns to Manhattan in Edwards' case by the SIU to see to it that he remains on the spe­ back, to the hospital for further Beach. Arrangements have been made cial list even though he has been treatment and when his money discharged from the hospital for a temporary period. The benefits are not paid, of course, when he is in Florida, but as soon as he gets back to Manhattan Beach hospital he begins collecting his union ben­ efit again. Under an insurance companyoperated plan it would have been Twenty-three New Yorkers, including 16 attorneys, have impossible for Edwards to be on been indicted by a New York County grand jury on charges the list in the first place. And even if he had been eligible at the be­ that they were part of a city-wide "ambulance chasing" ring. ginning, his benefits would have long since run out, particularly if The indictment is the culminaers, nurses and other hospital he had left the hospital at any tion of a five-month investi­ employees. time. Indict 16 Lawyers, 7. Others in Ambulance Chasing Probe gation that started out as a police check on a waterfront mur­ der case. Ambulance chasing has been a periodic problem at the US Public Health Service hospitals, and hos­ pital administrators have been mak­ ing vigorous efforts to eliminate the evil. Seafarers in the hospi­ tals have been warned by the Union from time to time to steer clear of any person or persons soliciting business for an attorney. The seven people in the group who are not attorneys are accused in the indictment of being runners on behalf of the alleged ambulance chasing ring. The District Attor­ ney was quoted as saying that hun­ dreds of cases were solicited by the seven accused, during a twoyear period from August 1, 1952 to June 9, 1954. The 16 attorneys under indict­ ment, are as follows: Jerome Golenbock, 225 Broad­ way, NYC; Manuel Katz, 61 Broad­ way, NYC; Louis I. Rothenberg, l(j Court St., Brooklyn and 61 Broad­ way, NYC; Morton L. Panken, 277 Broadway, NYC; Philip Weintraub, 50 Broad St., NYC. Also, Philip Brown, 16 Court St., Bklyn; David Fay, 209-33 39th Avenue, Bayside," Queens; I. Jesse Winter, 277 Broadway, NYC; Joshua S. Lev, 140 Nassau Street, NYC. Also, Morton S. Schorr, 150 and 225 Broadway, NYC; George L. Bickler, same address; Irving Levine, same address; Morton P. Cowen, 1756 Lexington Ave., NYC; Alan Buxton 103 E. 125th Street, and Albert Trepel, 141 Broadway. It was not indicated whether any of the accused men had been in­ volved with patients at the Public Health Service hospitals. The Dis­ trict Attorney did say, hov/ever, that the alleged ambulance chasing ring worked through hospitals that had ambulance services and re­ ceived tips from ambulance drivft!'- The deaths of the following sea­ farers have been reported to the Seafarers Welfare Plan and the $2,500 death benefit is being paid to their beneficiaries. High Duffy, 60: Brother Duffy died of coronary thrombosis on July 9, 1954 in Berwyn, Pa. He had joined the SIU in Philadelphia on August 11, 1941 and sailed in the deck department. He is survived by his sister Margaret Duffy of Ber­ wyn Avenue, Berwyn, Pa. 4" t i" Paul Abel Griffith. 24: Pneu­ monia caused the death of Brother Griffith at the Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Md., on Oc­ tober 27, 1953. Burial took place in the city of Baltimore, at the Balti­ more National Cemetery. t t Elgia Leroy Powe, 30: An injury suffered while greasing a dragline was fatal to Brother Powe on July 8, 1954. A member of the deck de­ partment, he had been sailing with the SIU since March, 1951. Burial took place at the Pearl River Cemetery, Pearl River, Covington, La. He is survived by his mother, Maude Powe, Pearl River, La. tit Ray W. Sweeney, 51: A member of the SIU since its earliest days. Brother Sweeney died aboard the Seatrain Louisiana of acute coro­ nary dcclusion on July 13,1954. Out of respect for- his last wishes his body was cremated in Savannah and his ashes scattered at sea. Brother Sweeney joined the SIU in Mobile on March 5, 1939 and sailed in the engine department. His wife, Mary R. Sweeney of 2817 Av­ enue N, Galveston, survives. , Niels T. Kaasirup, 58: A cerebral hemorrhage proved fatal to Brother Kaastrup while he was an in-pa­ tient at the Baltimore City Hospi­ tal, Baltimore, Md., on July 13, 1954. Burial took place at Moreland Memorial Park, Parkville. Md. Brother Kaastrup was another of the earliest members of the Union, joining in New York on November 25, 1938. He sailed in the deck department. t t t Alvin Morris Keller, 53: A bron­ chial infection proved fatal to Brother Keller on May 12, 1954, while at the San Francisco USPHS hospital. A resident of San Fran­ cisco, he had been sailing with the SIU in the engine department since October, 1952. Surviving is his wife, Pura W. Keller, 1400 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, Calif. t t t Eail G. Boutelle, 62: Brother Boutelle died of a heart ailment on May 26, 1954 while ashore in Boston, Mass. He had been sailing as cook and steward with the SIU since September, 1951. Burial took place in the West End Cemetery, Milford, New Hampshire. His wife, Ruth E. Boutelle of 57 Orchard Street, Fisherville, Mass., survives. $ 3^ >• t' Lewis F. Cauble, 40: Brother Cauble lost his life through drown­ ing while his ship, the Northwest­ ern Victory, was in Iskendrun, Turkey, on April 12, 1954. He had been an SIU member for 15 yeai-s, joining in Savannah on February 2, 1939, and sailed in the deck de­ partment. Brother Cauble was buried at the Christian Cemetery in Iskendrun. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. J. L. Cauble of 727 Egst Liberty Street, Siijisbury, NO. II �\'r'. •fe SEAFARERS LOG • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE S E A F A R E R S ! N T E R N ATI O N A L U N I O N • ATLANTIC A N D' G U L F D I S T R I C T • AFL • freight Contract Supplement Following is the full text of the con­ tractual conges negotiated and ap­ proved by the SIU membership in the standard SIU freight agreement Upon completion of meetings with the oper­ ators on clarifications of these and other clauses in the basic freight agreement, the full agreement—^with these features incorporated—^wiU be published in the SEAFARERS LOG. f' 55^ Pt:.. if- r- SUPPLEMENTARY UNLICENSED PERSONNEL AGREEMENT AGREEMENT made as of the 7th day of June, 1954, by and between the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT, (hereinafter referred to as the "Union"), and the undersigned Company, (hereinafter referred to as "Company"). WITNESSETH: The Unlicensed Personnel Agreement between the parties, dated November 18, 1952, is hereby reinstated and continued with the following amendments: 1. (a) The effective date of the changes herein agreed shall be October 1, 1953, as to all wages and^ overtime, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. As to changes in the working rules and conditions, the effective , date shall be the day following the next termination of Articles, either domestic or foreign, after the date of this Agreement. (b) This Agreement shall continue until September 30, 1955. (c) This Agreement is signed subject to the ratifi­ cation of the membership of the Union. The Union agrees to notify the Company promptly of the acceptance or rejection. 2. Article II, Section 14 (a) is amended by adding at the end of the first sentence the following: "and advances equalled to allotments, if any, shall continue during such repatriation, provided he has sufficient moneys due him from the Company to cover such advances." 3. Article II, Section 28, is amended by changing the first sentence to read as follows: "Monies tendered for ^draws in foreign ports shall be in United States currency failing which, travelers' checks shall be issued at the Company's expense." 4. Article II, Section 49, is amended by adding at the end of item "6" the following: "As mattresses now on board wear out, they shall be replaced by innerspring mattresses." and by also adding a new item "11" to read: "Two twelve-inch fans shall be furnished in fore­ castles occupied by two or more unlicensed personnel, and one sixteen-inch fan in all forecastles occupied by one member of the unlicensed personnel." 5. With reference to Article II, Section 57, 1 (f) and 2 (f), such wages and subsistence shall be paid promptly and the Company shall furnish an order therefor at the time the transportation is paid, which shall be signed by the Master^ or Company representative and by the seamen. 6. Article II, Section 58, is amended to read as follows: "In the event a ship of the Company is sold, interned, lost, laid up, run aground or is stranded and the crew is required to leave the vessel by reason thereof, the crew shall be given transportation back to the port of engagement with subsistence, room and wages, as per Article II, Section 59 of this Agreement. When room and subsistence is not furnished aboard the vessel, room and meal allowance will be paid as prescribed in Article II, Section 43, until crew is furnished repatriation by train, vessel or commer- , dally operated airplane, equivalent to the equipment of a regularly scheduled airline, or in the event such airplane transportation is not equivalent to a reg­ ularly scheduled airline, they shall be paid the dif­ ference in cash." 7. Article III,. Section 12 (d), is amended by adding . at the beginning thereof: "Routine soundings shall be taken on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at sea." 8. Article III, Section 12, is amended by adding at the end thereof a new paragraph (g) to read as follows: "When the Carpenter is requiied to remove old paint or varnish preparatory to'repainting, and repaint the •isr same, he shall be paid overtime for such work per•formed." j 0. Article lU, Section 1^. is amended by changing the New Dry Cargo VIage Scale DECK DEPARTMENT Rating Bosun (Mariner) Bosun Carpenter (Mariner) Carpenter AB Maintenance Quartermaster Able Seaman Ordinary Seaman ; Wage Scale $447.00 400.68 *386.00 *375.08 343.98 314.41 314.41 244.19 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Chief Electrician (Mariner) .... 518.09 Chief Electrician 499.25 2d Electrician 465.09 Unlicensed Jr. Eng. (Day) 403.83 Unlicensed Jr. Eng. (Watch) ... 361.18 Plumber-Machinist 414.42 Deck Engineer 380.88 Engine Utility 366.72 Evaporator. Maintenance 334.32 Oiler 314.41 Oiler-Diesel 340.22 Watertender. 314.41 Fireman-Water tender 314.41 Fireman ;.... 314.41 Wiper...; ^294.30 Reefer Engineer ^ (When 1 carried) 465.09 Reefer Engineer (When 3 carried) Chief 428.97 First Assistant 381.54 Second Assistant ;..... 346.70 STEWARD DEPARTMENT, Chief Steward (Mariner) ...... Chief Steward Chief Cook Night Cook & Baker Second Cook **Third Cook .'. Messman Utilityman 390.25 390.25 361.18 361.18 325.27 310.43 242.32 242.32 Overtime $1.98 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.51 1.98 1.98 » 1.98 1.98 . 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.51 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.94 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.94 1.94 1.51 1.51 * Receives $20 additional a month if required to provide own tools. **When passengers are carried will be rated as Second Cook and be paid wage of $325.27 per month. heading to read "GARBAGE", and by adding a new sen­ tence at the beginning to read: "Garbage shall be.stowed away from crews' diuarters." 10. Article III, Section 34, is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read:"Non-permanent transient or irregular foreign shore labor shall hot be employed to perform any of the work in the licensed or unlicensed quarters, store rooms, passageways, galleys and mess rooms, except in those instances where the Company uses estab­ lished shore labor." 11. Article IV, Section 18, (c), is amended to read as fpllows: i "On vesselsv with small cargo refrigeration plants, oilers shall oil plant. When the oiler is required to take reefer cargo box temperatures, he shall be paid one hour overtime for each watch. On vessels carry­ ing watch freezers, oilers shall not handle refrigera­ tion plant." 12. Article V, Sectldn 27 (e). Is atnehded by adding at the end thereof "except when the vessel Is sailing between conti­ nental United States ports." ' IS. Section 2 of the War Risk Insurance-Area and At­ tack Ronoaes Agreement - is amended by providing that War Risk, Insurance benefit covering loss of personal effects shall be increased from $300.00 to $500.00. 14. The Company shall furnish the Union with a list of all seamen entitled to retroactive pay. 15. The Union shall have the right, upon written notl- ; ficatlon to the Company, to renegotiate vacation and wel­ fare plans, or to negotiate new plans 'such as pension, etc. Upon receipt of such notification by the Company, , the parties of this Agreement shall meet within seven (7) days for negotiation on these issues. This shall apply subsequent to September 30, 1954. 16. The basic monthly wages for firemen shall be in­ creased to $302.32 and shall further be subject to the Increases hereinafter granted. 17. The basic monthly wage rates and overtime rates are increased as follows: (a) Unlicensed Personnel receiving a basic monthly wage of $340.73 or above shall have their wages Increased six percent (6%) and their overtime rates shall be $1.98. (b) Unlicensed Personnel receiving a basic monthly wage of $298.49 or above but not In excess of $340.72 shall have their wages increased four per­ cent (4%) and their overtime rate shall be $1.94. (c) Unlicensed Personnel receiving a basic monthly wage of $298.48 or below ishall have their wages increased two percent (2%) and their overtime rate shall be $1.51. (d) Mariner-Type Vessels: effective October 1, 1953, the wages for the following ratings shall be 1. Bosun . ....$447.00 2. Carpenter 386.00 3. Chief Electrician ...... 518.09 4. Chief, Steward ,. 390.25 All other ratings on this type vessel shall receive the same increases as provided In 17 a, b, and c, above. 18. Effective the day following the next termination of Articles either domestic or foreign, after the date of this Agreement, the special rates for work specified in the following sections of the Agreement shall be raised by applying the same percentage increases in the special rates .to the same wage brackets as specified in item "17" above: Article II, Section 31—Standby Work Article II, Secjion 32—Longshore Work by Crew Article III, Section 32—^Tank Cleaning 19. The wages on Government operated vessels shall be paid retroactive to October 1, 1953, when the Com­ pany receives approval for such payments from the Governmient Agency concerned. 20. All other terms and conditions of the Unlicensed Personnel Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as therein provided, and this Supplement shall be con­ sidered a part thereof. . Signed: . ^ SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT, AFL. MANAGEMENT NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE. The following forms shall be used to comply with the.: contract provisions covering transportation, travel sub­ sistence and wages. STEAMSHIP COMPANY RETURN TRANSPORTATION RECEIPT NAME OF VESSEL: i _ NAME OF SEAMAN RATING:..... ' PORT: ...................... DATE: ORIGINAL PORT OF ENGAGEMENT........,;..,... , ; CASH AMOUNT PAID..........: RECEIVED: ^ VOUCHER TRAVEL SUBSISTENCE & WAGES ^ The bearer ;..... Z# whose signature! appears below was paid off the above vessel on the date indicated and is entitled to........ . days travel subsistence @ $...... per day^ and ,....... days wages @ $...... per month, less taxes, upon prea- ; entatlon of satisfactory identification to (Cojoipany or Agent) located- at ' .1... i (address) ..,• within thirty (30) days from the date of payoff. Seaman , Master, or Company RepresentativG Received Payment * ' > ^ "Yt--S! I � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1950-1959 Description An account of the resource Volumes XII-XXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 6, 1954 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. XVI, No. 16 Description An account of the resource Headlines: THE INDO-CHINA TRUCE-AND YOU! SEAFARER EYE-WITNESS REPORT CO'S READY BACK PAY LISTS 80 US-FLAG SHIPS GIVEN TRANSFER OK TIE-UP ENDS; BULL, ALCOA, WATERMAN SAILING TO PR AFL'S PIER UNION MAPS NEW DRIVE SIU BALLOT REPORT SET HOPE DIMS FOR '50-50' LAW WINNER A STAR IN STUDIES, ATHLETICS R. SWEENEY, FORMER SIU PATROLMAN CANADA LOSES OCEAN FLEET 'RUNAWAYS' SEEN THREAT BY BRITISH ARGENTINE WORKERS 'SEE' SIU-CREW SHOWS FILM ... AND ANOTHER SHIP FLIES 'RUNAWAY' FLAG NEW MARINE INS. POLICY: NO 'ATOMIC DAMAGE' PAY END PANAMA CREW BEEF SIU-STYLE JINX 'ONE-TWO' HITS SHIP; BOSUN KILLED THE WHALER: SEA-GOING SWEATSHOP IT'S HEAVE HO, AWAAAY WE GO' FOR SAN MATEO, AGROUND IN KOREA PLAYMATE SAVED FROM FIRE BY SEAFARER'S NEPHEW, 11 WITH BEER OVER BUCK A BOTTLE, MASAN TRIP IS A REAL 'DRY RUN' US HELP TO PHILIPPINES PAYS OFF AWNINGLESS PERSIAN RUN BURNS UP ARTISAN'S CREW REPORTS AID IN ALLOTMENT BEEFS PAST 27? DON'T RELAX YET - ARMY STILL NEEDS MEN NO BENEFIT LOST FROM 'VACATION' INDICT 16 LAWYERS, 7 OTHERS IN AMBULANCE CHASING PROBE FREIGHT CONTRACT SUPPLEMENT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/6/1954 1954 Periodicals Seafarers Log