SEA STORIES INDIA    

ADVENTURE OF A  LIFETIME: WILSON SWILLEY
Text Box: MY FIRST SHIP: “Grain Bound for India” RATED: R SS Columbia, T2 tanker, she was docked at Destrehan, La. Loaded with grain for India. Boarded her late at night. De Salvo had drove like crazy from New Orleans to get me on board before she sailed. The crew was busy making her ready for sea. As it being my first trip and hadn’t been aboard a ship since 54 on the SS Gen Anderson to Japan as a passenger, I really felt out of place. The boson gave me an order to help bolt down the butterwort plates on the tanks. I threw my gear in the passage way. Pick up a brass spanner went to work with another ordinary seaman tighten the bolts around the plates. He told me I had the 12 to 4 watch. I just reply okay, not knowing exactly what it mean except I was on duty from 12 am to 4 am & 12 pm to 4 pm or first watch some called it. I went aft to take in the 3 inch lines and spring cable. The boson said we could store them away tomorrow since it was so late. We wouldn’t be out of the river until tomorrow. Met the two AB’s (able body seaman) on my watch and was assigned the upper bunk. There were three men on each of three watch 2 AB’s & an ordinary. Three watches were 12 to 4, 4 to 8 & 8 to 12 (8 to 12 OS had the task of cleaning forecastle and heads for the deck crew) I slept good that night, but at six was awaken by the 4 to 8 OS and asked if I wanted breakfast. I was excited about being on a ship. I had to get up and look around. It was a smooth trip down the river. Some of the crew were talking about the T2 (SS Niagara) tied up in front of us. The Niagara crew had complained to the coast guard about the seaworthiness of the ship. Turn to for OT help secure the tank tops and other duties. About 1 PM we were leaving the river and I was sent in the forward line lock to flake out the 3 inch lines as they were be fed down by the other crew members. At the mouth of the river it was rough the ship started to roll and pitch. I got so sick I couldn’t take it. I guess no one saw me but ran to the head and then to the forecastle. I laid on the deck. Sick man! Was I sick! You would have had to shoot me to get me off that deck. Thirty minutes later the boson came in and told not to leave the deck without telling him. I just nodded. He wasn’t a bad guy at all. He was from Boston. In fact most of the crew members were out of the New York Hall. I and few mess men were the only ones from New Orleans on board, I found out later. A couple of days at sea and I was feeling good. Got my sea legs by the next watch. Look out was on the bow, sitting on a board and leaning on the Spanish apron. Felt good with the wind in your face. I am going to love this. Off the tip of Florida we could see a comet. It had a Russian name, that 3rd mate told me but I can not remember it now. The three of us on watch took turns on the wheel for 1 hr 20 minutes, stand by 1 hr 20 minutes then look out on the bow or lee side wing of the bridge in bad weather. While on standby your job was to sit in the mess by the phone and make coffee. Wheel watch always brought the mate coffee. A tanker was laid out with the crews (deck, engine room or black gang and steward dept.), engineers forecastle, galley, mess and engine room aft and the mid ships was the wheel house and deck officer (captain, chief mate, 2nd mate the navigation officer, Sparks the radio operator and two third mates) forecastles and officer mess. A cat walk over the main weld deck took you from aft to the bow thru the mid ship. The fan tail usually had a cover build over it so we spend time off there, if the weather permitted. We had rough seas and very few days of sunshine crossing to the Mediterranean. It was winter in the Atlantic. South of the Azores a pantry man had his appendicitis swell. We had to keep ice on him until we got to Gibraltar where we drop him off. You are lucky if you have someone with medical skills out here. The 2nd mate or one of the engineers had some medical training. If you have a Navy corpsman on board you are really lucky. Arrived in Port Said around mid-night on our watch. Gangway watch was a riot, bum boats out your ass. The watch had to find out which one was our agent. The watch apparently let the wrong one on board. Then the right one showed up. The previous guy was trying to take advantage of the captain by have him sign a chit for ship stores. He sell the goods on the black market. This guy made it off the ship without us catching him. The real agent says he knew who it was. We had to wait at the entrance to the canal to make up a convoy to go south thru the canal. It was about 6 in the morning before it began it’s way down the canal. The 8 to 12 OS got us up at 11:30 for lunch and to relieve them on watch. I got to the mess and notice a lot of commotion on the fan tail. The Arabs (boatman we had on board) were begging for food and their foreman was running them off. They were there to tie us off to the bank in case of an emergency in the canal. I notice Bobby the OS on the 4 to 8 was having the mess man make him a sandwich. Did not think much of it at the time. But in about five minute he came running back to the fan tail with the Arabs chasing him. I was just leaving the mess to go on the fan tail. As I stepped thru the doorway I was knocked by and down the stairway that was adjacent to the doorway. I woke up with a headache and hurting all over. By the time I got back to mess room the fight was over. Come to find out Bobby had made a ham sandwich and gave it to one of the Arabs. Then told him as he was taking a bite. By pushing up his noise and orking like a pig. Wrll this didn’t go over to well, obviously. Fortunately nothing came of the incident. Bobby was a character, he and I became shore buddies later. He was from W. Virginia from a coalminer’s family. We had a couple of these guys on board, they didn’t seem to fit being at sea, but hard workers. We found out in the Red Sea which port in India we were going to, Kandlar. I had no idea of its location. Found out later it was Northwest India, next to Pakistan, Cassimere area. We arrived on our watch. The ship was to make it’s way up the river to the docks. I was stuck on lookout due to the fact only ABs were allow to steer into port under the direction of a Pilot. It was a moonlit night you could see pretty far up the river. I have no idea what I was doing up there on the bow. In this river you couldn’t avoid anyone coming down the river or stop in time for anything. Which would be the case in about ten minutes. I saw a guy in small boat waving in front us. He was about 200 yards ahead. His boat dead in the water coming down stream towards us. I pick the phone up to call the bridge. Second thought what are they going to do. So I started yelling at the guy to jump. He had no idea until it was to late as the ship plowed over him. I just sat down and said nothing. Kandlar was nothing but long warehouses that we tied up along side. By the time we hit the rack about a thousand Indians with bags and shovels came aboard to pack off the grain. It was noisy. The whole ship rang with Hindi. We even hired a crew of sixteen to paint the hull instead of us doing it. We got the overtime pay. Each of us on the deck crew paid about an hour’s OT for one of their eight hour day’s work.. After a week we were getting bored. Played enough cards and read enough books. I was tired of the BS. We went in the village and there was nothing to it typical souvenirs shops made out of dunnage (shoring timber from previous ships). There was a Russian ship unloading farm equipment docked in front us. Looks like it was taking on the grain we were giving to the Indians. Did not bother me. No women or good booze to drink. Oh we had some beer that was warm all the time seems like. Bobby had gotten some fireworks. I have no idea where. One night while the Indians were working in the tanks unloading he set them of in one of the tanks. Anyone hear of grain dust explosion, Lucky we did not explode at the dock. There was massive evacuation of Indian workers. The Captain was pissed. No one told on him but the boson chew his ass. One afternoon, Bobby and I with couple of ABs from the ship were drinking some beers in a make shift bar in the village. Bobby said he was horny enough to fuck one those camels out there. All of sudden he jumped up headed for the door. I though he was. Instead he ran out to talk to a cab driver. He was pestering him about some thing. In about five minutes he brought the cab driver back to us. He’ll take us to were we can get laid for 40.00 buck American. That was ten a piece. Of course I said yes, lets go but the two ABs said they would go along for the ride, if it wasn’t too far. Cab driver informed us it was only sixty miles north. Didn’t seem that far, with several six pack in hand and Bobby’s hashish we were off. The cab was some little four banger car that had seen better days. Three us in the back and two in the front the car was almost on the ground and had hardly enough power to start off. One of the ABs said this might have been a bad idea. The cabby assured him it was fine. An hour later the sun was setting and we were half way thru the beer and jokes. Every time we saw a village or two house together, are we there yet! Just a little farther the cab driver would say. Nothing but desert or aired land a few villages. It must have been eight o’clock in the evening we approached this village with the brightest street lights. I mean flood lights, you needed sun glasses. Maybe we have been in the dark too long. The cabby stopped the car with a bang and a loud clunk. What was that the AB asked. Just the battery in trunk sahib, cab driver explained. You wait here I’ll be right back. This is it, he nodded yes. Off into a dark alley he went. The ABs both said they were not getting out of the cab. There were hardly anybody in the street. I don’t remember seeing anybody. The cab driver came back,” its okay now follow me.” Bobby and I were out of the car on his heels the two ABs sat in the car. The cabby said wait here to us in the alley and went back to the car. He talked the two Abs into going with us. He told them, I learn later, that it would be safer to be with him. We were near Cassimere and there was fighting going on. We walked a little ways down this dark alley the driver turn to his right . Looked like another alley with a single light. If I was not so horny I would have been back with the ABs. I was even in front of Bobby, I didn’t want sloppy seconds if that was the case. And it was. We entered this room divided by hanging blankets. Elderly couple in forties was sitting on the floor. The man and driver shared bauds, Hindi custom, I guess. Driver turn to me she is in there. That’s all he had to say, behind the blanket I went. There laid a thirteen or younger girl with her sorrie open and inviting to enter. Well I obliged. It didn’t take to long to cum. After I did, I didn’t want to leave it felt so good. Bobby kept yelling, Aren’t you finished? I no more than pulled the blanket back. He was standing there with a hard on. In he went. I went outside were the ABs and the cabby were having a smoke. Talking about the war going on in the area. I took some beer and washed my dick. Warm beer felt good somewhere anyhow. It didn’t take Bobby very long and we on our way back. Now the adventure really starts. On the way back Bobby broke out his hash pipe. We shared it. No more beer except what the two ABs were finishing off. I started to doze off it must been about ten o clock. Bang! Boom! Sound came from under the car. Lights were off and began to roll to stop. No worries the driver says just battery. I put back. Watching him go back to the battery. I could see it was in two pieces. Well that does it, I said, he’ll never get that work. Here we are in the middle of the desert and nothing to drink sitting on the side of the road waiting on a ride. Driver assured us some one will come along. Bobby lit up his pipe and we began a laughing jag. Just for a piece of ass. The rest of the crew stayed away from us they though we gone off the deep end, we had. It wasn’t more than thirty minutes Bobby nudged me, there something coming down the road. You could see a very dim light appearing and disappearing. Like car going over the dunes. We stood up as it got closer with the rest of crew. It look like something you’d see in Bakersfield. It was a 47 Ford sedan. Our driver talk to the other driver and it was a moment or two before he came back. Bobby said hell with this we’ll steal the damn thing if he does not give us a ride. Our driver informed us that they would give us a ride to the next village. Told Bobby and I to get in back with the owner. The four of them would get in the front. What a sight the four of them in the front seat. Our driver in one of the ABs lap. But that’s nothing Bobby open the rear door. A purple haze bellowed out. There was a fat dude with a Hubble bubble pipe on pillows in the back. There was no back seat. It had been made flat some how with carpet and pillows. A blanket separating the back from the front. Guess it was his limo. Bobby says right on man. The guy with a big grin offers him a toke. Down the road we went. He could not understand us nor us him. But the hash did wonders in our communication. We just laugh all the way. Then this big dude made a pass at Bobby. Either to give him a blow job or fuck him the ass. I just about peed in pants. I couldn’t take it anymore, my sides were hurting from the laughter. They let us off in a village it must have been about mid night. I was teasing Bobby about the dude. The rest of the crew were in the own world as far as we were concerned. I guess these guy want a motel or hotel. Driver said follow him. He took us to a warehouse looking place. We enter a dimly lit room at the entrance to this warehouse. He told us we can sleep here. Well we all grabbed a blanket each. I followed the driver into the next room. It was dark open and big. I could hear people snoring and smell like curry. Driver said something like, lets go to the back. Will after I had step on a few people. With the screams had just about woken the whole crowd. There must been fifty to hundred bodies in this place. Life or dead who knows in India. That’s enough for me! The rest agreed we walk. On the road again. This time we were pretty tired after about an hour of walking. The ABs gave up. This is as far as they’re going. Happen that a truck was coming down the road just then. The driver jumped out in front of it. Thank goodness it could stop. Of course as much good he’s been to us maybe it should run over him. It was a two and half ton truck with a load of 20 lb bags of peanuts. That what I understand anyhow. Of course again us the young guys were assign to set on top of the load with feet on the cab of the truck, while the rest were in the cab. Can you imagine how they all fit. Down the road we go! Wind blowing in our ears so we were yelling at each other to be heard Bobby made up another pipe load of hash. This was a trick only an experienced smoker could accomplish. We passed the pipe back and forth. During a pass we did not see the a low hung cable or wire. We ducked and the pipe flew out of our hands. The red sparks of ashes were everywhere. Hell Bobby said, I’ve got another one back at the ship.. I laid back on the peanut sacks for awhile I began to get hungry for peanuts, too. Damn if I didn’t think I smelled roasted peanuts. I started to open a bag peanuts to eat some. I looked toward the back of the truck . I saw a trail of smoke and sparks. I guess Bobby did about the same time. Man this guy’s truck has had it. He said the engine must be going. I replied, Hell that’s not the motor ! It’s peanuts burning! We looked at each other. Immediately knew what had happen. The hash pipe! We stomped on the roof of the truck to get their attention. The driver of the truck was getting mad with us. He was telling us to stop, I guess. Bobby was trying to crawl in the door him while going forty mph. Finally the cab driver stuck his head out the other side. I yelled, “fire truck on fire.” It wasn’t a moment later. We are suddenly heading off the road toward a gas station. We really panic then. We about beat the roof in yelling, No not here! The truck was rolling to a stop. Both Bobby and I ran down the front of the truck Over the hood and kept running for about a hundred yards before we stopped. I looked back to see the two Abs were half way between us and the truck. The drivers and attendant had a water hose trying to put out the fire. White smoke was bellowing up into the morning sky. The sun had just begin to rise. Of course we had to pay for the damaged peanuts or we would still be in India. It’s not over yet. We are five miles from the ship. Walking wasn’t cutting it with Bobby and I. We just did a hundred yard dash. We came up on the guy with the camels from the dock village. Bobby asked him for a ride. Five dollar and we had a ride on camels back to the ship. Finally arrived at the gangway. The watch looked at us with a question. Where the hell have you been? Don’t ask! The Abs are behind us. They’ll tell you. We hit the rack. Just another night ashore. Ass and booze. Next day I was having coffee on the fantail. When I remember something that I had said to a girl that claimed I got her pregnant. I would move to India before I would marry you. It was too late I had married her. Did not last more then two weeks. Had to send her a post card. From India. Don’t know if she got it or not. But I enjoyed the though of it so much I must have had a smile for weeks. We finally got under way by noon. After two long weeks in this place we were ready to go. We can wash the dirt and grain dust off. Next morning while on wheel watch the third mate were just shoot the shit . We had the doorways open to the wheel house to get little breeze. It was calm and warm in the Arabian Sea. I had the ship on the Iron mike (auto pilot). When the whole ocean lit up. I could see old John the AB on the fore peak. Nights like this you couldn’t see the range mast on the foredeck. He was running aft toward the mid ships down the catwalk. Mate went to the starboard wing. I looked out the doorway as a ball of fire or what I thought it was, flew by. I mean it was not more than couple of hundred feet off the water. It disappear over the horizon as if it had gone into the sea. Just as fast as it had appeared. We thought it was a meteor. Later I though about again it couldn’t have been. It was too slow and the angle of flight horizontal. It made no sound what so ever. It’s got to be in the log I would assume the third mate documented it. UFO??? We made to Aden Saudi Arabia to pick up bunker fuel. Lot of tourist ships there, mainly foreign. Ashore found out they were British ships. Bobby and I went ashore together but got separated at a bar. He took off for a piece of ass. Arab world I did not want to mess with no women. So I sat with some British seaman and drank beer. First time I heard the joke about the young whore asking the old whore if she smoked afterwards. She reply I never looked! Had to be back for the last launch at 4 pm. I just made it. Didn’t see Bobby aboard the launch. Figured he must have gave up and came back on an earlier launch. Got aboard the ship and the police and some officials were there with the Chief mate. Some Arabs were trying to steal our screw for the brass. I think they were back there with a torch catching a fluke or blade every time it came out of the water. Since we were high out of the water the screw would be exposed. Fortunately they were not successful. But we were still missing a seaman. Bobby, so the police had something to do. We weighed anchor and headed for the Canal. We heard that night they had captured Bobby. Would bring him to Port Said to catch the ship. Bring him by train. I learned later with two guards which little did Bobby know he covered all expenses. The damn guards with him didn’t bother to tell him either. They were having a blast on him. Allah, got even I guess for the ham sandwich. What goes around comes around! Next day in the middle lake of the Canal we had to wait for the convoy going south to pass. So we were anchored next to a passenger ship with some girls in shorts waving at us. We were swimming around the gangway which let down for the pilot. After seeing them we started to showoff diving off the weld deck. It progressed to the boat deck which is close to thirty feet off the water. The guys on the other ship doing the same. The girls clapping as we did the dives. Wing of the bridge is the challenge now. Only one guy did. He jumped good forty feet. So I couldn’t be out done. Went to the fly bridge climbed over the railing looking down. I did not look outward it was too scary. As I passed the boat deck in swan posture I knew I had fucked up. I tightened my fist. Made my arms as rigged as I could. Hit the water at such speed and force that my hands hit the top my head and did it hurt. I panicked at the depth I was going. So I arc to cut the depth in which I was going. Shock went up by back to my lips which went numb. Went I got to the surface I could not move my left side so I had to side stroke to the gangway. Made it on the deck. I assume with help. Sat on one of the pipes running alone the deck under the catwalk until I got my feelings back. We were getting underway again thanks goodness. That must have been a fifty or sixty foot dive. I do the craziest things. If I live to thirty I’ll be lucky. Bobby got on board at Port Said. He was quit as a mouse on the way back to the states. The Mediterranean had rough seas and weather. We just got thru Gibraltar about a 100 miles we got an SOS. The SS Niagara was taking on water. We were the closest ship. Off we went to watch her sink. We got nets ready to go over the sides the seas were at least in the twenty to thirty foot range. It was too rough to lower a life boat. Hell the nets were coming out of the water forty to fifty feet. Once you grabbed the net you were twenty feet in the air. Next minute you are looking down at our deck twenty feet above. The screw on our ship was vibrating so bad at times you wonder if she could take it. This happened went the screw came out of the water. Arrived, we stay over her starboard about mile. We could see the steward department crew on the stern with their white smocks. Water was spouting out her portside just in front of the cofferdam. Bulkhead between the last wing tank and the engine room. Later I found out Firemen, Oiliers and engineers were scared to death with noise of the ocean rushing in and out of the tank. The Deck crew was dropping a 3/4” cable loop over the bow four crew members each side starboard and port fished it down the hull to where the lose plate was. This was no an easy job as it sounds. We must have been there for a couple hours keeping our bow into the seas. They made the cable fast on one side and took the other end of the cable to a winch and proceed to pull the cable tie against the plate pulling it in. They signal us they were in go shape and could make it. We followed her for a little while. I think they went on to the Azores. We got paid off in Philadelphia. We were anchored in the river. It was foggy so I was paid overtime to ring the bell on the fore peak. Well to make it short a barge hit us. I couldn’t believe it I’m never going to get off this ship. Did make it off to the first bar with 1200.00 in pocket, we got paid in hundred dollar bills. Met some of the crew mainly steward dept. who were drunk by this time. They were going to catch a plane for New Orleans. The trip on the plane was a party. They almost kicked us of f the plane in Atlanta.. In New Orleans they had to get an ambulance for the chief cook. He had passed out. By the way Stewardess announces that the author Carl Sandburg was flying with us today. Who is he? “THIS IS NOTHING” IT’S JUST THE FIRST SHIP: “THE ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING” Text Box: “A FEW US WERE RUDE AND CRUDE BUT WE GOT THE JOB DONE” This is for the ones of us that were whore mongers and misfits. We were not Navy nor Sea Scouts

© Swilley 2005-2008

U.S MERCHANT MARINES