Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Note
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(_page 234_)]

THE CORSAIR
IN THE WAR ZONE

BY
RALPH D. PAINE

AUTHOR OF “THE FIGHTING FLEETS”

_With Illustrations_

BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
_The Riverside Press Cambridge_
1920

COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY JOHN PIERPONT MORGAN

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

“_North, East, South, and West,
The Corsair sails and knows no rest._”

CONTENTS

I. THE CALL OF DUTY OVERSEAS 1

II. “LAFAYETTE, WE ARE HERE!” 29

III. AT SEA WITH THE BRETON PATROL 55

IV. TRAGEDIES AND RESCUES 76

V. WHEN THE ANTILLES WENT DOWN 101

VI. ADMIRAL WILSON COMES TO BREST 122

VII. SMASHED BY A HURRICANE 146

VIII. THE PLEASANT INTERLUDE AT LISBON 174

IX. UNCLE SAM’S BRIDGE OF SHIPS 198

X. THE CORSAIR STANDS BY 225

XI. IN THE RADIO-ROOM 251

XII. THE LONG ROAD HOME 266

XIII. HONORABLY DISCHARGED 289

XIV. THE SHIP’S COMPANY 296

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE CORSAIR RESCUES THE CREW OF THE SINKING
CALIFORNIAN _Frontispiece_

ADMIRAL H. B. WILSON, COMMANDING THE U.S. NAVAL
FORCES IN FRANCE 4

COMMANDER THEODORE A. KITTINGER, U.S.N., COMMANDING
U.S.S. CORSAIR 10

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WILLIAM B. PORTER, LATER
COMMANDING U.S.S. CORSAIR, AND LIEUTENANT
ROBERT E. TOD, NAVIGATOR 16

FITTING THE CORSAIR FOR THE WAR ZONE 22

NUMBER TWO GUN CREW ON WATCH 26

THEY ARE ALL SEA DOGS TOGETHER 26

SOME OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW, BEFORE LEAVING
NEW YORK 32

WITH AMERICA’S FIRST CONVOY: TROOP-SHIPS HENDERSON,
ANTILLES, MOMUS, AND LENAPE 38

THE MINE FUNCTIONS AND A LURKING U-BOAT WOULD
FIND IT EXCESSIVELY UNHEALTHY 38

THE KIND OF “GOBS” THE COUNTRY WAS PROUD OF 44

THE GERMAN SUBMARINE WAS A TINY TARGET EVEN
WHEN ON THE SURFACE 44

BOATSWAIN’S MATE SEGER, FROM PASSAIC 50

PHARMACIST’S MATE FEELEY AND MESS ATTENDANT
MARTINEZ 50

WINNING BOAT CREW IN FOURTH OF JULY RACE WITH
APHRODITE 56

“THE BRIDGE GANG” 56

STARTING THE SWIMMING RACE FROM A MOORING
BUOY 62

WATER SPORTS ON THE FOURTH OF JULY: THE RACE
BETWEEN LIFE-RAFTS WITH COAL SHOVELS FOR
PADDLES 62

A WET DAY FOR THE DECK WATCH 66

FRENCH AND UNDERHILL ARE DOLLED UP FOR THE
CAMERA 66

THE BURNING AMERICAN SCHOONER AUGUSTUS WELD 70

FROM THE CORSAIR’S MAIN-TOP: THE CONVOY STEAMS
OUT 70

“COAL ON THE CORSAIR, FILL EVERY BIN. WE WORK
LIKE HELL, BOYS, TILL IT’S ALL IN” 74

A FRENCH FISHING-SMACK WHICH DARED THE RUTHLESS
WARFARE 78

THE S.S. MANTO, WHICH SPED THROUGH THE WAR ZONE
AT FIVE KNOTS 78

A GROUP OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS 84

A LIBERTY PARTY AT BREST 84

THE GUNNER’S MATES AND THE LONG ROW OF DEPTH
CHARGES READY TO PLOP OVER THE STERN 88

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE MINE TRACK, SHOWING THE
Y GUN OR DOUBLE MORTAR 88

FRENCH FISHERMEN WHO WERE SET ADRIFT 92

THE CASTAWAYS FIND A HEARTY WELCOME ON THE
CORSAIR 92

GUNNER’S MATES BARKO AND MOORE, AND A DEPTH
CHARGE 98

WATCHING THE APHRODITE GO OUT ON PATROL 98

ENGINEERING FORCE OF THE CORSAIR 102

LIEUTENANT J. J. PATTERSON, ENGINEER OFFICER, AND
HIS HUSKY “BLACK GANG” 102

A BOAT-LOAD OF SURVIVORS FROM THE ANTILLES COMING
ALONGSIDE 106

NAVAL OFFICERS RESCUED FROM THE ANTILLES, WITH
GENERAL MCNAIR, U.S.A. 106

THE ANTILLES CROWDED WITH TROOPS ON HER LAST
VOYAGE TO FRANCE 110

THE ALCEDO PICKS UP THE ANTILLES SURVIVORS 110

THE CORSAIR DROPS A MINE AND SHAKES UP FRITZ 114

THE FINLAND, JUST AFTER SHE WAS TORPEDOED 118

DESTROYER PRESTON, WHICH WAS CAUGHT IN THE HURRICANE
AND ALSO FOUND REFUGE AT LISBON 118

CHIEF YEOMAN PAULSON 122

GUNNER’S MATE WILEY 122

BUCKING INTO THE WINTER SEAS 128

SHE TAKES ’EM ABOARD GREEN 128

THE SHIP’S COOKS AND THE WARDROOM STEWARD 134

THE NOBLE JOB OF PEELING “SPUDS” 134

BOATSWAIN’S MATE HOUTZ IN THE NAVY’S STORM
CLOTHES 140

SWOLLEN SEA, FROM THE FORWARD CROW’S-NEST 140

A LETTER FROM HOME: COALING SHIP MUST WAIT 144

CARROLL BAYNE GETS HIS ENSIGN’S COMMISSION 144

HOW THE HURRICANE SEAS POUNDED THE YACHT: “THE
POOR OLD SHIP WAS A MESS” 150

WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE EMERGENCY WHEEL 156

WHEN THE HURRICANE SLAPPED THE WINDOWS 156

ASSISTANT ENGINEER HAWTHORN AND HIS WATCH 160

THE CREW OF NUMBER THREE GUN 160

TEMPORARY REPAIRS, AFTER THE HURRICANE 164

WHAT THE FORWARD DECK-HOUSE LOOKED LIKE
WHILE RUNNING FOR LISBON 164

CLEANING UP AT LISBON, AFTER THE HURRICANE 172

LISBON HARBOR AND THE TUG THAT TOWED THE CORSAIR
TO THE DOCKYARD 176

THE AMERICAN LEGATION AT LISBON WHERE THE CORSAIR’S
CREW FOUND A HOME 176

THE CORSAIR IN DRYDOCK AT LISBON 182

AT HER MOORING BUOY, BREST 182

“DOC” LAUB AGREES THAT “THIS IS THE LIFE IF YOU
DON’T WEAKEN” 188

COXSWAIN DAVE TIBBOTT WAITS WITH THE LAUNCH 188

THE CHEERY FRENCH PILOT, LIEUTENANT MEJECK 194

CHIEF QUARTERMASTER BENTON 194

THE HOME OF THE AMERICAN NAVAL OFFICERS’ CLUB
IN BREST 200

AMERICAN YACHTS CLUSTERED INSIDE THE BREAKWATER,
BREST 206

THE FAITHFUL WAKIVA, WHICH WAS SUNK IN COLLISION 212

BIG TRANSPORTS IN BREST HARBOR 212

CHIEF QUARTERMASTER FARR STANDS WITH FOLDED
ARMS AND INDICATES THAT HE HAS HIS SEA-LEGS
WITH HIM 216

COMMANDER KITTINGER SAYS GOOD-BYE TO LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER PORTER AS THE LATTER TAKES
OVER THE COMMAND 216

LIEUTENANT SCHANZE, ENSIGN GRAY, LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER PORTER, CHIEF ENGINEER HUTCHISON,
COMMANDER KITTINGER, AND LIEUTENANT MCGUIRE 220

AT ROSYTH: LIEUTENANT NOLAN, DR. AGNEW, COMMANDER
PORTER, LIEUTENANT MCGUIRE, ENSIGN
ACORN, LIEUTENANT PATTERSON, ENSIGN WANGERIN,
AND PAYMASTER ERICKSON 220

ROLLING OUT TO FIND A CONVOY 226

A LITTLE WATER ON DECK 226

THE SINKING CALIFORNIAN: GOING, GOING, ALMOST
GONE! 232

CALIFORNIAN SURVIVORS ABOARD THE CORSAIR 232

A MASCOT FROM THE CALIFORNIAN, KNOWN AS “THE
MUTT” 238

THE NEWFOUNDLAND PUP SAVED FROM THE FRENCH
FISHING BARK 238

THE DAGFIN, BROKEN DOWN AND HELPLESS. THE CORSAIR
STANDS BY 244

ADMIRAL HENRY T. MAYO, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF
THE ATLANTIC FLEET 248

H. A. BRECKEL, CHIEF RADIO OPERATOR 256

ELECTRICIANS SWAN AND PLUMMER, OF THE HIGHLY
EFFICIENT RADIO GANG 256

AT THE EMERGENCY WHEEL: HEAVY WEATHER OFFSHORE 262

THE TRIM, IMMACULATE NAVY MAN: AFTER COALING
SHIP 262

BOATSWAIN’S MATE FRENCH BOUGHT A PET PARROT IN
LISBON 268

“TOMMY,” THE SHIP’S CAT, WHO FINISHED STRONG IN
THE HURRICANE 268

“TEDDY,” WHO WAS GIVEN A MILITARY FUNERAL WHEN
HE SWALLOWED A NAIL 268

WITH THE GRAND FLEET AT ROSYTH 274

SURRENDERED GERMAN SUBMARINES TIED UP AT PORTLAND 274

THE CORSAIR AT QUEENSTOWN AS FLAGSHIP OF ADMIRAL
SIMS 278

SEAMAN HENRY BARRY, BEFORE THEY WISHED ANOTHER
JOB ON HIM 282

GUNNER’S MATE SIMPSON HOPES TO SPOT THAT SUB 282

THE HOMEWARD-BOUND PENNANT: “WE’RE OFF FOR
LITTLE OLD NEW YORK, THANK GOD” 286

THE CORSAIR WHEN IN COMMISSION AS A YACHT BEFORE
THE WAR 290

ADMIRAL WILLIAM S. SIMS, COMMANDING THE U.S.
NAVAL FORCES IN EUROPEAN WATERS 294

MAP SHOWING THE CORSAIR’S WANDERINGS IN THE
WAR ZONE 304

THE CORSAIR IN THE WAR ZONE

THE CORSAIR IN THE WAR ZONE