Kathleen Of The Outer Banks

by Capt. Gardner Martin Kelley

  The Captain had been in a quandary as how to relate the change over to the crew as they sat at the galley table. The Captain had arrived at his decision now. He slapped his hand down hard; at once there was full attention. “Men we are about to go modern, we are going to become steamship sailormen. The doctor arranged my purchase of a new steamer. I will assume command immediately and you will sail to Philadelphia as soon as a few chores are done.”

  There were a lot of questions and answers for several minutes. Cappi rapped the table for attention. “I have always said you old timers deserved a softer berth and that I would give others from Sailor’s Snug Harbor a chance to live out their sailor lives aboard. I am going tonight by train to take over the “SOUTHERN CROSS”. She carries twenty eight to thirty crew members. There is only an anchor watch aboard. I do not know how many will wish to stay. Chips after you set me ashore, you will remain aboard while the others will go first thing in the morning to recruit as many old sailors, up to twenty. I doubt that you will find any engineers but if you do we want them; we have our mates. We may have to hire our engineers from the hiring hall, maybe some others as well. As soon as you get back aboard with or without extra crew, sail down the coast and up the bay to Philly. Try to reach past Cape May as the tide flows up the bay. I once bucked the tide there for four hours then the shift just thrust me past Brand-Wine Ledges and up inside, some difference after tacking back and forth for hours. Chips set me ashore as I’m anxious to see our new steamship.”

  In spite of his excitement and thoughts of changes the Captain napped. He hurried from the train to the waterfront rested and refreshed. From the shipyard he boarded a bum boat to get him to the “SOUTHERN CROSS”. No one answered his hail. The Captain joined the four men in the galley and shared their mug up. Only one man, the oldest of the four impressed him as a good crew member.

  The Captain was very busy for two hours. He went first to the engine room and then forward to the fore peak and aft to the steering engine. Now he was relaxing in the nicest roomiest pilot house he has ever imagined.

  Further inspection would have to wait. He hailed a passing water taxi to get him ashore. With his log book and his captain license he headed for the Steamboat Commission Offices.

  The steamboat inspector wanted Cappi to make an appointment for a few days later to upgrade his license to steam. Cappi threw his log book on the table with an attention getting bang. “Mister,” he said in his most brow-beating voice, “I did not buy a steam ship to let her lay at anchor. I will sit for that license now.” Inspectors long known for their overbearing attitude evidently realized that this captain was not a man to be fooled with. One look into the log of the “LIZZIE MAE” convinced the two inspectors that Cappi knew his way around, besides he was an owner not just a paid hand.

  An hour later there was a new steamboat captain. The new license was endorsed and this captain was also licensed for sail, not that it was likely to be needed again.

  Four busy days followed. The Captain visited and called shipping companies and brokers for freight. As the crew was not yet aboard, he paid the extra money to have an oil barge deliver and fill the bunker and water tanks. The “SOUTHERN CROSS” would be ready to steam as soon as the crew was aboard. She would not linger in port. Ships did not pay for themselves at wharves or at anchor.

  At eight bells in the morning of the fifth day the sails of the schooner were seen, she tacked to alongside the ship. Tie up lines were tossed aboard. Sails were dropped and tied off for now. The men on the schooner were anxious to look over the steamer. Cappi was pleased that Judd had been able to recruit so many. There were even three engineers. The older Scotchman had the best license. After a short talk he was logged in as chief engineer. There would need to be six hired from the hall, Scotty would pick them. The two cooks would be enough, a day cook and one for the crew on watch nights. Three mess boys would be three old A.B.’s that felt they were too old for the heavy work on deck. The old mess men had A.B. tickets which could be listed in the log. More ordinary seamen could be hired instead of higher priced A.B. Seamen. This would save a lot of money.

  Chips intended to be frugal until he saw the ship paying her way. Judd had brought four A.B.’s to be part of the deck crew and one mate. Cappi had not intended to hire a mate but he liked the looks of the old timer called Dusty. He decided to let the men of the anchor watch remain aboard. After all they did know the ship already. Whatever else, in the way of crew, needed could be hired along with the engine room men from the hall. A supply boat blew his whistle to come alongside. Here were the supplies for the galley and engine room.

  The proud Captain, owner of the Steamship S/S “SOUTHERN CROSS”, turned the ship over to first mate Judd and chief engineer Scotty. He was off to bring his loving wife aboard. Chips would see that his belongings and hers were moved to the new quarters. “Be sure to hang her dancing slippers in a very visible place, the thought of dancing again will please her,” he told his very old friend.

  Judd and the chief would get the rest of a crew aboard. The Captain did pick up his papers for sailing at the Customs House. The ship would have it steam up by tomorrow and the first trip to Montoya’s plantation would begin.

  Montoya was in for a surprise when he saw the size of the ship he was to load. Lighters (small boats) would be needed now to bring the loads to the ship lying outside his harbor.

  The Captain had a surprise of his own when he reached the ship with his wife. The schooner was anchored astern and two lighters were unloading case after case into the holds. It seemed that his calls had paid off. He had a paying load for Havana. This was a good omen.

  Work slackened as the men stared. She was radiant as she stepped lightly from the water taxi to the walk up gangway. Few men would forget the moment as she waved and tossed a kiss in the direction of the wind. Each man knew it was for him alone.

  The Captain had gone to an added expense that he had not planned. The ship was equipped with a radio room. The cost of two radio operators he thought was too much of an added expense, he settled for a compromise. One operator would be worth the trouble as the shippers could get in touch for loads of freight. Cappi immediately called a Cuba shipping company. He asked that Montoya be notified of the change, that he would be prepared with lighters for the larger load. The wireless operator also called Mystic Connecticut. The boat yard was sending a group of young men to sail the old schooner from where she would be left at anchor.

  The anchor was raised as soon as the lighters were clear. The Captain took the wheel for the first time. The pilot called the courses and Cappi complied. Off Cape May at the opening of the bay to the ocean, the pilot returned to the pilot boat.

  The captain was now in charge of his ship. A new A.B. was at the wheel. Cappi had his courses laid out. He looked out over the huge expanse of the Atlantic. Svenska entered the pilot house for the first time. Her husband brought her under his right arm. He spoke quietly to the man at the wheel. “Watch your course quartermaster.” Svenska’s good looks and femininity was getting her the same attention as from her old men.

  Ocean City, Maryland dropped astern. There was no ship traffic in sight. Cappi called for Judd to relieve him on watch. He and Svenska made a complete tour of the ship. She had changed into one of her sailor suits. The men liked this. She was telling them that she was just another one of the crew. The old hands knew this, now the new ones would understand. She listened as each one spoke to her. She sat at the Captain’s table in the roomy dining room off from the galley.

  The Captain did not want any trouble by having two white cooks presided over by Chang who was the first cook. He made Chang steward and personal mess boy of the captain’s table and rooms. Now he was at Svenska’s elbow ready to take her order to the cook. Her first meal aboard was excellent, she looked forward to many more.

  After supper and by now the ship had passed Smith Shoal and was crossing off shore of Chesapeake Bay
Inlet. Judd sat on the wing of the bridge starboard of the pilot house with his fiddle. Svenska came out as she heard the tuning. She had changed to a multi-colored evening wrap. She dipped and swayed to the music. Cappi cautioned her to go slow and careful for a few days. She, for once obeyed, but the old sailor men had a glimpse of what would later warm their hearts. Yes, thought Cappi the “SOUTHERN CROSS” would be a happy ship. Give her a little time and then she would be dancing for them.

  Cape Lookout Lighthouse on the Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. Photo Credit by Big Jim Kelley

  The coast of North Carolina including Cape Hatteras to Cape Lookout was no hazard now that there was no dependency on wind to get past this graveyard of sailing ships.

  There had been a rising and falling of the bow as the ship moved along. Past Cape Hatteras the wind died and the ocean was smooth. Judd put his fiddle to work. The men off watch gathered on the hatch just forward of the pilot house to listen to the music. Chips poked one of the new men and said, “Now you will see some graceful dancing.”

  It was not as aboard the sailing vessel, when the men could see her full length. Here the bridge rail hid much of her lower body. Her youthful body with flimsy covering made the old men remember their youth and glory in the memories. When she did the Blaze Star number she leaned far over the rail, her white hair cascading like a waterfall. Cappi could see the respect and love from the men to her.

  Chips was so old now that he did no work. He was entered in the ship roister only as one more of the crew, as the Shipping Commission demanded, for a full supplement when under way. He no longer sat through a meal at his space in the Mess table. Chips now, seemed to prefer the shorter just mug-ups at each coffee time, he liked to “shoot the breeze” with his many friends.

  Finally one morning at the ten o’clock coffee time his absence was quickly noted. The old sailor man had died in his sleep. Chips replacement was soon busy sewing the old body in a canvas for the burial at sea. The Captain, after a short conference with Kathleen, had the old broken mirror bunk brought up from below. This would be her old friend’s resting place as he went into the sea.

  The Captain took his noon sight with his Sextant. Once that he heard the word mark, to know that the log was tripped to indicate the speed, he went to the chart table to plot where the ship was and the area of “Davy Jones Locker” that was the grave site. For ever after when going past this area, his old friend Chips would be in his memories.

  The steam ship “SOUTHERN CROSS” had a happy and satisfied crew. Not only did the little ship have the Molasses Harbor trade, the Captain through ship chandler’s orders was often delivering freight for Havana. It seemed that Cuba was at last emerging from just agriculture. More and more magnificent hotels were being built to house the many tourists. Several passenger ships were there arriving each week. The ships were anchored and their passengers were boated ashore in launches. In the rush to get ashore to the casinos even some big canoes were used. Yes, there were casinos. Before the big hotels were built, the gambling was done in low rambling shacks along the shore. Now each hotel had at least the first two floors open to roulette tables and slot machines. This too brought paid freight to the cargo carrying ships. Now rugged logs for piling and many bags of cement were needed for the new wharfs that were to be built. This would make more cargo for the freight ships. The “SOUTHERN CROSS” would share with the higher tonnage ships. She could like the ships of Columbus, the “NINA”, the “PINTA” and the “SANTA MAREIA”, sailed on and on, it was a happy crew that manned her.

  Kathleen walked to the outside stairway and up them to the Port wing of the bridge. One “smooch” from her lover Captain, then off she went to their shared “Captains room.” It was just aft of the chart room door. She lifted her dancing slippers from their hook to place them in the lowest drawer of her locker. She thought that she had arrived and was past her desire to dance. From now on she would dance only in their room and only for her man. She would be wearing only her negligee. And so the “SOUTHERN CROSS” sailed on and on.

  The sun was sinking off to starboard in a rich red glow. Evening red, morning grey, sure sign of a pleasant day. He pulled her close, she kissed him and they clung to each other tightly. She was well and happy. They were together forever as the sun dropped behind the horizon.

  The End

  About the Author

  I was born near a lighthouse far out at sea on January 20, 1913. I must have heard the ocean roar and heard it pounding on the shore. My eyes first opened up to see a giant of a wave that soared right up to the tower door and I had yet to see the floor.

  Four years later while still very small, I went with my father as he went to haul lobster traps in an old row pod. Near rock ledges where the critters they do crawl. Another four years and after the war, I was eight and it was time for school. So we moved ashore to York Harbor, Maine. In a twenty foot motor boat off we went again to Boon Island to tend the traps set there till late in the fall.

  Summer time came and with it a big three mast schooner came too. It was anchored outside of the twelve mile limit zone; Prohibition was the name of the game. The liquor was off loaded to the motor boats that were to get it to the land. I was at the tiller, far at sea and my father was out from sampling the tea. I was the youngest rum runner of them all.

  Winthrop, Massachusetts by the sea was my next home to be. Gambling with a penny marble I earned my first dollar. I slipped inside the bowling alley after school; no one objected that I was too young. I was on my own to make a living. Setting pins paid three cents each string; on a tournament night I often earned three whole dollars. I ate at the diners for my chow. The money in my pocket grew and grew. I bought long pants with a belt and a shirt with a collar.

  At fifteen and sixteen the summers just flew. My father took me with him for his crew as a sailor once on a motor cruiser and then on a yawl sailing yacht. I decided that I would follow in my father’s footsteps and be a seafaring man. I already was studying navigation and chart work.

  Became “Captain” Gardner Martin Kelley at age 17 as he sailed the “BLACK PHANTOM” in 1930.

  I was Captain Kelley at seventeen; on a New York Club thirty foot, sail sloop. There was no power other than sail; The “BLACK PHANTOM” was her name.

  The Stock Market crashed on Black Friday. The yachts were laid up by many a score. Captain’s jobs were hard to find so back to a sailor I went once more. The eighty foot twin motors cruiser, the “GYPSY” took me back, from once I came; for she cruised for the summer, “Way Down East in Maine.”

  For a while yachting positions was mostly gone. I turned to steamships to earn my pay. The “SAINT JOHN” of the Eastern Steamship Lines departed from Boston for the Maritimes; she carried mail, freight and passengers to pay her way. As an Ordinary Seaman I did not stay, an AB (able bodied) got more pay. The jump to watchman and then quartermaster was not far behind.

  Captain G. M. Kelley in 1935 as a quartermaster on the “SAINT JOHN”.

  Now I needed all that I could earn to support a pretty nineteen year old wife and home. October 27, 1931 we married and bought some property in Milbridge, Maine. Vera Alley Kelley and I had three children together and were married for sixty five wonderful and memorable years.

  Over three years I stayed with the steam lines. Boston to Canada was the summer run, then off to New York City through snow and ice that threatened to close Long Island Sound. The height of the depression was on. I read in the newspapers of the presidents WPA (Work Progress Administration). I went back to Maine, for the “Quody Project” that was to harness the ocean tides. My first job there was as an engineer on a jetting dredge. The fog and snow were awfully cold. I managed to work into a timekeeper position. I talked to “Cooper” at meetings. He was the personal friend of President Roosevelt that was in charge of the project.

  My 2nd World War, (I had been on Boon Island for World War one) I worked as a rigge
r at the Boston Navy Yard during the attack on Pearl Harbor; December 7, 1941. My first three days were spent replacing a stay on the foremast of the “OLD IRONSIDES” the U. S. S. Constitution.

  A Liberty Ship yard was built at South Portland, Maine. I managed to get my release from the Navy Yard. At South Portland’s West yard as a “pusher rigger” I helped build the ships and I was on board every launching as they slid into the bay. I steered for Captain Litchfield at any and all of the harbor trial test runs. This was the tests that had to be; before the ships were turned over to the Maritime Commission, to go off to the ocean and to war. Many Liberty Ships went into convoys headed for the Murmansk run with supplies to help save Russia from the “Hun”. My shipmates died far from home in ships that litter the ocean floor.

  The war was over at last and I retired to the land. I chopped down many trees for logs and sold pulp wood by the cord. I guided deer and bear hunters in the deep woods of Maine. We shot the game and caught the salmon and the trout. After guiding Bob O’Neil the Esso boss, he gave me an AB job on the “ESSO CAMDEN” a tanker headed south. Three months on the runs from the oil loading docks to Bayonne, New Jersey refinery. Then a month off was not for me, I left that job and was on my own once more.

  I shipped aboard a “seiner” a net fishing boat that catches schools of herring to sell for canned sardines. I liked this very much but, I wanted my own outfit. I wanted more comfort than could be found on a “Novi Slab” as Maine boat builders called the boats built of spruce. Maine boats were built of long lasting cedar and oak.

  I bought an older sixty foot yacht, with screens and soft bunks for our beds. I renamed her “EASTERN STAR” and ran charter parties up and down the Connecticut River.

  Gardner and Vera Kelley running their “EASTERN STAR” boat cruises on the Connecticut River in 1953.