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Red Headed Stepchild
(The Barrett family memoir of Navy Life)
by Sophie Ruth Meranski with photos
p 56 #1091 
RED HEADED STEPCHILD 
Part I 
Sophie Meranski Barrett early years 1901-1930 
Chapter SIX 
MUSICAL INERESTS OF JACK + SOPHIE BARRETT
Musical Interests of Jack & Sophie Barrett,first part After the death of his mother June l889 John Berchmans Barrett lived on Park and Baxter Streets in Melrose until 1894,when his father remarried and returned to South Boston.Maternal Buckley aunts and grandparents lived next door- grandparents Dan Buckley and Mary Ann O Farrell were emigrants from Moskeigh and Kilbarry Templemartin parish Cork about 1851.It was probably at this time Jack learned Alfred Tennyson's lullaby "Sweet and Low" and another "Sleep,baby sleep Thy father watches the sheep The stars look do..wn on thee-sleep, baby sleep"; grandmother had a piano,and she apparently intended Jack to inherit it, but the will inadvertently named "John Berchmans Buckley" and the piano went to a first cousinJohn Buckley -l896 although his middle name was not Berchmans.While living at 634 East SeventhStreet between L and M Streets in South Boston in the late l890's, Jack Barrett was a member of the choir at Gate of Heaven church near I and East Fourth Streets, until his friend Joe Buckley not a relative,but a neighbor at M and Eighth streets was caught with a water pistol that belonged to Jack,and they both were expelled from the choir. Jack took piano lessons at a time when some instructors favored a stiff wrist, and recollects practicing with a quarter coin balanced on each wrist.At Boston Latin School l902-l906 he learned "Adeste fideles" and "Gloria in excelsis deo"- Christmas carols.Prior to his marriage Jack dated several serious students of piano and voice including Lucile Nelson from Charleston,South Carolina, who studied in Paris with Madame Calve and toured in cast of Sigmund Romberg's "Blossom Time" a fictionalized treatment of Franz Schubert's life.In Hawaii l927Jack purchased a small ukulele.While demobilized temporarily from the Navy after World War I Jack went round the world as an officer of the commercial ship WESTERNER and in London he saw ballerina Pavlova in her best-known role as the swan in Camille Saint-Saens "Le Cygne."Jack was amused by the name of the musician Ossip Gabrilowitch,son-in-law of Mark Twain and he often played Jan Paderewski's "Minuet a l'Antique", '"Le Secret" of Gautier,"Andante Cantabile" from Tchaikowsky string quartet, Mendelssohn's "Consolation" and selections of Chaminade,Chopin Liszt,Grieg,Macdowell, Thomas,Delibes,Thome, Massanet,Schumann.He had a great enthusiasm for violinist Fritz Kreisler and must have heard him perform, possibly in WashingtonDC l9l3-l9l8 or New York l920's.He knew "The Old Refrain and "Caprice Viennois"and in the l950's we obtained Kreisler's performance of Beethoven's violin concerto in D with Sir John Barbirolli conducting, and Liebesfreud and Liebeslied recordings and Kreisler's performances of Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home" and Ethelbert Nevin's "Rosary."In later years Jack often practiced the four pieces of Ethelbert Nevin's Giorno in Venezia"-Day in Venice with its subtlies of ornamentation and rubato.When I was learning to talk l937-8 in Philadelphia,Jack used to sing (author unknown?) "She was just a sailor's sweetheart But she loved her sailor lad -Though he left her broken-hearted -He was all she ever had. But she still believes in sailors; and she's true- to the Red, White, and Blue, And although she's barred from the navy yard, She loves her sailor boy, positively."He also knew 'the Old Oaken bucket","You take the High road and I'll take the low road (Loch Lomond), and "Barnacle Bill the sailor." In his last years l967-l969 Jack and I (John junior) TOOK JOINT PIANO LESSONS WITH GIUSEPPE DELELLIS OF NEWTON, WHO HAD GIVEN ME PIANO LESSONS 1947-1951 AND WAS A GRAD OF LONGY SCHOOL AND NADIA BOULANGER.GIUSEPPE TAUGHT AT roxbury Latin and Beaver School and Dean Junior College.Rossini was a special enthusiasm of his along with Mozart,Chopin,Schubert,and Rachmininoff.. We made a number of tapes,but the technology changed, and I have been unable to find equipment to see if anything is left playable on the tapes.Onr of Jack's l906 Boston Latin classmates Edward P. Illingworth became an organist after studying with Ferrucio Busoni. He moved about l9l7 from South Boston to 64 Hastings Street, West Roxbury, and his daughter Geraldine was an pianist.SOPHIE MERANSKI BARRETT l90l-l987 Her mother Tolley Goldfeld came fromBrody,Galicia a town with strong musical traditions,but there is no evidence of direct influence.Around l90l the Meranskis were neighbors of Sophie Tucker's father on Front Street, Hartford,and a Meranski family tradition states that David Meranski's restaurant at 25 Morgan Street l9l0-l9l5 was a continuation of one started by Sophie Tucker's father Charles Abuza,with Jewish singers and performers.Mother's sister Rebekah Geetter l906-l990 recollected Boris Thomaschevsky of the New York Second Avenue Yiddish theater performing and eating at the Meranski restaurant, with members of his family on tour.These contacts may date from l907,when the Meranskis moved to Lower East side, New York for a few months near Third Avenue and Twenty-Seventh Street.A friend named Samual Schlimbaum found David Meranski work as a tailor,but it proved temporary,and he returned to Portland Street, Hartford l908-l909 custom-tailoring overcoats for Gimmel Burnham,until he opened the restaurant.From this time may date certain short parody fragments Sophie used to sing:"I care not for the Hartford Times;I dare not read the Evening Post; I do not want the Journal - One cent and the World is mine" - "Moving day, moving day- Take your oil stove from the floor Take your stove, and there's the door." probably parody of Sophie Tucker's "Moving Day in Jungle Town l909,which spoofed Theodore Roosevelt's hunting expedition in Africa - "Oil, oil, kerosene oil- my oil is better than Finnegan's oil. Finnegan's oil is water. mine's kerosene oil" - this may parody a l907 song about the anti-trust action and Standard Oil.Another fragment Sophie sang may be a non-standard of Sophie Tucker's performed at Springfield l908 'Gay Young Masqueraders' from which I remember the line, "Last of all comes the clown, almost tumbling down."In this period the Meranskis clearly came under the spell of Irving Berlin, l888-l989, as I remember my mother singing nineteen of his songs,especially the unihibited early songs- more comic and more yiddish than when he became famous -"My wife has gone to the country hurray hurray!" "Cohen owes me ninety-Seven dollars" "Call me up some afternoon, and we'll arrange for a quiet little spoon""I'll leave the moon above to those in love when I'll leave the world behind""The Girl on the Magazine Cover" (which Sophie's brother Harry played on the occharina -"Tell me pretty gypsy what the future holds for me- Kindly cross my palm with silver and I'll try to see-tell me is there someone In the days that are to be - there's a boy for every girl in the world -there must be someone for me.""Alexander's Ragtime Band" - "Oh how I hate to get up in the morning- I'll put my uniform away I'll move to Philadelphia-ay And spend the rest of my life in bed." "Remember? Remember the night- the night you said I love you? Remember? Remember you vowed by all the stars above you? remember we found a lovely spot and after I learned to care a lot You promised that you'd forget me not, but you forgot to remember." Some sunny day, with a smile upon my face I'll go back to that place far away Back to that shack, where my red-headed hen will say where have you been? And go back to the hay and lay me my breakfast." Sophie used to sing a prologue to Albert von Tilzer's 1907 "Take me out to the Ball game" -"Katy Macy was baseball mad - Had the fever, and had it bad. On a Saturday her young beau Came to see if she wanted to go to the show. Katie, she said, "No..- Take me out to the ball game....." Hartford's Brown school had a good music program,and Sophie doubtless learned Stephen Foster's "Old Black Joe", "Suwanee River", "O Susanna", and "Massa's in the Cold,cold Ground", and George Root's Civil War songs "We shall meet, but we shall miss him, "Rally round the flag" ""Battle Cry of Freedom" - "In the prison cell I sit"."When you come to the end of a perfect day" was popular at this time also. Sophie sang "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" by Albert Gumble l9l3 "There's a girl in the heart of Maryland l9l3 In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginina l9l3 "Are You from Dixie?" Cobb-Yellen l9l5 "They'll never believe me " Jerome Kern l9l5 "Auf Wiedersehn" Sigmund Romberg l9l5 Danny boy l9l5, Roses are blooming in Picardy, a World War I song.Her l9l9 class song at Hartford Public High School has a melody close to the Chopin A-Flat Polonaise with the words," NINEteen , dear old NINEteen, Fairest class of old NINEteen. Fairest class at Hartford high- Love for you will never die- NINETEEN dear old NINEteen, Fairest class of Old NINE - teen."When the Meranskis moved to 4 Wooster Street,fall l9l6, sister Esther bought a piano and Babe{Rebekah} took extensive lessons. Phonograph records became widely available about l920, with Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson the early favorites. Sophie knew Con Conrad's "Ma he's making eyes at me- Ma he's getting bolder- ma he's sitting on my shoulder" from the Eddie Cantor repertoire, and Sophie's brother Ben (he took the middle name Franklin- he played the saxophone and was interested in vaudeville and theater) collected Al Jolson records at home- "O April Showers They come your way- California Here I come" "Where did Robinson Crusoe go with Friday on Saturday night?" and the Al Jolson theme song, "You ain't Heard Nuthin' Yet." ("and when the lights are turned down low I hug and kiss my pet.Now she'd get sore if I told ya more, But you ain't heard nuthin' yet."Back around l9l4 Sophie's eldest brother Harry Meranski under the stage name Harry Moran wrote some songs with his friend Martin Kupperstein, and they performed publicly as "Cooper and Moran." Harry played an occharina, a small wind instrument.The largest number of songs I remember my mother singing (total over four hundred) were learned at Mount Holyoke l9l9-l925 and in New York l920's.Although my mother Sophie was one of the very few Jewish girls at rural Mount Holyoke in South Hadley.,she enjoyed the compulsory Sunday chapel in which President Mary Woolley and distinguished visiting speaker participated, and learned many hymns such as "Holy,holy, holy" "Abide with me" "May we like Magdalene Lay at thy feet" "Onward.Christian Soldiers", "O Mother dear, Jerusalem".In Hawaii during World War II I remember Sophie singing from memory the college song "O Mount Holyoke we pay thee devotion with the fervor of youth that is strong The courage of right is thy garland- Our lives alma mater thy song - So from east and from west now we gather United in firm love to thee - Our years are as one, Our years and our hopes and our glorious faith Shall answer, Mount Holyoke To-o-o thee Shalt answer, Mount Holyoke to thee. Through the heart of the new day's endeavor Breathes the light of the old days that live - For what thou has given we honor, but we love the for what WE can give - Though in a whisper thou callest - our years , our hopes and our glorious faith Shall answer Mount Holyoke to thee."She also frequently sang the Evening song "Robed in sunset girded round by the deepening evening light stands our well-loved alma mater While we sing our soft 'goodnight.' Night winds whisper, whisper softly round the world and back to you, bearing gently from your daughters hopes and dreams and memories true.-To be woven in our singing 'good night, Holyoke, good night." Days of doing press upon us days of strving for thy fame Still at twilight here we gather whisper to the winds your name..."The l923 class song was "The Sphinx" with words by archaeologist Marion Nosser {born Turkey; lived in Brooklyn} and music by Ruth King Dunne " Wind hushed, the desert lies dreaming Under the far eatern sky Only the Sphinx keeps its vigil Waiting for daylight to die Now 'neath the warm blue of Heaven, Rousing itself with a sigh Softly it speaks and its whisper Floats to the dome of the sky.-Hark! Don't you hear the far echo Borne on the night wind to us Now has the Sphinx told its secret NON SIBI SED OMNIBUS.' Faithful, we''ll guard it forever, Marching beneath it unfurled until the age-long secret Lies in the heart of the world. [Latin means "for all, not self"]"During ths period after World War I there was great enthusiasm for group singing,and the class of l923 did very well in interclass competition under leadership of Mildred Holt,who later taught music in Great Neck, Long Island and was associated with Robert Shaw chorale.With the help of college history librarian at Williston library Mrs. Elaine Trehub I find details of the materials they sang, including various medleys. Probably at this time Sophie learned a setting to Verdi's Triumphal chorus in Aida of the words,'Where peace and freedom reign,the happy songs of children rise- the desolate of all the ear-earth find here there sorrow dies.and future years we pray fo=or thee America America, keep thou our land for-e-ever great and glorious and free." [Musical Interests, Jack and Sophie Barrett second part] [words Sophie sang to tune of Aida's TRIUMPHAL CHORUS from "COMPETITIVE SING" class activity at Mount Holyoke. At a meeting of the Massachusetts State Poetry Society in l979 Sophie sang a little "Fund-Raiser" comic song Mildred Holt and several classmates wrote in l921: (World War I had interrupted the usual fund-raising,Mount Holyoke always needed money for loans for poor students like Sophie, and fires in college buildings increased the needs: "Holyoke's raising COLLEGE-BRED (bread) from the FLOWER (flour) of the land; From YEAST (east) and west, With plenty of SPICE She makes a superior brand- We KNEAD (need) a lot of DOUGH To RAISE the fund 'tis said, But WE are KNEADED (needed) too, you see, For WE are COLLEGE-BREAD (bred)."-Capitalized words have double meanings.The more formal academic programs were led by organist Mr. Hammond - a prominent figure for decades in campus life - and l923 classmate Ruth Douglass currently l994 & l998 in Granville New York taught voice and choral music for forty-four years at Mount Holyoke until l967 retirement. She and her sister Mrs. Anna Haldeman lived in retirement on a large beautiful dairy farm with a plantation of black walnut trees and have helped document many aspects of college life and music from the l920's. Junior year Sophie's friend Brenda Glass had a lead part in a musical "Hyacinth." Sophie tried to tutor Brenda in economics, but she had problems with Ricardo and Taussig.Sophie used to recite,"Corn is not high because rent is dear. Rent is dear because corn is high."A classmate McKown from Philadelphia published a collection of comic songs entitled "l923 College Crackers" unfortunately not listing composers-lyricists. Sophie used to sing:" I had a fat twin brother - We looked like one another- You ought to see the way he'd laugh At the lickings I would get - he thought it very funny to go and borrow money And Watch the people chasing me to make me pay his debts. The girl I was to marry Couldn't tell us two apart- She went and married brother Jim, and she nearly broke my heart - But you betcha I got even With my brother Jim - I died about a week ago - And they went and buried him."..."Pull the shades down Mary Ann- Pull the shades down Mary Ann! Last night - by the pale moon light - I saw you - I saw you! You were combing your auburn hair On the back of a Morris chair - If you want to keep your secrets from your future men - Pull the shades down, Mary A-ann!" Possibly from ballad classes Sophie would sing "Where have you been all day? Henry my son? Where have you been all day, my loving one?" -"Down to my grandmother's -down to my grandma's - I have a pain in my side - And I want to lie - right - down!" -"What did she give you there? Henry my son? What did she give you there? my loving one?" - "Nothing but poison - Nothing but poison! I have a pain in my side - And I want to lie - right - down." Sophie spoke a German dialect at home with her mother (from Austrian Poland - Galicia-and she did well in the subject in high school and college. Her German teacher was Grace Bacon, who went to France around the end of the War with the Red Cross, Possibly through Grace Bacon Sophie learned, "Du, Du..." and "Alsace is sighing Lorraine is crying Your mother France looks to you Our hearts are bleeding Are you unheeding? Come with that flame in your glance. Through the gates of Heaven do they bar your way? Souls who passed through yesterday? Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc! Do your eyes from the skies see the foe? Can't you see the droooping fleurs-de-lis? Can't you hear the cries of Normandy? Joan of Arc- may your spirit guide us through Come lead your France to Victory! Joan of Arc, they are calling you!"A mystery song about which I have few clues - part of the melody resembles Johann Strauss's Wine, Women and Song in rhythm and whole-step pitch intervals: "Who loves not song, Music Song - Will live u-un-blessed his whole life long. O come O come and let us sing With hearts so bright a song of spring - O raise your voices high (two lines repeat) The birds that flit from tree to tree Are not so full of joy as we Though we alone know why (repeat) E'evn though a storm cloud may lower E'en though it follow a shower Sunshine belongs to the day Smiles we remember for aye. What a pity it is for a man who is born With a soul that is deaf Who holds music in Scorn So unblessed by the Best What a life he must lead without song Life is long- Is long indeed. Let us sing praise of spring caroling with music blessed Spring is here all the year if we sing 'O hail to Spring.""Possibly connected are these words to similar melody: "Sang at their toil Songs of the Soil - Courage they ga-athered so Singing in paean (pain?) A Gentle Refrain Melody soft and low - O from their paradise echoes the loving song Taught in the times of their peace singing that never shall cease- Until there is chaos again." [l998 addition-Two additional clues suggests that an old German drinking song used by Johann Strauss in an l868 Waltz "Wine Woman and song" were adapted perhaps for girls' chorus to the praise of song, omitting 'wine' and 'women." About 1823 it is reported Vienna composer Franz Schubert wrote on a friend's napkin this stanza: "Who loves not wine, women, and song, Remains a fool his whole life long." [words probably quoted, not written by Schubert]. In the l860's Johann Strauss the younger became famous for instrumental waltzes, notably Blue Danube, Tales from the Vienna Woods,and Wine,Women and Song. Until 2000 we did not know whether words were attached to these melodies, but his wife was a singer, and in the l870's he turned his main attention to operettas, including "Die Fledermaus" (the Bat).In l871 he was a guest conductor in Boston, and it is possible some vocal arrangement from his melody was produced.This was one of the most substantial mysteries in unidentified tunes the Barrett family sang, until the year 2000, when material prepared by the Honorary Secretary of the Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain confirmed that "Wein, Weib, und Gesang" had four German stanzas in praise of wine, women, song, and Martin Luther, reputedly the author of the words quoted by Schubert in 1825. For women's choruses, sometime arranged an English version in praise of song, retaining references to spring, sunshine, and storms from the German original. Sophie lived in Philadelphia l926 and half of l927 while developing Statistical Reporting Techniques for Child Guidance Clinics at a Commonwealth Fund Demonstration Clinic funded by Albert Harkness.Letters mention hearing Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia orchestra and a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's PINAFORE. For a time she lived with an aunt of classmate Rebecca Smaltz,and it was likely at this time she heard Gaskill and Shisler's 1912 "I'm the guy who put the DOUGH in the DOUGHNUT and the CUSS in CUSTARD too - did you ever stop to wonder Who put the noise in Thunder? Look at ME -I'm the GUY>"Becky wrote a parody, "I'm the guy who put the GERM in the German and the ME in MEASLES too Did you ever stop to think Where they got the Rash so pink? Look at me! I'm the Guy." Sophie's youngest brother Pete went to University of Maryland Medical School after graduation from Trinity l925 and married a Baltimore girl Jen Goldberg -Sophie attended the wedding June 9, l929. This may partly explain Sophie's fondness for the chorus "There's a girl in the heart of Maryland With a Heart that belongs to me -When I told her of my love, the ORIOLE above Sang from the old Apple tree And Maryland was fairyland When she promised my bride she'd be - There's a girl in the Heart of Maryland with a Heart that Belong to ME!" Sophie also sang a parody to the same tune (source unknown - there may be more words?- ) "There's a MAN in my room! ' cried Mary Ann - 'Put him out put him out!' cried Sue. 'I'm afraid, I'm afraid' cried another little maid, 'What shall we all ever do?' .....(much younger man?).. 'Who do you sup=po-ose that he may be?' - 'No you don't put him out' cried Mary Ann - "What's in my ro-om belongs to me!'", Sophie knew at least ten songs of the comic team Sam Lewis (originally Levine) and Joe Young including two with Bert Grant melodies "If I Knock the 'L' out of Kelly" and "Arrah go wan. I want to go back to Oregon." The words are "Timothy Kelly who owned a big store Wanted the Name Painted over the Door One day Pat Clancy the Painterman Came Tried to Be Fancy and Mis-Spelled the Name. Instead of a KELLY with a Double - L, Y - He painted 'KELY', but one 'L' was shy -Pat says it looks right, but I want no pay - I figured it out in my own little way - If I knock the 'L' out of Kelly, It would still be 'KELLY" to me - Sure a single 'L", 'Y' or a DOUBLE 'LL" 'Y' Should look the same to any Irishman's eye- eye -eye Knock off the 'L' from Killarney- Still Killarney it always would be - But if I knock the 'L' out of KELLy, he'll knock the 'ell out of me.!" Also - "Pat McCarthy, hale and hearty Living in Oregon He heard a lot of talk about the great New York - So he left the farm where all was calm, and he landed on old Broadway - He took the little Mary-Ann into a swell cafe - 'Arrah go wan! I want to go back to Oregon! Arrah go wan I want to go back to stay! I could feed the horses many a bale of hay For all that is costs to feed one chick on old Broadway! Arrah go wan! Go witcha - go 'way go wan - Arrah go wan I want to go back to Oregon!"When the Barretts lived at 2415 Ala Wai Boulevard, Waikiki nearly six years l941 to l947 with blackouts, gas masks, barbed wire, and air raids, Sophie sang a great deal,and many of her favorites were from New York in the l920's - Jerome Kern's "Moonlight in Kailua" Rudolf Frilm's "Rose Marie I love you" Vincent Youmans-Irving Caesar "I Want to Be Happpy" and "Tea for Two" Hirsch "Just a Love Nest" Billy Rose "It Happened in Monterey a Long Time Ago' "Barney google with the goo-Goo-Googledy Eyes" Sigmund Romberg "One Alone","Your Land and My Land", and l930's "When I Grow too Old to Dream"- also a favorite of President Franklin Roosevelt.Sophie knew several amusing New york nightclub "Hawaii" songs l9l5 Hello Hawaii-a? How are you?I want to talk to Honolulu Lou - to ask her this - Give me a kiss - give me a kiss by wireless Please state I can't wait to hear her reply. I had to pawn every little thing I own to talk from New york by the wireless telephone hello Hawaii-a How are you? goodbye." -.. "They're wearing them higher in Hawaii-a Higher, higher, higher, higher in Hawaii-a! The beautiful beach at Waikiki Is not the only pretty sight that you will see. Hula maids are always full of pep - All the old men have to watch their step. They're wearing them higher in Hawaii-a Going up Growing up every day!" During the war Sophie liked to attend band concerts weekly at Waikiki's Kapiolani Park near the bird collections - with an Argentine rhea and crowned African crane. Jerome Kern-Otto Harbach's l933 "Smoke Gets in your Eyes" was a favorite of Sophie's and so was Edgar Leslie and Wright l927 "Some letters tied in blue A photograph or two I find a rose from you among my Souvenirs a few more tokens rest within my treasure chest and though they do their best bring me consolation I count them all apart,and as the Teardrops start I find a broken heart among my souvenirs."Sophie lived in China l930-l931 and loved the Chinese people, who were surviving times of extreme hardship, war, and poverty. Sophie lived mainly in Tientsin but traveled to Peking,Shanghai,Wei=hai-wei, and out-of the way places near Chefoo. I hope no Chinese reader will be offended when I recollect Sophie singing the second verse of the navy song "The Monkeys Have No Tales in Zamboanga" -: "They wear clothespins on their noses in North China -They wear clothespins on their noses in North China - They Wear Clothespins on their noses for Chefoo doesn't Smell Like Roses -They wear clothespins on theiir noses in North China." Sophie lived in Chefoo for a week with goats just outside theWineglass boardinghouse during Asiatic Fleet l93l gunnery exercises, and these lines bring her vividly to life in my memory. On the radio l940's Sophie liked Metropolitan Opera, Kate Smith in "I Threw a Kiss to the Ocean" and"God Bless America"; - Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition -"There'll be BlueBirds over the White Cliffs of Dover Tomorrow when the World is Free" - and postwar "Don't Fence me in" and "Buttons and Bows."The Barretts bought an upright Baldwin spinet piano on Jack's birthday,August 28, l940 at Macy's stores while living at 96l5 Shore Road,Brooklyn, and John memorized,"pussycat,pussycat,, where have you been?" from Williams's "Teaching Little Fingers to Play" - but the piano went into storage over six years when the Barretts went to Pearl Harbor July l941.In l943 John occasionally played the piano on Ohua Street at the home of Celestine and John Barbour -(Mrs. Barbour taught first grade at Thomas Jefferson School). In l946 the Barretts rented a violin, and John took lessons from Laura Canafax and William Rusinak at Punahou School. Jack and John tried to interest Sophie in the piano, but she played only a two-finger octave arrangement of "My country, tis of thee" in which she filled in intervening notes where the melody rises a fifth C to G - she would play in each hand in octaves c,d,e,f,g,, very distinctive.I have already mentioned the close family relationship since l947 with our piano teacher Giuseppe deLellis and his wife Connie and family.Jack Barrett also did a great deal of elocution and public speaking at lincoln School South Boston l897- l902 - Boston Latin School l902-l906 Revenue Cutter School l909-l9ll , and Gonzaga University, District of Columbia l9l7, and in Navy and law school. He recited "Sheridan's Ride" "Wonderful one-hoss shay" of Oliver Wendell Holmes - "the Raven" of Poe and comic poems of James T. Fields - "The Owl Critic" and "The Nantucket Skipper>" Once in a Boston Latin declamation, he was four lines from the end of a Thomas B. Read poem, "And it was War, War, War...." when his time expired and he had to sit down. Shortly after arriving in Boston from China in l932, he judged a public speaking contest at Cambridge Latin School in which the audience laughed at one of the contestants who overemphasized the name "Minnehaha" in Longfellow's "Hiawatha." To mention a few more of Sophie's favorites "Tiptoe through the tulips with me" "If you don't like your uncle Sammy", .."They built a little garden for the rose And they called it Dixieland They put a summer breeze to keep the snow far away from Dixieland They built the finest place I know when they built my hone sweet home Nothing was forgotten in the Land of cotton From the clover to the honeycomb And then they took an angel from the skies and they gave her heart to me They put a bit of heaven in her eyes Just as blue as blue can be They put some fine spring chicken in the landAnd taught my mammy how to use a frying pan, They made it twice as nice as paradise And THEY CALLED IT DIXIELAND." In conversation Sophie often used the title of a Jerome Kern song "Once in a Blue Moon." Jack remembered the cold weather in Egypt when they visited the Sphinx January 1932 - he was reminded of the song "Till the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold" - "They WERE cold!" he said.

p 56 #1092 GERSHOM BRADFORD chapter Hyrdographic Barrett friend 1913-1978 
photo on web page 10
.---Gershom Bradford 1879-l978 nautical author, Editor Notices to Mariners, U. S. Naval Hydrographic office l935-l942. p 10 #76 Born Kingston, Massachusetts May 10, l879, Gershom Bradford studied at a schoolship that was forerunner of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. In l900 he helped lay out a deepwater navigational test course off Provincetown Cape Cod, where in l927 the submarine S-4 surfaced without warning in front of the Coast Guard cutter PAULDING. The Submarine sank as a result of the collision, in which Jack Barrett and many others were sent to sea in rescue efforts. Gershom Bradford went to Naval Hydrographic office Washington D.C. 1908 and was a valued friend of Jack Barrett there l9l3-l9l6 and kept in touch with Jack and family thereafter.Gershom's wife Mary Lightfoot's family owned property at4701 Reservoir Road NW Washington D.C where the German embassy was their next door neighbor l970. She lived to age 103, and her niece Mrs. LaRoe of Toledo,Ohio gave the Barretts this photo. Gershom wrote several editions of "A Dictionary of Sea Terms" and many articles for American Neptune Magazine, published by his friend Walter Whitehill at maritime Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.More than twenty of these articles were colllected in two books published by Barre press "Yonder is the Sea" and "In with the Sea Wind."Gershom's father Gamaliel had been in whaling in California and Pacific l850's. Then he was active in fighting in Union Navy in Civil War.Gershom's uncle-by-marriage Frederick Knapp was assistant to Frederick Law Olmstead on Sanitary Commission, which cared for sick and wounded Union soldiers in Civil War - comparable to later American Red Cross. Sophie Barrett's l923 Mount Holyoke classmate Rebecca G.Smaltz of Phiadelphia got to know Gershom because her cousin Laura Wood Roper published some information from Gershom in "F.L. O." - her biography of Frederick Law Olmstead remembered primarily for his conservation work at Yosemite and Niagara Falls and landscape architecture at 500 parks and Arboreta.Both Gershom's parents were descendants of colonial Pymouth colony governor Robert Bradford, and he did a great deal of colonial history, also wrote about Admrial Horatio Nelson compelling a Cape Cod fisherman to pilot him through shallow waters l782 during the American Revolution - much about whaling, Cape Horn, seamanship, and the l872 disappearance of the crew of Mary Celeste New Bedford fishing boat near the Azores, which he attributed to a waterspout frightening the crew.Bradford's mother's family were Phipps of Bridgewater. Both his grandfathers were clergymen. Bradford in the l970's did research on his great-uncle General Edward Wild,his nother's mother's brother, who lost a leg at Antietam 1862 but commanded Negro troops with remarkable success in l864. Gershom also remembered seeing Mosby, of the l864 Confederate "Mosby's Raiders" of Virginia, who later was appointed to positions in the federal government and was still active when Bradford went to Washington l908.Gershom accepted honorary membership in Sons of Union Veterans l978. His second cousin Dr. Charles Bradford also writes history on Merimac-Monitor ironclads l862 and Lexington= Concord + Dorchester Heights in Revolution. Dr. Bradford's father was dean of Harvard Medical School near World War I and developed the Bradford orthopedic frame. Gershom wrote many articles for weekly Duxbury Clipper and the home of his great-grandfather in Kingston has become a historic site. - B-R-A-D-F-O-R-D chapter from 81- Fri, 6 Aug 1999 14:59:29 -0700 (PDT) 81-GERSHOM BRADFORD was a friend of Jack Barrett beginning 1913-1916 at Naval Hydrographic Office. He lived to 1978 and his letters cross-reference to many periods and chapters of "RED HEADED STEPCHILD." These include early Colonial Plymouth, Admiral Horatio Nelson 1782, Civil War Gamaliel Bradford, Sanitary Commission, Generals Benjamin Butler, and Edward Wild, the disappearance of MARY CELESTE 1872,Jack Barrett's 1926 project for an Antacrtic expedition, the December, 1927 sinking of submarine S-4 in collision with Coast Guard Cutter PAULDING near Provincetown, 1933 letter when Jack Barrett was assigned to survey ship HANNIBAL, 1939-1941 contacts with Felix Riesenberg and Charles Edey Fay when Jack was in charge of New York Branch Hydrographic Office, Bradford's American Neptune Magazine articles and books "A Dictionary of Nautical Terms" three editions and "Yonder is the Sea" and "In With the Sea Wind" Barre Press and Bradford's letters to Sophie and John Barrett 1970-1979.Bradford was editor of U.S. Naval Hydrographic office "Notices to Mariners" 1935-1942. His second cousin Dr. Charles Bradford Harvard 1926 also wrote extensive history including battles of Lexington and Concord and Dorchester Heights in Revolution and MERRIMAC and MONITOR Civil War ironclads. With narrative below appear 1926 and 1933 letters to Jack Barrett about Antarctica project and Hannibal Panama survey work,an April 1941 letter about problems of up-to-the minute Hydrographic radio Broadcasts from New York, Boston, and Washington DC offices during the U-boat crisis, and a group of letters to Sophie and John Barrett 1970 to 1975. Of this postwar group the earliest surviving letter is March, 1970:-"4701 Reservoir Road, Washington DC March 4, 1970 Dear Mr. Barrett, I have your letters of February 19 and 24th before me.Your father's activities are most impressive. I have no thoughts on THRESHER. I do feel that there are plenty of deep currents, especially when a "low" passes over. I was in "Sailing Directions" in "Hydro" [-graphic] from 1908 to 1917; in "Pilot Charts" from 1923 to 1935; in "Notices to Mariners" 1935-1942 - writing stuff for mariners in all. I retired for health in June, 1942, and after some recuperation, voluntarily held classes in Navigation in my home for Naval Reserve officers.I guess you know that. For Yangtze River information [find] an old copy of a China Sea Directory published by Hydrographic Office.-Of the Maldive Islands I know nothing. [Jack kept navigation notes from passing through Eight North passage spring 1920 en route Singapore to Suez on comercial ship WESTERNER with Captain Mal Richardson]. I have heard the "Nantucket Skipper" story [humorous poem by James T. Fields].[Felix] Riesenberg was in the Revenue Cutter Academy but resigned when they raised the term. + I stood out half the night to see Halley's Comet, with no result [1910].- Caimanera is outside of Guantanamo.- [I] know nothing of Cooper River naval set-up in 1921 or now.- Yes, I got a card for research at Archives - they were most helpful.This was ten years ago.Your family has been here a long time.= [I have] nothing about SS ANDREW JACKSON.= Heard Island:Here I have some information. You will find it in my "Secrets of MARY CELESTE and other Sea Fare" under "Land Ho" - my last book - Library will have it - I hope.= Admiral Dewey was a hero of mine too. Mr. Keller [Kelly?] comes to mind as in "Hydro"[-graphic] and had been in sailing ships- a splendid gentleman. In the PENOBSCOT-CHEWINK affair [S-4 rescue attempt December 1927] the 'Canal' could not have been Cape Cod--I don't suppose so,but know of no canal in New York area [refers to radio messages as PENOBSCOT sought to contact CHEWINK] = The S-4 was sunk in collision off Provincetown, Cape Cod.I assisted in laying out that trial course in which she was lost.= - Yes - we [Hydrographic Office] were under Navigation [Bureau]; our appropriations came from the Bureau.= No remembrance of Harry Badt= In 1918 Riesenberg and I were in the Merchant Marine Reserve. [I] know nothing of people in the Regular Navy in 1927-1929. In 1927 I was asked to join here [District of Columbia], but was turned down physically. Riesenberg was in area [New York] but not in service that I know of. I can not think of a meeting with your father not already mentioned to you.= He certainly got around the world in his time and into a lot of things.- Best wishes- sincerely- Gershom Bradford." Gershom Bradford letters l972-5--- 4701 Reservoir Road NW Washington DC 20007 May 1972 Dear Mrs. Barrett and John,It was thoughtful of you to note my birthday.I had a pleasant day, but they come too fast. If I were of any help in compiling your manuscript, I am pleased.I know the work you are going through to get it in shape.If anyone thinks that getting copy ready for a printer is not work, I wish they would try it.Laying out the first draft is the pleasantest part.At the moment I am immersed in reading proof of my "Dictionary of Sea Terms."-it is the third edition.I am pleased to have it published because at ninety-three it will live some time after me.It is so concentrating that I can work only one hour at a time without tiring.Then I have to use a reading glass.I only hope for no bad errors.- In the fall or winter I will have a story of Daniel Webster's son Fletcher in the "New England Galaxy", published by Old Sturbridge Village. - I want to keep on doing a little of this work as one hates to drop out of sight entirely.However, it is inevitable. Brook Farm? Yes - I think it is a worthy project for the West Roxbury Historical Society. You can hardly believe I knew a Brook Farmer. - Not exactly.- Willard Saxton was the printer's devil there as a boy.He was a Major in the Civil War, and he went to our church.I knew him well until he was over one hundred years old. He remembered a kin of mine there, George Partridge Bradford.If that is the Reverend Samuel(?) Ripley related to Emerson,- he married Sarah Bradford, daughter of Captain Gamaliel Bradford l763 to l824 or l825. They lived in the Old Manse at Concord. (This was answer to Barrett letter- which probably spoke of George Ripley of Brook Farm, whose wife was Sophia.-not the same but related.) = I recently quoted a remark - with some acid in it- by Louisa Alcott."When it came harvest time Emerson packed up his Over Soul and went home." May not be an exact quote.That oversoul to me is his greatest essay.I am glad John's friend (Bob Wenger,who worked in delicatessen at Roche Brothers grocery, Centre Street West Roxbury)has been admitted to Massachusetts Maritime Academy. I cannot realize that this splendid institution has grown out of my schoolship, from which I graduated in l900. Yes - (and) a graduate was in the PAULDING in the S-4 accident.- We too have had a late, cloudy,drizzly spring, but better now.We stagger or dodder about,simplifying chores- some days better than others, but good friends help us with errands and such. Maimie (his wife) is ninety-eight! With best wishes- Gershom Bradford P.S. Helping to lay out that Naval Trial Course at Cape Cod in the summer of l902 was one of my pleasantest jobs. June 13, l973 Dear Mrs. Barrett and John,Today is a day to write a letter.For some ten days the humidity has been intolerable. All one desired was to find the least objectionable spot and do nothing.It is beautiful today - only eighty-five degrees and low humidity.- There is not much new with us. I plod along with the biography of my great-uncle- a colorful Brigadier General in the Civil War.His disposition was to be irked by restraints and as a result occasionally got into trouble.The Army does not condone too much freedom of action in subordinates, and one-star Brigadiers have two-star Major Generals above them.So this makes uncle Edward more interesting. He was a striking figure on his horse - empty left sleeve- arm lost at Antietam and right hand crippled at Fair Oaks in l862. - You mentioned the disappointing lowly place of the Red Socks.The Washington Senators were in the cellar most of their team's seventy years - all but once - l924. - One of the most remarkable years in baseball- Washington won the pennant and the series against New York.In the series the games zigzagged until three each and tied in the ninth I think. The excitement was at the highest pitch in my memory.President Coolidge made the remark that the United States Government had ceased to function. It came to the situation as I recall - Washington a run ahead and New York (Giants) coming to bat.We were electrified by the announcement, "Walter Johnson in the bullpen warming up." He had played heavily already - was our hero. He took his place on the mound and struck three men out!! The Watergate is the most remarkable situation I have seen here in my sixty-five years (he came to Naval Hydrographic office in l908 from Kingston, Massachusetts). It is unbelievable that men of position could be so involved in such business. The President will work magic if he succeeds in clearing himself of knowledge of what was going on.I guess you heard this in the hearings of the Senate.-It would be nice if John could go to Ireland again.I suppose for many tourists the devalued dollar will make European visits more expensive.We never expected our dollar to be in trouble.We only travel thirty or forty miles from home now.With our best wishes- sincerely- Gershom Bradford October 14, l973 Dear Mrs. Barrett and John,The story of the Admiral and his two warrant officers out in Shanghai was very amusing. That Admiral intended to show that he was o.k. and called an "Admiral's inspection" to prove it.While it was funny to us, it was not to "Doc"the First Lieutenant who had to put up with the Admiral's changed disposition. -That was an interesting story of the Dahlquists' trip to Alaska. It helped me in my determination not to travel more than forty miles from our home.There is too great a chance of getting into a jam.Several of my friends have had disagreeable, even dangerous situations.- Professor Morison gave good advice,but to find a publisher is a tough job. "Yonder is the Sea" went to sixteen publishers. I was lucky I got several good breaks.Of course, if there is money to subsidize a book, that is another story. I expect my cousins are going to pay for publishing the biography I am still working on.I hope they realize what it would cost.My progress is very slow.The summer cut me down a lot, but I am coming back with this fine fall weather. Some of the biography has been difficult.The General was restive under the Army regulations and tradition, and - being of a free-lance disposition-got into trouble at times.My cousins tell me to"tell it as it was" - which helps, but still there are times when it is hard to handle.Professor Morison on his eighty-fifth said he could only write two hours a day. I find that is plenty - I tire so easily.The end is in sight, but there is Christmas coming, then Income Tax - two time-consuming periods. The old house in Duxbury, built by my great-grandfather, a sea captain, has been restored, and I hear it looks nicely inside and out.My brother ninety- a bachelor lawyer is very ill in Providence. He had a mild stroke and can talk but little.I have had to ask for a conservator to adjust his tangled affairs.He is my last relative of my generation. We both go monthly to the doctor for a look over and keep going on a limited scale.We do something and lie down; get up and do something else.I hope you too are enjoying good fall weather. Sincerely - Gershom Bradford. Letter from Gershom Bradford 3333 Wisconsin AvenueWashington D.C.200l6 April 2, l975 -So this makes the publication of the biography of General Edward A Wild that I worked on for two years much in doubt.That was my last work. It was my most difficult writing- I don't see how I did it, but then although I was over ninety I was much more capable than now - I tire easily. It was difficult because the General was an excessive advocate of the Negro (in the view of his superiors, so he ) got into lots of trouble.So when I and my cousins wanted to tell it as it was , it took many versions to arrive at what I thought was a fair appraisal. - Gershom Bradford - Regretfully my publisher the Barre Publishing failed a year ago.Mr. Johnson's fine idea took him into financial difficulties. From Gershom Bradford 3333 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington D.C.200l6 postmarked 23 July l975 Dear Mrs. Barrett and John, Life in a nursing home is dull, and if you allow it, depressing. Yet with us happily together and blessed with loyal friends, we enjoy breaks in the monotony. such as getting out to lunch and having callers drop into our little caboose. WE make these calls interesting and light if not really folly, so they will call again, - and they do. I think of you following the Red Socks ups and downs. A friend loaned me a SONY TV "as long as I wanted it" so I have watched one or two games.We do not use it much but like the news - big events like the space spectaculars and Sundays "Meet the Press" and Lawrence Welk. The food is not much like home, but doing so little we need less, and I believe we have enough, though I have lost much weight.I seem to crave fats.I have been interested in the wide publicity given to the "Bermuda triangle" so-called. It is an area of rough seas owing to the storm waves fighting the great flow up the Gulf Stream. Confused seas are the result, and occasionally a built-up tremendous wave.There are many disappearances, but no mysteries- all go down by the same natural cause.All seafaring men I know believe this.- yet by introducing mystical influences at least these authors have had best sellers. In l920 I got a blow-by-blow account of the foundering of a steamer down there from the sole survivor - the second mate.He launched a lifeboat - it immediately capsized. he clung to the keel, went unconscious- was hauled ashore on the coast of Florida, sent to hospital. In ten days he was able to travel to Boston, where he told me his story- no mystery - the story of scores of vessels where there were no survivors.- I hope, John, you got to Ireland- I know how much you enjoy it.Nothing moving with my General Wild (no E) manuscript,and I do not expect.The chance was lost when Barre publisher failed.I was their third book, and my Mariners'Dictionary Third Edition was near their last - very sad.Mrs.Bradford, past one hundred one is doing well considering the years- very well -goes out to lunch and enjoys it. With the hope that all goes well with you, we send our best wishes. Sincerely- Gershom Bradford." NOTE Among Gershom's writings was an article "The MARY CELESTE- no- not again!" He believed a waterspout was the most probable reason the five man crew abandoned their New Bedford-based fishing vessel November l872 apparently in good condition one morning near the Azores- they got into their small boats and disappeared. The region has frequent waterspouts at that season - local tornados that draw water and sometimes fish high in the air. Gershom grew up in Kingston, Massachusetts. His father Gamaliel had been a whaler l850's in Pacific, and was Union Navy Captain in Civil War.Both Gershom's parents were descendants of Plymouth colony first Governor Robert Bradford l620, and he wrote many stories about Squanto and the Plymouth settlement.. I believe both Gershom's grandfathers were clergymen, and his mother's surname was Phipps.His great-grandfather was also named Gershom, and his home in Kingston or Duxbury has been preserved at a historic site.A uncle by marriage Frederick Knapp was an assistant to Frederick Law Olmstead on the Sanitary Commission, which treated sick and wounded Union soldiers in the Civil War. Laura Wood Roper [cousin of Becky Smaltz, Mount Holyoke 1923] interviewed Gershom about the Sanitary Commission, and the material appears in a footnote in the Olmstead biography "F.L.O." Olmstead is principally remembered as America's leading landscape architect, who designed more than five hundred parks including Boston's Arnold Arboretum and New York Central Park. A native of Connecticut, Olmstead managed a California goldmine and persuaded President Lincoln to give Yosemite Valley to the state of California for a park,which later was made part of Yosemite National Park l890.Gershom Bradford worked at the Naval Hydrogrphic office l908 to l942 and was editor of their "Notices to Mariners" l935-l942, when he retired for health reasons.He was very kind to Jack Barrett l9l3-l9l6, when Jack worked primarily on revision of Bowditch Navigational tables and also answered "Inquiries from Mariners."They continued correspondence about mutual friends and nautical and scientific and weather topics for more than fifty years.Around l9l9 Gershom married Mamie Lightfoot of an old District of Columbia family, and they lived on the Lightfoot property at 4701 Reservoir Road NW until about l974 - the German embassy was next door in the l970's. Mamie lived to age one hundred three, and Gershom, born May 10, l879, lived one month short of age ninety-nine to April l978. He accepted honorary membership in Sons of Union Veterans from James Marley not long before he died. Gershom studied and taught at a Massachusetts schoolship that was forerunner of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He helped lay out in l902 a Naval trial course at Provincetown, where in December l927, the Navy submarine S-4 collided with the Coast Guard cutter PAULDING and sank.Around World War I Gershom was also an instructor at some sort of Maritime School in New York State.Gershom was well acquainted with Walter Whitehill of Boston, many years editor of American Neptune Magzine, published at Peabody Museum of Salem, Massachusetts.Gershom wrote many articles for American Neptune Magazine, and some were included in two books "Yonder is the Sea" and the sequel "In with the Sea Wind."He also published three editions of "A Dictionary of Sea Terms" Third edition Barre press l972.Gershom was a friend of Felix Riesenberg senior and junior - author of "Under Sail", "Cape Horn", "The Pacific Ocean". In later years Gershom wrote many articles for the weekly "Duxbury Clipper." Until advanced years Gershom usually spent some time in the summer in Duxbury or Kingston,and Jack Barrett visited him there about l948. in letters Gershom mentioned an article about Daniel Webster's son he wrote for Old Sturbridge Village magazine. Daniel Webster lived in Marshfield some years. Bradford's last research was on his mother's uncle, Brigadier General Edward A. Wild, who commanded black troops in the Civil War and was commended by General Butler.My recollection is that Gen. Wild hanged a Confederate for atrocities against black Union soldiers,though he may have exceeded his authority. Mrs. Bradford's niece Mrs.LaRoe of Toledo Ohio gave the Barrett family a photo of Gershom Bradford, which appears on the memoir website at http://www.ccilink.com/photobook among barrett photos. Any further information on Gershom and his writings and family will be appreciated. The Barrett family became acquainted with Gershom's second cousins Dr. Charles Bradford and his brother Robert and sister Elizabeth. Dr.Charles Bradford, son of a dean of Harvard medical School who invented the Bradford orhthopedic frame, has written many historical articles including "Battle Row - Lexington-Concord" - "Dorchester Heights", and an account of the Civil War ironclads MERRIMAC and MONITOR. ---Gershom Bradford l926 on Antarctic project== Letter from GERSHOM BRADFORD to JACK BARRETT Dec. 31, 1926- In 1926 Jack Barrett and a friend Jack Fradd on In l926 Lieutenant Jack Barrett and a friend on the Light Cruiser MARBLEHEAD were hoping to get backing for an Antarctic expedition such as Richard E. Byrd later took.Jack had worked l9l3-l9l6 at the Naval Hydrographic Office and wrote his friend Gershom Bradford, who worked there starting l908 and was editor of Notices to Mariners l935-l942. He received this reply dated New Year's l926-l927 from "4701 Reservoir Road, Washington,D.C." (Gershom called Jack "Doc"]: "Dear 'Doc', Well- well it was good to hear from you again.Your expedition sounds most interesting, and you ought to get a kick out of it. I feel complimented that you would consider taking me along, but fear my physique is not up to a strenuous proposition like that. It would be the high water mark of a man's life to cruise the Antarctic ice pack.--I have not looked over conditions there as completely as I shall, but - here are the high points I have in mind as valuable for hydrographic scientists: If possible when in on the land get all tidal data that you can. A controversy is breaking out again on the tidal thing. It has been the subject of disputes for centuries, and finally [l9l0] Dr. R.A. Harris an estimable gentleman whom I knew, combating all European theories, brought out a new proposition known as the stationary wave. He ideas were most generally accepted- the Germans among them. Now came our office with a pamphlet- by a Captain Lee USN espousing the ideas of Whewell, an Englishman, - advanced long ago and from my knowledge rather generally discarded, I thought. This thing is that all tides originate with the westward moving tidal wave of the Southern Ocean. I feel it a bit too bad to throw an American's work into dispute in favor of a foreigner's after he had practically won a valiant struggle single handed and without the aid of financial power, social prominence or high position.He got $1800 (a year) in the Coast Survey when I knew him. So you see tidal data might prove valuable in the Southern Ocean. Next I suggest a careful study of ocean currents.This is the subject they know very little about.Some say winds- some rotation, some differences in ocean heat and some barometric pressure. I line up with the latter, though it has few adherents. That sounds egotistical, but after watching thousands of current reports - coupled with a small amount of practical experience - I find the currents run any and every way - shift without apparent cause in a few hours - two currents running in opposite directions infringing on each other in the open ocean is not uncommon. Even the Gulf Stream stops occasionally - not in the Straits of Florida - at least on the surface. Such things all point to very transient changes, and the only element of course that changes quickly is barometric pressure.I am preparing an article on this subject - if it ever gets completed, I will send you a copy.Another feature of Antarctic conditions which would be interesting to study is the size of icebergs. We have the most extravagant estimates from merchant masters and others,-and you know how prone we all are to overestimate such things.To take a log distance and establish distance,then measure with sextant would be simple and sufficiently accurate.This study could be carried further.I am not very contented with my work in the office, but I should be, for they are paying me three thousand dollars (a year],and I own my own home.They have me on the simplest routine stuff, and I feel after twenty-five years of living with ships and nautical stuff I ought to be using my time better.However, I want to stay a few more years- then I dream of getting out and doing more what I want to. In the meantime I enjoy my home and friends, have a car,and really am most fortunate. I have a little nautical dictionary coming out in March.I have worked on it for a long time."Yachting" Publishing is bringing it out.I must send the last of the page proof today.Mrs. Bradford joins me in New Year's greetings to you and yours. Sincerely,as ever - Brad - P.S. "Plum" (Plummer) is in the Coast Guard, but have not heard from him for a long time." [Copied by Sophie Barrett notebook #5 pages 134-136 surviving in photocopy] NEXT LETTER 1933 RELEVANT TO H-A-N-N-I-B-A-L P-A-N-A_M-A H-Y-D-R-O-G-A-P-H-I-C . p 5- 173 to Lt [Cdr] J.B. Barrett USN,- USS EAGLE 19, Navy Yard, Boston Mass. -- [from] Gershom Bradford 4701 Reservoir Road, Washington D.C. August 29, 1933-- Dear "Doc".- Your letter was forwarded from the Office to Duxbury where I was on leave. I was sorry not to be able to get up and see you at the Yard, but my time was too much taken up.I am glad that you have the assignment to the [survey ship] HANNIBAL, and feel it is a good duty. = Here in Pilot Charts, of which McManus is civilian chief, we are greatly interested in the new dynamic method of determining ocean circulation. It is used by the Coast Guard on the [Grand?] Banks in their estimation of probable drift of [ice] bergs and by other scientific organizations. McManus got the Admiral interested and procured considerable equipment for use on the HANNIBAL last winter. I expect that there will be considerable work along this line that will be laid out for the next season. = This dynamic sounding makes a lot of work for the "exec." [Executive Officer] , and I guess it will not prove very popular with that officer. However, it is work we should keep abreast of, if we are going to amount to anything at all in a scientific way. = You are obliged to stop the ship and take soundings to a great depth, and it requires a great deal of care as there is from three thousand dollars worth of equipment, or more, on the line. I guess you know about it.= The office is not the same as it used to be. There are twenty-two officers, I believe, now, and we naturally are submerged with supervision. I have more of it after twenty years than I did then on one-third the money.However, no one is disagreeable, and I work for the money, not for fame. I am better known to the maritime community than to the officers in the office, so I get some satisfaction in that. The money is vastly better-'..." end page 173 Notebook Five Sophie Barrett- letter incomplete from Gershom Bradford. -1941-Problems of getting up-to-date information from New York and Boston branches into widely disseminated Washington D.C. Hydrographic radio broadcasts {Jack was in Charge of NewYork Branch Hydrographic Office, and Gershom was then Editor of 'Notices to Mariners'] Black Notebook 2 -p 157 Gershom Bradford Letter:"April 10, 1941 - 4701 Reservoir Road, Washington DC To. Commander John B. Barrett, Branch Hydrographic Office, New York, N.Y. Dear Doc: It was very kind of you to call attention to the discrepancies between the New York and Boston broadcasts. This matter does not come under my section, but I was glad to bring it to the attention of Watt, who is in charge of Pilot Charts. = He explains to me that the first broadcast, either New York or Boston, is used as a basis for the Washington broadcast. It is considered here that the mailgram would be too late for a radio broadcast from here. It seems that errors in transmission occasionally creep in, for recently the latitude of one of these submarine areas was given as twenty-one degrees --the requested repeat still came twenty-one degrees - which was, of course, an obvious error. = In the case of forty degrees thirty minutes instead of forty degrees fifty minutes the larger area was chosen for the reason you advanced - for being on the safe side. Watt emphasizes the fact that he takes either your broadcast or that of Boston, - whichever comes first into the office, - and the mailgram is too late. The Coast Survey has placed these areas on their charts at our particular request,and what we are looking to do is to be able, after a time,to simplify the broadcasts by using the letters. This, I think, will be done as soon as the new charts beome thoroughly disseminated in the Navy and merchant marine. = The office is very busy here, as you may well imagine, but the work is increasingly interesting. I keep going pretty well and hope to see you if you make a trip this way. Be sure I appreciate your letter. Sincerely, s/Brad --P.S. Watt has just shown me a radiogram from Branch Hydrographic Office New York ... "between Latitudes forty - fifty northward and eight North and twenty-one twenty North. " We sent for a report, and it came back o.k except 'Latitude twenty-one". In the spring of 1941 not long before the Barretts left for Hawaii Jack Barrett and Charles Edey Fay interested GERSHOM BRADFORD in MARY CELESTE PROBLEM 1941: first part from p 39 caption of Jack photo of NY Branch Hydrographic Office-- Jack was stationed at New York Branch Hydrographic Office September 1939 through June 1940 and replaced retiring Captain Baggaley in charge spring l940. He considered his promotion to Commander an "Irish promotion." as he was scheduled for retirement June l940, but all retirements were cancelled June 1940 because of World War II emergency. Charts and weather information were made available not only to Navy ships to to commercial ship captains of all nations, who in turn submitted information the Branch Office collected on winds, weather and hazards to navigation, including wartime mines and military operations, which were forwarded to the Hydrographic office in Washington, where Jack's old friend Gershom Bradford was editor of Naval Hydrographic Office "Notices to Mariners." In the spring of 1941 Jack was consulted by Charles Edey Fay of Connecticut,who had access of Atlantic Insurance Company records of the disappearance of the five man crew of the New Bedford fishing schooner Mary Celeste November, 1872. Fay wanted Jack's interpretation of certain navigational notes of the MARY CELESTE near the Azores. He suggested the crew suddenly abandoned ship and got into small boats because they feared AN EXPLOSION OF ALCOHOL VAPORS FROM CARGO. Jack called the problems to Gershom's attention, and he did considerable research on weather history in the area near the Azores. Gershom Bradford published in American Neptune magazine his theory that waterspouts are frequent near the Azores in November - local severe tornados that draw water and sometimes fish high in the air and threaten small ships.Jack kept four of Fay's letters from around the time the Barretts left for Pearl Harbor mid-l941. The Branch Hydrographic office was in the New York Customs House but had to be relocated - Jack helped obtain an accessible new location where sea captains would continue to find visits convenient, as their information was often useful to the Navy.Jack's former teacher at Revenue Cutter School Captain Dempwolf US Coast Guard considered the issue important and wrote letters supporting many commercial shipping companies in keeping the office at a convenient location. This was one of many contacts Jack Barrett maintained all his life with friends from Revenue Cutter School l909-l911, which became modern Coast Guard Academy.The motto of the Coast Guard was "Semper paratus" - Jack applied this motto in his efforts to avert the Pearl Harbor disaster December 7, l941. --May1971 Gershom Bradford Gen.Wild,S-4,Baylis PAULDING w1284 B-R-A-D-F-O-R-D p 79 On May 6, l97l Mr. Gershom Bradford, Jack's lifelong friend from Naval Hydrographic Office days l9l3-l9l6 a prolific writer of sea stories, wrote from Washington DC,"Dear Mrs. Barrett & John: You surely have done a splendid job in canvassing "Doc"'s old shipmates & in the process turned up some good stories.I liked the last about the wounded sailor aboard the sinking YORKTOWN with Dahlquist cutting him adrift & later meeting him.Also the Lieutenant (Brantingham) who ran for the last plane out of Mindanao with unofficial clothes. He was lucky to meet an officer like "Doc".It was singular that John should reach into my writing for the NEPTUNE- all ten of them apparently.But most of all that somewhat critical review of "MARY CELESTE". I was taken to task for not expanding my stories.That's just what I try NOT to do. One celebrated writer said 'to say what you have to say in the simplest manner possible.I got my first lesson from Captain Felix Riesenberg, who, who Christopher Morley thought the best sea writer of his time.Only once or twice have I asked for assistance. Not that I did not need it, heavens knows- but I feel it an imposition. But I had a story back in l9l8 & asked Riesenberg if he would read it. He said, "Come in my cabin at ten."I did. He placed it on the table in front of him saying, 'Now we'll cut out twenty-five per cent of this'.- 'Why I've said-'when you have not looked at it!' - 'Because', hhe replied 'You tend to be redundant, so we may take out more.' he struck out paragraphs- sentences, saying they added nothing to the story- words that did not strengthen.From there I tried to be concise, & no less a person that Walter Whitehill has complimented the clarity of my work.So that fellow was off base.When one writes for so much a word, that is different. I want to write a good story English-wise if I can.The American Neptune magazine pays no compensation. I am not writing much now at (age) ninety-two- have lost the zest to work at it- largely because all the editors who used to take my stuff are gone.Only I do something occasionally for the local paper in Duxbury (Duxbury Clipper).That was a nice family snapshot you sent- splendid of your Jack- thank you.Unhappily we have lost our household helper who has been such a help to us. It is not easy to get one who is what you want, even at good pay & easy job. Perhaps we shall have good luck again.Our niece (Mrs. LaRoe of Toledo, Ohio) will be with us for a little while. My wife is ninety-seven-Gershom Bradford." In l977 Mr. Bradford worked on recollections of his great-uncle Gen. Wild, who commanded Black troops in the Civil war. He lived to April l978 one month short of age ninety-nine & his wife lived to age one hundred three & his brother in Rhode Island over age ninety.Shortly before his death he talked with James Marley of Sons of Union Veterans and accepted honorary membership in the organization in recognition of his writing about many Civil War topics, - nautical battles, experiences of his father Gamaliel Bradford in the UnionNavy, his uncle Frederick Knapp on the Sanitary Commission working with Frederick Law Olmstead (now remembered as landscape architect) on care of Civil War sick & wounded) & on General Wilde.He wrote extensively about the Plymoth colony & Duxbury & Kingston. At one time around or during World War I he ran a maritime schoolship in New York state.His second cousin Robert Bradford was governor of Massachusetts l947-8, & the governor's brother Dr. Charles Bradford was an orthopedic physician many years at Faulkner Hospital Jamaica Plain in Boston. Dr. Bradford played football Harvard l926 served in World War @ & after retirement also wrote history & poetry - he wrote pamphlets on Lexington & Concord "Battle Road" -battle of Dorchester Heights South Boston March l776 & the MERRIMAC & MONITOR l862 ironclads.Dr. Charles Bradford opposed the transfer of the Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to Washington DC, & he served on a commission on statutes in Boston.The father of Governor Robert & Dr. Charles Bradford was dean of Harvard Medcial School areound l9l5 & made orthopedic inventions including the "Bradford frame".-Material concerning Bradford's great uncle from Butler's Book"-"place, which was held only by two regiments of Negros under General Wild.Accordingly before he began, he sent a summons to surrender, informing the commanding officer that if he surrendered, the officers and Negro troops should be treated as prisoners of war, but if they did not and he captured the place, he would not be answerable for their treatment. That treatment was stated in Davis's proclamation to be that the Negros should be returned to their masters, and the officers sent to the governors of their states, to be there tried for inciting Negro insurrection.. The noble answer of General Wild to these propositions was, "We will try that. "Thereupon Fitzhugh Lee did his best. The Negroes held firmly, and Lee retired beaten, in disgrace,leaving his dead on the field. It will be observed from the instructions which I gave General Hinks who commanded the troops holding Fort Powhatan, that I was exceedingly anxious for the safety of that point, because that was the weak point of my whole position for although it was some twelve miles below City Point on the James (River)- yet if it were once in possession of the enemy, it would be impossible to get any troops up the river, as the channel ran close under it.My experience with Vicksburg, which is on a bluff high above the possible range of the guns of the fleet- which were not mortars- told me that if Fort Powhatan were once captured by the rebels, it could be easily held against the naval vessels. I was anxious lest it should be taken by surprise and therefore almost from day to day I persisted in... (see page 299A) cautioning Major General Hinks,who was in command. He was a very excellent and able officer with but a single drawback -and that was very infirm health arising from the wounds received in the Army of McClellan before Richmond. It may be asked why if it was of so much importance, I entrusted its defence to a garrison of Negro troops. I knew that they would fight more desperately than any white troops, in order to prevent capture, because they knew - for at that time no measures had been taken to protect them- that if captured they would be returned into slavery under Davis's proclamation, and the officer commanding them might be murdered, so there was no danger of a surrender. Wild's answer to Fitzhugh Lee, and the gallant fight of his Negroes at Fort Pocahontas, Wilson's Wharf, when threatened that this should be done to the Negroes if they did not surrender- made me cartain that nothing but a surprise would get that position - and nobody ever did get it." (From Butler's book") 13'' Sophie Barrett notes on l3 Dec. l927 S-4 sinking & rescue effort #13 NY l927-l929- S-4 (p. 371) Commodore Baylis who was at the Revenue Cutter School with Jack invited John l970 to his home in NewJersey to see his Coast Guard records and paraphenalia.They had a good opportunity to discuss the S-4 disaster that occurred off Provincetown on December l7, l927. At the time Jack was on shore duty in New York City, and lived at the Knights of Columbus hotel where he had no real sea-going clothes, such as rubber boots and a good raincoat and warm gloves.He received a telephone call late at night to go aboard the tug PENOBSCOT in New York Harbor and proceed aboard to the rescue effort for the sunken submarine S-4. The PENOBSCOT worked with the CHEWINK to try to recover pontoons lost by another ship (the IUKA?) which we thought needed to refloat the S-4 from very deep water.But the PENOBSCOT was short of food and fuel and had not enough space for the crew, so rescue efforts were hampered. Also the coastal waters were very rough,and the weather very cold. The rescue attempt was unsuccessful, with the greatest loss of life in peacetime in the Navy's history. Every available craft was sent to assist, and messages came for days from the men trapped in the S-4 until their oxygen ran out. Even in l963 when the submarine THRESHER sank near Boston,no technology existed to raise survivors from great depths.Since the PENOBSCOT was only a harbor tug, we are told no ship log would be available from it.Jack discussed the tragedy and lack of planning and equipment with Boston Post newspaper reporters at the home of his friend Joe Hurley when we returned to Boston from China in l932.On his New Jersey visit John discussed the event with Commodore Baylis, and learned to his surprise and some embarassment that Commodore Baylis had been in command of the Coast Guard ship PAULDING,which collided with the S-4 when the submarine unexpectedly surfaced= close in front of his ship.After exhaustive inquiry Commodore Baylis and the PAULDING were completely exonerated as the S-4 had no flag showing and no submarine tender. Forty men were lost on the S-4. Understandably Baylis was the subject of some questioning and grumblings, as the following letter from Gershom Bradford of Kingston and the Naval Hydrographic Office recounts: "March 31, l970, Dear Mrs. Barrett...There are a lot of questions that I cannot answer, but I can give some details of the loss of the S-4. was attached to the Coast Survey steamer BACHE and ordered to Provincetown to assist a Captain Marinden, who was to lay out the Naval Trial Course. It lay between Woodend and Race Point Lighthouse; over a vein of deep water.It was one of the nicest details I ever had.It was summer of l902 and Provincetown was really interesting then.After we had the course all set up, I was sent in a little schooner to take current observations on the course. My next connection with the course involved the S-4. I was at a Massachusetts Schoolship Alumni meeting, and Commander Henry Hartley USN was the speaker.He had worked up from an apprentice boy. He got the Navy Cross or the Distinguished Service Medal for his work in raising the S - 4. He also was involved deeply in the raising of the SQUALUS (spelling?). He was my chief in the Hydrographic Office in l939. He made the mistake of saying (from my memory). "That Coast Guard Destroyer (PAULDING) came at full speed with the Captain down below and a young fellow on the bridge not dry behind the ears." We held our breaths, for "that fellow not dry behind the ears" was present - (then) Commander Morrill. Our Chairman came to the rescue by saying that Commander Morrill was present.Then Morrill, fine officer that he was, quietly said (again from my memory) "Commander Hartley, I shall have to correct you. Captain Baylis was down on the main deck and not below." - Hartley simply said without turning a hair, "I'm glad to hear that." ....Gershom Bradford." On l6 April l970 John received a letter from Commodore Baylis; "Thanks for your interesting and informative letter of 9-l0 April enclosing a letter of Captain Leo C. Mueller. Don't forget I'm expecting you to peruse my files at your convenience. Kindest regards - Jack Baylis." When we were researching the disaster of the S-4 sinking in December l927 (577) we wrote to many Naval officers for their recollections.Commander Miles Finley wrote that he had no first hand information but suggested I write to an experienced submarine man, Vice Admiral McCann, whose daughter was the wife of Finley's Navy Captain son. I wrote to Admiral McCann who like so many other senior Naval officers sent a careful reply.At the time of the S-4 disaster he was in submarines on the West Coast. But later he developed the Submarine Rescue chamber and used it to save the lives of thirty-three men on the SQUALUS (check spelling) sunk near Portsmouth New Hampshire -I relate this to stress the whole-hearted and careful response we received to our many inquiries. Even Admiral Rickover replied when John wrote him about his father's meeting with him at Cavite in l939, though he added no details- when Captain Holmes wanted the tanker TRINITY fumigated p 580 When Jack was trying to help rescue the S-4 om December l927 he sent a message on December 20, l927 to the Commander of the Central Force: "will start back at once to try to assist CHEWINK (minesweeper- but need food, probably fuel soon.PENOBSCOT ( New York harbor tug Jack was aboard- has been used forharbor duty only, has no proper communication books or call, only one very small anchor, food for only one more day, poor charts, poor compass, other defects, only one unreliable feed pump and emergency crew without proper bedding or quarters.Will do all we can.What is call for CHEWINK? Will try to reach (Cape Cod)canal about 9:30 tonight. Please ask pilot to meet us there. Our radio very weak. Sent to Mohave nto and forwarded to Commander control force but no acknowledgement has been received."The attempt to rescue the S-4 is written up in more detail in the chapter on the Revenue Cutter School, as the Coast guard cutter PAULDING collided with the S-4. Jack on the PENOBSCOT was trying to help the CHEWINK recover pontoons lost from the IUKA as they were needed to refloat the S-4. Picture Caption from web p 10- Born Kingston, Massachusetts May 10, l879, Gershom Bradford studied at a schoolshhip that was forerunner of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. in l900 he helped lay out a deepwater navigational test course off Provincetown Cape Cod, where in l927 the submarine S-4 surfaced without warning in front of the Coast Guard cutter PAULDING. The Submarine sank as a result of the collision, in which Jack Barrett and many others were sent to sea in rescue efforts. Gershom Bradford went to Naval Hydrographic office Washington D.C. 1908 and was a valued friend of Jack Barrett there l9l3-l9l6 and kept in touch with Jack and family thereafter. Gershom's wife Mary Lightfoot's family owned property at 4701 Reservoir Road NW Washington DC where the German embassy was their next door neighbor l970. She lived to age 103, and her niece Mrs. LaRoe of Toledo,Ohio gave the Barretts this photo. Gershom wrote several editions of "A Dictionary of Sea Terms" and many articles for American Neptune Magazine, published by his friend Walter Whitehill at maritime Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.More than twenty of these articles were colllected in two books published by Barre press "Yonder is the Sea" and "In with the Sea Wind."Gershom's father Gamaliel had been in whaling in California and Pacific l850's. Then he was active innfighting in Union Navy in Civil War.Gershom's uncle-by-marriage Frederick Knapp was assistant to Frederick Law Olmstead on Sanitary Commission, which cared for sick and wounded Union soldiers in Civil War - comparable to later American Red Cross. Sophie Barrett's l923 Mount Holyoke classmate Rebecca G.Smaltz of Phiadelphia got to know Gershom because her cousin Laura Wood Roper publioshed some information from Gershom in "F.L. O." - her biography of Frederick Law Olmstead remembered primarily for his conservation work at Yosemite and Niagara Falls and landscape architecture at 500 parks and Arboreta.Both Gershom's parents were descendants of colonial Pymouth colony governor Robert Bradford, and he did a great deal of colonial history, also wrote about Admrial Horatio Nelson compelling a Cape Cod fisherman to pilot him through shallow waters l782 during the American Revolution - much about whaling, Cape Horn, seamanship, and the l782 disappearance of the crew of MARY CELESTE New Bedford fishing boat near the Azores, which he attributed to a waterspout frightening the crew.Bradford in the l970's did research on his uncle General Edward Wild, who lost a leg at Antietam 1862 but commanded Negro troops with remarkable success in l864. He also remembered seeing Mosby, of the l864 Confederate "Mosby's Raiders" of Virginia, who later was appointed to positions in the federal government and was still active when Bradford went to Washington l908.Bradford accepted honorary membership in Sons of Union Veterans l978. His second cousin Dr. Charles Bradford also writes history on Merimac-Monitor ironclads l862 -Lexington= Concord in Revolution. Dr. Bradford's father was dean of Harvard Medical School near World War I and developed the Bradford orthopedic frame. Gershom wrote many articles for weekly Duxbury Clipper and the home of his great-grandfather in Kingston has become a historic site.Dorothy Wentworth later continued Gershom's writing in Duxbury Clipper and worked on some of his materials.

#1093 p 56 World War I and 1912-1920 Jack Barrett Hydrographic + Navy Reserve
#1093 p 56 83-1318 -l9l2-l920 Hydrographic Office & World War I #08 In 1911 Jack made the cholera-shortened ITASCA cruise to Marseilles, France, Gibraltar, and the Azores. Admiral Earl G. Rose reviewing Revenue Cutter School history notes considerable discomfort for cadets when new facilities were occupied at Fort Trumbull, Connecticut in the move from Arundel Cove, South Baltimore in 1910. Jack resigned from the school in November, 1911 but continued many close friendships among the ITASCA shipmates. From November 1911 to August 1912 he lived with his family in South Boston for the last time residing in Massachusetts until 1932. He had several temporary jobs, including one at George Emerson coffee company. Jack saw a great deal of his second cousins the Hartigans at D and Third Streets, South Boston. His mother's mother Mary Ann O Farrell had a sister Margaret who married Jeremiah Donovan near Bandon, county Cork, and their daughter born 1852 in Cork came to Boston when about five years old. She married a native of Baltimore, Maryland, Edward Hartigan who worked as a newspaper stereotyper in Baltimore, Philadelphia and then Boston, but he died of tuberculosis in 1899, leaving four sons and two daughters. Jack's Buckley grandparents had boarded with the Hartigans and Donovans at D and West Third Streets South Boston for about a year 1877 before buying a house of their own at 469 West Eighth Street, where the Buckleys lived until they moved to Melrose in 1884. Jack did not know the oldest Hartigan boy, "Miah" [Jeremiah] who died of tuberculosis after playing football at Boston College, but for several years Jack was very close with the second son James Hartigan born 1880 and severely crippled for some years before passing away in 1912. James worked as journalist in Bath Maine around 1907 and for a period in upstate New York, probably Binghamton. Their mother and sisters Gertrude and May kept in frequent touch with Jack's aunts in Melrose,Minnie and Maggie Buckley. James Hartigan died in 1912,and his younger brother Edward after four years at Boston College 1907-1911 and one at West Point Military Academy as a freshman classmate of Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley 1911-12, decided to enter the priesthood and attended St. John's Seminary, Brighton. Their youngest brother John served in the military in World War I and became a lawyer Their mother adopted a daughter Dorothy and moved to 80 Brown Avenue Roslindale near Sacred Heart Church in 1917. Father Hartigan was parish priest many years in Everett and North Weymouth and then pastor 1953-1970 of Immaculate Conception Churcn Everett. In the 1920s he started a well-known childrens' camp "Cedar Crest" at Green Harbor,Marshfield, and the Barretts were frequent visitors there through the 1970s when his sisters Gertrude, May, and Dorothy moved there from Roslindale. May Hartigan 1886-1979 was an early South Boston High School graduate, attended teachers college and taught seventh and eighth grade mathematics at Washington Irving School in Roslindale. In March 1912 Jack's aunt Minnie Buckley died of tubercular meningitis after several days of severe illness when she could not speak.Jack remembered sitting at her side for two days talking to her without being able to tell whether she was conscious and understood him, though her eyes appeared open.She and her younger sister Maggie had looked after Jack by day 1889-1894 while his father commuted to his plumbing shop. One time around 1894 Jack traveled with her by train to visit Buckley cousins in Milford, Massachusetts, who were bootmakers,and she frequently wrote letters to her father's brother Michael 1834-1918, who was on the family farm in Moskeigh.Aunts Minnie and Maggie Buckley worked some years at Converse Rubber Company in Malden. Jack kept Minnie's leather address book, which seems to have been used 1903-4. Among the entries; 'Mr. Michael Buckley, Moskeigh, Bandon, county Cork Ireland-- Miss Katie L. Buckley 38 Parkhurst St., Milford, Massachusetts-- and Mollie Manning E. Fourth Street, South Boston (later Mrs. Charles Curtaz of Linnet St., West Roxbury, who lived to age ninety and remembered her neighbor Helen Cochrane attended Girls Public Latin and dated Jack Barrett 1905). Some time after Maggie's death in 1921, her brother John sent Jack Barrett offering him a selection of any or all or Minnie's books he wished to keep. The handwritten letter had some humorous comments.John married Jennie Cain born Warrenton, near Liverpool, England. He worked as a pattern maker at Charlestown Navy Yard,and they had nine children.Jack saw his uncle John Buckley in 1921 when Jack came into Charlestown Navy Yard as an officer of the destroyer TOUCEY on its fall trip north from South Carolina.Jack also was in contact 1910-1912 with his Mehegan cousins near the Roslindale- Hyde Park line. Robert Mehegan junior had worked 1910-1911 in Federal Land Office Evanston Wyoming and in September-October 1911 visited Jack's aunts and other relatives in California. LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE in Maine 1912 From September to December l9l2 Jack worked for the Lighthouse Service aboard the Lighthouse Tender ZIZANIA under Captain Herma Ingalls. They encountered cold weather and very rough seas. The tenders were named for various types of grasses, as the skipper's widow Mrs. Herman Ingalls of Bucks Harbor, Maine explained to us.Zizania is an American grass known as "wild rice" used as food by native Americans and imporant for birds and wildlife.Mrs. Haskell C. Todd of Belfast, Maine, whose husband served on the Tanker TRINITY l938-l939 sent us a postcard picture of the ZIZANIA. My Mount Holyoke l923 class president Marion Lewis Smart used to spend summers in Bucks Harbor and later lived there after her husband Vin retired from law practice in New Jersey and New York.Captain Haskell Todd's wife is the daughter of a lighthouse keeper. She well remembers the many occasions when she was a young girl, and the ZIZANIA brought out coal, oil, groceries, and frequently other supplies. Jack later commented the weather and conditions were demanding and required seamanship and small boat proficiency and physical hardiness. See ZIZANIA photos web pages 47-#1006 and 49-#1025 and Marion Lewis Smart letter below at end of this chapter. NAVAL HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE WASHINGTON At this time Jack took many civil service examinations resulting in taking a job with the Naval Hydrographic Office in Washington in January l9l3.He found a home with a family of Christian Scientists on A Street southeast, who gave him a fine big private room where he was allowed to keep his window open constantly regardless of the weather.He also got three excellent meals a day there & was pleased that it was within easy distance of his office at the State, War & Navy Building (where he used to see President Wilson's Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan),but he was embarassed by the teen-age daughters who used to run their fingers through his wavy red hair. He was active & on one occasion Easter Sunday March 23, 1913 walked forty-four miles between Baltimore, Maryland, & Washington without stopping to eat or sleep. He lived in the house for several years but finally had to move out reluctantly when lightning struck the house - the storm damaged the roof so badly a great deal of water came in. This was the period when the Barretts heard from immigrant Aunt Johanna Hession aged eighty-five years, who in April 1914 sent twenty-five dollar presents to his sisters Mollie & Kate (April l9l4) & Jack's father's sister Kate Barrett who lived with her aunts at 2043 Polk Street San Francisco wrote Jack a long letter about the San Francisco World's Fair l9l5-her interest in women's suffrage & in President Woodrow Wilson's Irish-American press Secretary Joseph Tumulty - one of the first Irish to hold prominent national office- & her concern with the violent activities of the International Workers of the World ("I hope they go to Kamchatka or Patagonia - I don't care which," she wrote. Postcards from Jack to South Boston were numerous - he followed his brother Bill's progress at Boston Latin School, where they had most of the same teachers.Jack came home to Boston most holidays.His work was largely mathematical revising the tables in Bowditch's American Practical Navigator. Occasionally they answered "Inquiries from Mariners" by letters that were sometimes published. This was the period he got to know Gershom Bradford, C.C. Ennis & other Hydrographic staffers he kept in touch with for many years. The Hydrographic Office was begun in 1840s by Matthew Fontaine Maury, who took the confederate side in the Civil War. George Littlehales was one of the better known hydrographers. Jack took a public speaking course at Gonzaga College & spent much time at the District of Columbia Carroll council Knights of Columbus.He saw chess champions Albert Lasker & Jose Capablanca at the Capitol City Chess & Checker Club. He memorized a poem, "If you would ruin a man, Dagger & bomb are archaic- Teach him - Inoculate him with chess. It is fortunate perhaps that chess is seldom well taught -Or we should have (the world) going to rack & ruin while statesmen pondered (their chessboards) & taxicabs made knights' moves from Charing Cross to Picadilly- & Every now & then a suicide would turn up with this tragic message pinned to its breast -'Alas- I checked with my queen too soon.'" Jack recounted one incident of a man who had & evening date & came in "for a quick game" & was glued to the chessboard five hours later, having forgotten all about the date. BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE In December 1916 Jack transferred from Naval Hydrographic Office to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in Department of Commerce, where he worked until activated April 1917 as Naval Reserve officer at American entry into World War I.The Bureau was concerned with promoting United States exports and trade interests and developing new markets.Jack's linguistic experience at Boston Latin School was helpful, and he remembered translating a number of languages, particularly Rumanian, which retained a strong resemblance to classical Latin.Among his friends there he kept in touch with Chauncy Snow, a nephew of New York state's Senator Chauncy Depew, a well known wit and public speaker. In the 1960s Jack Barrett still exchanged Christmas cards with Chauncy Snow's son, an Episcopal minister. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NAVAL MILITIA In l9l5 Jack always interested in the sea, joined the District of Columbia Naval Militia.Among the l9l6 members we found the name of Miles Finley, now a retired Navy Commander. On October 23, l970 Commander Finley wrote: "Dear Mrs. Barrett,Your interesting letter of September 27th was forwarded to me by Bureau of Personnel, arriving just as we were leaving for San Francisco (his home is in San Diego, California).My connection with the D.C. Naval Militia was fairly brief.As I recall the chain of events was something like this: I had served in the War Department as a Quartermaster clerk at Fort Flagler,Washington, & at Fort Riley,Kansas August l908 to January l9ll.I was again in Federal Service, Office of Postmaster General,starting August l9l2.I marched up Pennsylvania Avenue,heading a squad of telephone girls & charwomen in the Preparedness parade, passing in review before President Wilson. As the War Clouds began to roll up, I discussed personal war plans with my good friend, Lieutenant C.G.A.Johnson, P.A. Pay (clerk) D.C. Naval Militia DCNM headed by Captain MacGruder. I had thought of applying for a commission in the Quartermaster Corps, U.S.Army, but Carl asked me to go with him one Sunday morn to the DCNM Armory- Water and O Streets for an interview with Lieutenant Commander R.B. Bruninant (spelling?)DCNM, the commanding officer - he was chief clerk Bureau of Ordinance Navy Department. I think it was the next Monday that Carl telephoned me to go buy a uniform, that I had been commissioned Ensign, DCNM (Assistant Paymaster).- & this was followed promptly by orders to a session of Naval pay Officers' School Sept.l5-October l4, l9l6.I qualified for the National Naval Volunteers by attending this school & proving my ability.(Jack Barrett also became a member of the National Naval Volunteers by examination - Sophie Barrett note).I attended drill regularly & made one cruise in the USS SYLVIA Thanksgiving weekend l9l6 when we took Adjutant general J.C. Costner commanding D.C. Militia to the Colonial Beach area. He went duck hunting.Bunks in officer country were all filled, & I spread a mattress in a passageway.(Jack Barrett made this cruise on the SYLVIA). Sorry these XEROX prints are so poor,but you will note 'Recruiting Campaign begun" in the 'Ready for Service' story.I was that recruiting officer, under orders of March 28, l9l7 for the purpose of making necessary preliminary arrangements for mobilization' an endorsement of April 6, l9l7 reads." You will discontinue duty under these orders received to mobilize Naval Militia."April 6, l9l7 other orders directed me to report at the Naval Militia Armory forthwith- turn over federal equipment & proceed to Naval Yard Norfolk. I then received orders to proceed to such port as the USS YANTRON may be (at) & report to the Commanding officer for duty as ordered.I remember your husband, but we met only at drills. I did not march in the March 4, l9l7 Inaugural Parade, I had not yet acquired `an overcoat. Carl G.A. Johnson did march. (Jack Barrett marched & kept postcards of the Inaugural March on March 4, l9l7.) I had a cozy seat to watch the event at a window in the old Post Office Building, Pennsylvania Avenue.I know the boys towed a field piece up the Avenue, & many sets of colors were riddled by the strong cold rain.-Miles Finley." From XEROX material D.C. Naval Militia Ready for Service. Men could turn out fully equipped a few hours after call received.In a very few hours after a call for mobilization is received at the Naval Militia Armory at the foot of Water & O Streets Southwest, that organization could turn out, fully equipped one (hundred) sixty fighting men= men who knew at least the rudiments of work aboard a man-of-war.A plan of the Navy Department to call out the Naval Militia to relieve officers and men of the regular Navy for service aboard the first-line ships of the Navy is awaiting the signature of the President.The one hundred sixty men now on the rolls are thoroughly interested- as all men who have not attended drills regularly have been dropped. These men participate in the Thursday night drills & participate in the practice cruises aboard the USS SYLVIA, the training ship loaned to the organization by the Navy.Four officers have taken the examination required by the Navy for the National Naval Volunteers. They are Lieutenant C.G.A. Johnson, assistant paymaster, Lieutenant,P.D. Johnston commanding the First Division, Ensign J. B. Barrett commanding the Second Division, & M.R. Finley assistant Paymaster. The other officers are expected to take their examinations in a short time, & the examinations of the men are now being held.A recruiting campaign has just been inaugurated in order to recruit the organization to its full strength of 445 men. Prizes have been offered by the staff officers of the battalion for the men who bring in the most recruits.Every officer & man now in the organization is fully equipped for service afloat & the Supply Department of the local organization has on hand enough outfits to completely equip two hundred men immediately.The local organization is fully equipped to handle any large number of recruits that might come in as a result of a mobilization order." (End Finley's XEROX). Jack Barrett's service chronology: December l9l5 Served as A.S. 2M 3c & O.M. 2c in the Naval Militia of Washington DC till August l9l6. -July 15-26, 1916 Jack served as Quartermaster First Class on battleship ILLINOIS XBB7 368 feet length - 72.5 feet breadth, 23 feet6 inches draft,11,552 tons, steel constructed 1901 Newport News, Virginia Vertical 3 EXP engines eight mosher boilers, General Electric Company. COMMISSIONED ENSIGN, NAVAL MILITIA August l9l6 commissioned Ensign in Naval Militia of Washington DC. February l9,l9l7 passed examination as Ensign in Naval Militia of Washington DC. February 24, l9l7 Ensign National Naval Volunteers- accepted & executed oath of office.March 28, l9l7 Commissioned Ensign in the National Naval Volunteers dating from February 24, l9l7.==ACTIVE SERVICE WORLD WAR I April 7,l9l7 Called into the service of the United States & to Navy Yard,Washington DC for duty aboard the USS SYLVIA(a converted yacht). --l9l7 November 8- Detached SYLVIA to duty USS MONTGOMERY as Navigator. Name changed to ANNISTON March 14, 1918 while Jack was aboard. The ship was camouflaged & did convoy duty in Carribean.Authorized 1888, this cruiser (no. 9) was built at Columbia Iron Works, Baltimore, Maryland - stricken from Navy rolls August 25, 1919, sold November 13, 1919) l9l8-January l- Jack became Lieutenant junior grade (jg) National Naval Volunteers for temporary service duty dating from January l, l9l8- May l7, l9l8 accept & executed oath of office. Granted two days leave from June l0 to June llth l9l8. June l3 detached USS ANNISTON to duty Naval Training Station Norfolk Virginia. - l9l8 July 1 Lieutenant in Naval Reserve Force, class two - transferred to Naval Reserve Force by act of Congress approved July 1, l9l8 - July l0 admitted to Naval Hospital Hampton roads Va for treatment (sinus/?) Discharge July 23. Nov, 23, l9l8 given the provisional assignment with rank & grade of Lieutenant LDO in the Naval Reserve Class two to rank from July 1,l9l8. Assignment expires Feb. 23, l920- Dec. 2, l9l8 accepted & executed oath of office. From the Commandant of the First Naval District "There is forwarded herewith a Victory Medal conferred upon you in accordance with the provisions of an Act of Congress approved May l3, l908 directing the preparation & distribution of badges to the officers & men of the Navy & Marine Corps of the United States who participated in engagements & campaigns deemed worthy of such commemoration.The badge is issued to you by the Bureau of Navigation in recognition of your services in the World War." #04 World War I era-April l0, l9l7 to October 22, l9l7 executive officer, navigator & watch officer on USS SYLVIA Fifth Naval District.Oct. 22 to Oct. 25 temporary duty Kazeruna (spelling?) October 25 to November l5, back to SYLVIA. November l5, l9l7 to June 16, l9l8 navigator USS MONTGOMERY later named ANNISTON along Atlantic seaboard between Newport Rhode Island, Charleston, South Carolina, & Bermuda. The ANNISTON was camouflaged & did convoy duty in the Carribean (not clear if Lieutenant Barrett was aboard at that time). INSTRUCTOR OFFICER MATERIAL SCHOOL, HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA: From June l7, l9l8 to March 2l, l9l9 Jack Barrett was an instructor in Seamanship & Regulations at the Officer Material School, Norfolk (Hampton Roads,?) Virginia under Captain Quimby. On one occasion Jack Barrett received a commendation for volunteering special skills:"One of the naval overseas vessels that were sailing had to return to port Saturday night because of the condition of the compasses.It was rather difficult under the circumstances to get an expert to compensate the compasses without considerable delay to the ship.Lieutenant (jg) Barrett was communicated with & the circumstances explained to him.He very gladly offered to go out to the ship & compensate the compasses. I want to express my appreciation for the work that he did, as it was a saving to the government & it prevented a delay of at least one day's sailing of the vessel. Signed W.S Whitted, Commander United States Navy, Retired." Captain Quimby sent a letter to the Bureau of Navigation:"It gives me pleasure to forward the enclosed letter of commendation in regard to the compass work of Lieutenant J.B.Barrett & suggest that such matters should be placed in the record of Lietenant Barrett, & letter of commendation should be returned to Lieutenant JB Barrett from the Navy Department."On February l7, l9l9 Jack received orders to proceed to Washington DC for a three day course of instruction at the Naval Observatory.On November l4, l9l8 Lieutenant HL Crawford USN Retired, wrote to the Steamboat Inspectors at Tampa Florida:"This is to certify that JB Barrett served as Quartermaster first class in the USS ILLINOIS from July l5, l9l6 to July 26, l9l6, also as Executive & Navigating Officer on the USS SYLVIA from April 10, l9l7 to November 15, l9l7, performing all duties assigned to him in an efficient manner. he was found to be a sober, capable, & industrious office, & I take great pleasure in recommending him as such. We have the graduation programs of the classes of the Officer Material School in which Jack was an instructor l9l8, & they list the names of the graduates.After prolonged search we located one member of those classes Commander Arthur Edwin Uber, born in l897 now retired & living in Butler, Pennsylvania: On May 4, l97l he wrote,"Mrs. Barrett: Yes! I am the same A.E. Uber who was graduated from the officer Material School at the Naval Operating Base in Norfolk, Virginia on 12 March l9l9. Our school was the old Pennsylvania Building constructed for the Jamestown Exposition held in l907.Captain "Jack" Quimby as you mention was in charge of the school.Strange as it may seem, your late husband's name was the only other name I can remember among all the instructors & students in the school.You must remember this is all about a period fifty- two years ago.Tiny fragments of the time, if any at all,come back to me now. I am quite sure any of my recollections would be of little value to you.He was not tall - rather thin- But the name sticks. A group of us were standing out in front of the building, across from the sea wall on the other side of the street.Someone said, "Here comes 'Salty' Barrett. We saluted.He returned it!!!- Put on a big grin & waved back. He evidently had on his number three work uniform, since the braid was well tarnished with a greenish line.Among us in those days an officer who showed evidence of practical experience & sea duty was much admired & respected.See what I mean? Just a little bit of the past= 52 years ago- of no particular value.I still have my "Knight's Seamanship", which is falling apart & also my little "Bluejacket's Manual.I remember going up to Yorktown one weekend on the PAMLICO ((training ship for students in Officer Material School). Quarters were crowded or non-existent.Many swung their hammocks outside on deck. It was cold - but turned warm during the night & rained.That precipitated a rush to get under cover- you can imagine..-A.E. Uber." TROOPSHIP USS SEATTLE commanded by Captain J.R. Y. Blakely under Admiral Gleaves_March l9, l9l9 Jack Barrett was detached from Fifth Naval District where he had served as Instructor of Seamanship & Regulations at Officer Material School Norfolk. He reported next to the Commander, Cruiser & Transport Force, New York for assignment to USS SEATTLE. - l9l9 March 31: To duty as Navigator on board the USS Seattle. Made three (four?) round trips Brest (Brittany, France) to Hoboken New Jersey with returning troops. Smedley Butler US Marine Corps was in charge of a large base at Brest with Marines & other troops awaiting transportation. Jack was interested in Butler's career & may have seen him at this time & at Shanghai l927. It is possible Jack's acquaintance with Pacific Fleet Chaplain William Maguire (Captain USN in l940's) may date from this time also. Some notes in Jack's handwriting stolen l993 gave chronology of an incident April l9l9 at Brest, where local civilians stole eggs from the battleship about three o'clock in the morning, leading to an investigation.There were severe food shortages in France & other parts of Europe at this period in aftermath of the Great War. Two well known World War I Naval leaders were aboard the SEATTLE who had been in the thick of the convoy effort - the SEATTLE was the flagship of Admiral Gleaves, who organized and led the first American convoy in 1917, which went to St. Nazaire to surprise the Germans, who expected the convoys to go to the large convenient port of Brest at the time of the Brittany peninsula - and Captain John Russell Y. Blakely was the SEATTLE's Captain. Gleaves wrote a book about the convoy operations and unprecedented movement of personnel thousands of miles at sea. The number of ships involved reached a maximum in 1919, as there was haste to "bring the boys home." The SEATTLE was 504 feet 5 inches length - breadth 72 feet ten inches 25 feet draft displacement 14,500 tons- tons per inch immersion 59.7 - fuel 2062 tons coal -masts one cage one military - mess 19 wardroom officers, 14 junior officers, 38 chief petty officers - marines 64- other enlisted 820. Engines Bert 3EXP. 16B+ W boilers. Horsepower 27463 General Electric turbines. Guns: four ten-inch 40 caliber sixteen six-inch 50 caliber Anti-aircraft two three-inch. Four twenty-one-inch torpedoes. Five inch hull armor New York SB Company built $4,035,000. Authorized July 1, 1902. Launched 1905. Commissioned August 7, 1906. Out of commission Feb. 14, 1921. Speed 22.27 knots. -l9l9: June l9 Detached USS SEATTLE & relieved of all active duty. This was the period of the popular song, "How're ya going to keep 'em down on the Farm after they've seen Paris? How're ya going to keep them away from Broadway, painting the town? - That's a mystery." Around this time early 1919, Jack's friend William W. Paca as an Army Military Police Officer was arresting deserters who were hiding in Paris sewers and did not want to return home to the United States. There was no arrangement for American troops to be discharged in France, and they had to come home. Grace Bacon, who became Sophie Barrett's Professor for three years of German language study at Mount Holyoke, was in France with the Red Cross some months in 1919. Troop morale during World War I was helped by entertainers like Ernestine Schumann-Heinck, famous for her rendition of the carol "Silent Night". Even she, after the end of the war was concerned for her son to be released from service so he could help with her concert tours. DEMOBILIZATION Jack left active Naval Reserve duty early in August, 1919, and investigated employment opportunities. Jack briefly signed up on a ship WEST CORUM but reansferred to be first officer of the commercial ship WESTERNER (previously a troopship) from November l5, l9l9 to September l0, l920.The Commander, Mal Richardson from Virginia, was one of Jack's closer & more congenial friends & correspondents for nearly fifty years, & he & his sister-in-law Mrs. Kane kept in touch with the Barrett family until l972, when he passed away. Jack made his first trip through the Panama Canal, opened l9l4. The visited Hawaii, & Japan, where Jack took photographs of the Inland Sea & sent them to the Navy department, which was interested in precise information on foreign ports & waterways.He wrote his father a long letter from Shanghai - his first visit to China. They took on timber & cordage materials as cargo in Manila. Until l993 we had a notebook with Jack's detailed navigational calculations of stars, latitudes & longitudes passing through the eight-degree-north channel in islands south of India. Before the advent of radio, it was important to be able to recognize many navigational stars, as only a few might be visible in cloudy weather.With somewhat less cargo than hoped they proceded through Suez & arrived Liverpool May l920. Jack could see the Irish shore, from which his grandparents had emigrated, but there was political tension in the time of the "troubles" as Ireland sought independence from Britain, & this was the closest Jack ever came to the homeland of his ancestors.The ship was bothered by thefts on the dock,& Jack as first mate complained to the police. One policeman said to him, "You'll stand by me, mate?"Jack believed he was asking for a bribe but offered him nothing.One of the officers Jack remembered pleasantly was a Norwegian named Torkelson.In London Jack saw Pavlova danced her favorite ballet role as the Swan in Camille Saint-Saens's "Le Cygne". It was probably on this trip (or in Washington) that Jack saw Sarah Bernhardt play Shakespeare's "Shylock" in her older years after having a leg amputated.He mentioned this a number of times in conversation. Having already been in England several times, Jack began to know his way around fairly well and found he was accepted practically as a native and seldom spotted as an American unless he volunteered the information. He was fond of saying that the speech habits of New Englanders and Virginians were closer to those of England than the speech habits of other Americans. He found his acceptance as a native curious and sometimes embarassing. His impish nature got the better of him one time when he was asked in London, probably in the subway by a traveler, "Is Picadilly Circus this way?" Tired of making explanations that he was a foreigner, Jack just pointed somewhere and said, "That way." He later realized that he had probably been ninety degrees in error, but he turned it into a very funny story, though we were somewhat scandalized. FOLLOW-UP on HERMAN INGALLS and 1912 LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE MAINE: Sophie located Mrs. Herman Ingalls 1970 at Starboard,Bucks Harbor, Maine and learned her Mount Holyoke classmate Marion Lewis Smart and her husband Vin went there summers (they settled there year-round later, when Vin retired from New York law practice). This letter of Marion's describes her enjoyable visit with spry Mrs. Ingalls:---NBK 8 p 204-207 September 23, 1975 Starboard Bucks Harbor Maine 04618 [from Marion Lewis Smart Dear Sophie What a pleasant experience I had last week when I called on Mrs. Captain Ingalls in Howard Cove. She is a delightful lady of eighty-eight. She had just returned from a birthday party for someone who was ninety years and said, "I am completely stuffed with good Down East cooking." He home is charming-one that had been Captain Ingalls's grandfather's- and she and the Captain reclaimed it mostly themselves on his retirement. She lives all soul alone, much to the displeasure of her only living daughter and her grandchildren. She has six great-grandchildren. When they left Cortland, they sold all their furniture ad purchased what she called "island furniture" beautiful pieces from the old homes on Maine's many islands- they are priceless now of course- and after his retirement they traveled, and she collected exquisite pieces of glassware and small furnishings. She was and is I guess an artist, for on the tiny dining room plaster walls she has a mural of the last schooner to sail from Machias down the river, as well as a family tree of sorts depicting the history of the land that had passed down from one Howard who held squatters' rights until Maine was separated from Masachusetts. We talked and talked about this and that, and she eagerly showed me her treasures - someone is writing about lighthouses and has taped her recollections. Very little authentic information can be found either in the archives of Washington or from the rapidly diminishing group associated with the early tending of the houses before the Coast Guard took over. Thank you for giving me a reason to call upon such a charming, agile, and up-to-date lady. She greeted me in gorgeous turquoise blue pants, gay flowered blouse, matching sweater, and perfectly coiffured hair- sparkling blue eyes, and lots of spirit. She had just finished painting a corner cupboard which has had to be repaired as the corner post had been eaten away by ants- she had still the outer wall to paint on the sun porch! Well, we're still here, leaving the end of this week when Vin will begin the racket of commuting to New York on the first. Your letter of the twelfth was forwarded to us here, taking about a week to arrive here. I have followed with interest despair and shock at the goings-on in Hyde Park but was grateful to read that when the spirit of unrest appeared in a lunch room of four hundred, student leaders calmed the crowd, and no disturbance really erupted. The black problem is so desperately complicated, and poor Boston seems to have ben torn to pieces. I went to school with blacks, white, and European races, and we all got along splendidly - however, each followed his racial mores at home and socially - we all respected the other's background - New York of course is changed in color, for thre are thousands of Puerto Ricans beside the blacks. We noticed no integration among the gulls that sail and glide about - they keep to their own group and species! The Giles situation is indeed complex and heart breaking - one does have to respect the privacy of an individual and his family as one longs to aid or help in some way. We have no connection with the Food and Drug Administration and have thought them careless in the release of some drugs and additives while frustratingly slow in accepting or releasing others. One example is the drug which has proved so successful in the treatment of arthritis- people move to California so as to be near the Mexican border and can there cross over for the treatment which has been so miraculous in results. = I am sure that Gerard [Buckley] and Jerry Murray will eventually meet [Perth Austrlia]. Our little family is head over heels involved in their University work, and recently they have acquired a small piece of land with many fruit trees on it - part of a former farm- outside of Perth -no house, just land and trees with so many possibilities ahead that they are immersed in all the quirks and trials of immediate plans and those in the future. Jerry is now in another institution, so I imagine that their University meetings are not as frequent as before, and weekends seem to be spent on the "farm" as they prune, plan and picnic. The babies love the freedom there, and the former owners, living now nearby, are more than hospitable. [Hurricane] Eloise is blowing in Alabama while we are smothered in fog and drizzle. The rain drops on the roof have a very soporific effect on me, so please forgive my wanderings on paper. Trees as an interest - that reminds me of the collections of slides and old glass photograph plates I gave to the Brattle Street Book Shop when I finally reached the boxes in the barn where my grandfather had them stored. He had photographed trees all over New England. Those photographs were famous in size, in history or peculiarity - the old photographs went, too. Grandpa used to show them with his old huge stereopticon. We have a nice large oak tree here on our New Jersey property, and the house is panelled in chestnut downstairs, dining room, hall, beams and low panels with fireplace in the living room. We love it, for it is its natural color, only aged. Most of the original houses in Mountain Lakes had chestnut woodwork as the blight had hit, and the lumber was avilable for the saw mill established for the development of the community from the wilderness in 1911. I must don wet weather clothes, yellow pants, and jacket as we must unload our boat before leaving here. We pulled the "Wrinkla" out yesterday, and she is now high and dry in a field! So glad to hear from you with all your news, which is vital to all your friends. Write again. as always -Marion [Lewis Smart 1923] During 1970-1972 Sophie Barrett corresponded with Dorothy Kane, sister-in-law of 'Captain' Mal Richardson, whom Jack served with 1917-18 on the MONTGOMERY and again 1920 on the commercial ship WESTERNER. If the 1972 obituary is accurate, it appears the WESTERNER may have been a Navy troop ship during World War I, but it was in commercial service when Jack went around the world as a ship's officer with Richardson December 1919-May 1920. This is the text Sophie preserved [black notebook one p- 249] THE VIRGINIA PILOT Feb 8, 1972 Captain Mal S. RICHARDSON 81 Retired Commander Mal S. Richardson of 1130 Manchester Avenue formerly with Merchant Marine Inspection Division died Monday evening in a hospital.Captain Richardson retired in 1952 after more than four decades as a deep water chief mate and relief master. A native of Matthias county, he lived here thirty years. He was a member of [?Batelot?] Masonic Lodge 7, Gloucester, Known by associates as 'Captain' Richardson, he began his sailing career with the Old Bay Line in 1909 as a Quartermaster. In 1910 he joined the Merchant and Miners Transportation Company as a second mate, later became chief mate running between Baltimore and Norfolk and betwen New York City and Jacksonville, Florida.In 1913 on trips between New York City, Boston, and South America he was chief mate and chief relief master. He entered the Navy on April 18, 1917 and was appointed a Lieutenant Commander and Commander of the troop transport WESTERNER and made trips around the world. He also was manager of the James River Reserve Fleet in 1923. He left this job to join the Bureau of Merchant Marine Inspection in Norfolk in 1936 with rank of Lieutenant Commander. He remained in Norfolk after his retirement.He is survived by nieces, nephews, cousins [+ sister-in-law Dorothy Kane].