Show My q fr i at se sea I tt 1 J 1 bY bLI CAPTAIN GEORGE FRIED Fried says he would far rather stand on the tue bridge of the AmerIca and lace face a stinging than to be confronted by an admiring throng waiting for him bim to make a speech He declares he does not feel lil like e a hero does not ni fact know how a hero should feel He got a big thrill out of a visit to cester Mass his home town however however how how- ever while the New York and other receptions left him dazed Copyright ht I 1929 AssocIated Press CHAPTER TwIce I 1 have been the central rl figure fig fig- ure in rather spectacular sea res- res c ues and twice I have been honored and by thousands of felloW c in various parts 0 the COUn r ry out but I can assure you that it is isar at ar easier standIng on the bridge of my Ame America facing a stinging nor ester wester than to be confronted by an throng waiting for me to tomake make nal e a speech A sailor I is at homen home m n a 0 ship but not In a hall ball or 01 audi audi- orlum orIum or 01 behind the banquet table d 1 tV t 7 V i i e ef f 1 7 i e a e e fl iI 1 The tremendous ovations made me feel it was all a dream u he e 5 Sailors may be noted for fOl yarns arns but not for banquets I I After Arter the tle rescue this hero busin business s was all new and b I felt it was all a dream It was was was' an amazing and bewildering ex rien and never once did I 1 know what to expect next I weathered the fIrst o So after the second I felt re resigned d to whatever might come As great Sleat if not greater was Was my Ja last t greeting in 11 New York City and later I visited Washington delphia Boston Provi Providence ence Chicago Chica Chica- go CIncinnati Culver I lad Ind and my home town on f 1 Mass s. s In city I was given 1 and extended such unusual unusual each experience I always be Indelibly carved in my memory but with It all I have One that regret I did not have wIth lri inc my chIef officer Mr 11 Manning anning am hIs splendid ld boat crew Like a general commanding an army or an admiral directing dirc a squadron of shIps the captain of a merchant vessel receives credit for fOI something lone done by his rs and men But there are others who work vork cannot be overlooked ed First or of all there Is the personal heroIsm of every individual In th boat craw who ho endangers his lir life by venturing in an open epen boat hoat on a high sea sta Then there are the men who clou e up UI to maintain the steam pr Suro In hi Inthe the boilers and the alert engine crl eres that responds instantly to from the bridge The loss e 0 a moment in executing an order by these men might mean and and yet yot the they can see nothing from frOm the tush l' l posItions in this hold or of the ship The rhe ci fey effecting a safe ae belongs be- be longs long's to every ery nan man in the W bit bt I be-I I in th the case e of the b blame me is i placed upon the shoulders or of tu the J captain I do not feel like a 3 hero helo The fact is I do not know how a hero heso s should fed fe-el yet Jet there i ia is I a certain amount of self aind pride in knowing that with DIvine I was in finding otil b-otil disabled and getting get get- ting g their human cargo aboard m my vessels But after all it was inthe In Inthe the line of oC duty and the master f 1 any ship in my position would woud have done his best beet I could have enjoyed ed all aJl the receptions receptions re- re that have flays been given In m my honor if I had never bEen called on onto onto to make a speech Responding to di discourses ouT s on heroIsm Us tile the most part of the rescue business s. s At first I could not enjoy the baqueta and luncheons at all All too quickly ly the toast toastmaster ma stE stE. would rise and the speeches start I would try to listen and at atthe atthe the time endeavor or to prepare my mind a response re that would ouM be appropriate But wh when n I arose m my mind was s-as befuddled If I had an any clea or of what I vas vs going to say before I started r I had otten forg-otten it it My Iy voice sounded so weak wO Uld fall fail mo me and my embarrassment embarrass embarrass- ment dId not help matters an any Then I would l sputter something and would not lose iose much time In returning tomy to tomy my seat t c was rolled called uPOn so o often that alter after a while I could concentrate concentrate con con- and at least say what I wanted I still appreciate that I will never become an orator and I have no ambItions along those lines After m Jast rescue job I di to H h ft I I v u 4 lUauI lUau lUau- V I ager agel of the United States Stated LInes suggesting suggesting sug- sug gesting that he protect me from an extensive e l program with parades and banquets Radio Padlo me ages were HIe coming to me thick and fast mes sages of CO congratulatIons and requests re- re quests quest to be present at various functions june june- in dIfferent parts of the coun- coun try New ew York City wanted to e tend its usual greeting nd I IVas was Vas Vasa a asked J ed if iC I would consI consider er a a. parade u uP Broadway a luncheon and theatre thea- thea tre party part the fIrst da lay o and then another another an- an other luncheon These I not Ot refuse Then n a new angle anSe developed In this hero business Invitations came fron is 18 cities requesting that I pa pay them a visit as their theil guest Philadelphia was insist insist- insistent ent wl wil h ray old Oil friend Sam T. T san Ban hain demar demanding m my presence Owing to the brIef time available the Itinerary Itin- Itin was of n necessity cut short TIle The One thing thing- that impressed me most flOSt was vas th tha of oC the pe peo o- o pie officials anti and civilians i who S' S greeted Cetel ate el e everywhere o put ut the tho place mue Ile the greatest thrill r of nil all was e I II I visited my my old school and was ai ai- m Jobbed by the les and nd went to man nian oc ct n n childhoOd haunts and shook hands once 3 snail ain with my former lla playmates mates That day r brought back many fond memo mica ot of the days that few ars of us vail to forget I Tomorrows Tomorrow A Sea Reporter |