Travel Letters: Japan, 1934

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m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_16

m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_16

foot appeared and he was soon down. but still the lid wasn't secured over the hole and twice as the sailor pulled it down it sprang up again. Com. Nichols helped pull and the sailor hammered the fastener and the water began coming up around the Coning tower. It seemed most casual. Soon we were under and lookup out ot the port holes. There was so particular feeling for it was quite light, and is quite far down. The top of the water looking up is lovely. A soft grayish blue with the bubbles of the waves making lovely designs. I couldn't help thinking what a lovely ceiling for a ball room. We watched quite a while and then went down to give the other ladies a chance. There were several men below watching the various controls and the rest of the crew were in the galley waiting {illegible} playing chess. Philip Nichols

Last edit about 2 years ago by Barbara
m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_17

m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_17

took us about showing us the galley and various parts of the boat. Its very narrow and cramped for the fuel and air tanks etc take up a lot of room. When we were sitting in the Captains ['C...t'] the indicator showed we were then down 80 feet, and as they were to try out the torpedoe things we went into the control room and looked through the periscope to watch the air from the chamber go out. I thought I saw something but it may have been a fish. Later we looked through the periscope which was above water and could see the land well. Its even magnified as in field glasses. We had to stay down 20 minutes to make it a dive, and finally it was time to come up and we were told to swallow, so I never did have much feeling. My nose was well plugged by the hay fever. After we came up and it was fairly dry on the bridge we went up and the fresh air was rather nice. It wasn't too close 'any?' time and a fan in the galley & main room

Last edit about 2 years ago by Barbara
m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_18

m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_18

which is one and the same felt very nice. I'm not telling this well at all. I forgot to mention how I felt when we were first submerged and I felt a drop of water in the ankle of my shoe. It wasn't anything though. I was interested that you feel the motion just as much below the water as on top but I suppose of course you would. While we were down it felt more like being in hiding in "Sardine in a box" than anything else.

The wind blue harder than ever after we came up and I spent all my time holding the hat on and blowing my nose. After a while on the surface they decided to make an emergency start of the engines starting them with air. Peter was taken into the engine room to watch where it was very close quarters and smelly. We were to stop and make the test as soon as we passed an army tug towing a target, but just as we got by the tug turned around

Last edit about 2 years ago by Barbara
m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_19

m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_19

and we had to wait. Poor Pete he was in the engine room rapidly feeling worse. However after five minutes they made the test and Pete having breathed a good lot of fresh oil came up looking quite green. However he learn 't a lot about diesel engines. They shot off a flare of green smoke another test. We were served some lemonade and about that time started into the harbor. It was quite an experience.

There were lots of planes flying around, some with white targets towed behind, which on coming back they dropped over the field and to my surprise as soon as they were let go they dropped vertically instead of floating some distance as one would suppose.

There is a wonderful sort of water tower at Pearl Harbor, where the men practice coming up through the water as they would be let out of submarines There have been no accidents in the Navy Submarines except 2 times in

Last edit about 2 years ago by Barbara
m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_20

m36_i_a_2b_i_94_03_20

collisions. So its not really dangerous at all.

On the way home Pete got a shot in the arm for Typhoid, and then we went out to the Nichols for Suki yaki lunch. It was really delicious but I couldn't taste much for my hay fever seemed to be more of a head cold. They were terribly nice to us & we had a delightful time. They go to Newport this June.

When we got back we were too late to go to the bank or get our ticket, so I packed clothes while Pete did a few errands. Then at five we were called for by Jimmy Wilder and taken over to his house. Its a lovely place on the water next the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and everything about the house is most attractive. Mr Wilder has had a severe stroke and the last four years paralized and blind. Its very hard on Mrs Wilder & Jimmy for they are just waiting really for him to die. He's perfectly helpless. Mrs Wilder is terribly nice, very interested in pottery and flowers and arranging them. the 'Waling?' 'fords?' came in

Last edit about 2 years ago by Barbara
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