Thar She Blows

The crew of a U.S. merchantman, survivors of a submarine attack, last week brought back a new version of an old tale.

After the ship was torpedoed, the U-boat surfaced and its commander ordered 66-year-old Captain Henry Stephenson to come aboard. Said the U-boat commander to the merchantman's crew: "We'll treat him well. He'll be aboard only about eleven days."

Captain Stephenson coolly ordered someone to fetch him his cigars. "You won't need them," said the German politely. "We have plenty aboard." Snapped salty Captain Stephenson: "I don't want your goddamn German cigars" . . . and with a box of his own under his arm he climbed down into the belly of the submarine. Having looted the cargo ship of food, the U-boat stood off, shelled it, then submerged.

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