Word: seamen
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Stone Age, long before the prehistoric Indo-European migrations from the east. In the complex Basque language-so difficult that, according to a Basque proverb, the devil himself failed to learn it in seven tries-stone is aitz, knife is aizto. Though basically a mountain folk, Basques make good seamen, like to point out that the pilot of Columbus' flagship, the Santa Maria, was a Basque. A Basque legend has it, indeed, that a dying Basque seafarer told Columbus of the New World's existence...
...Angels do far more than answer distress signals. Seamen are prepared for confirmation, for instance, while on voyage-one lesson in one port, the next in another...
...wings and looks more like a white-haired Pat O'Brien than a member of the heavenly host, but the organization he runs is better known in the world's seaports and ship lanes by its nickname, the Flying Angels, than by its official title, Missions to Seamen...
...next 13 years until his retirement, John Ashley built up his unique work. In 1856 it became officially the Missions to Seamen and is now one of the twelve principal missionary societies of the Church of England. Today its 53 chaplains and 25 laymen operate in 80 seaports around the world...
Today their life is more peaceful. They visit hospitalized seamen, arranging such things as transfusions of rare blood, settling language and legal problems. Breaking the news of a seaman's death is a common and painful task; British shipping companies always cable the Flying Angel in a dead sailor's home port and wait until the chaplain can visit the family before sending an official cable. Wife trouble is another constant concern...