At 6 a.m. we sighted a British tramp steamer. There were heavy seas running all day. Around midnight it became very stormy, which was great fun at first, but resulted in several officers and men on duty having to be surrounded by life preservers all night. Some thought every minute would be their last. Lieutenant Harry McGurrin gained his title as life preserver on this occasion.
James J. Loughrey
(July 4, 1869 — August 28, 1965), Sergeant in ‘A’ Company of the United States California Volunteer Infantry.
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