Raymond Andre Bustanoby's Memoirs

Raymond Andre Bustanoby wrote this at age 90 at the urging of Fay Bustanoby. This was about a year before his death.

What shall I write about? What is important? I will write
anything that comes to mind but not in proper sequence.

When my brothers and I lived in Pau, France it was with our grandparents, Pierre and wife Marie and her sister Marraine. We went to the Lycee de Pau, with continuous grades from high school through college. We spent four years there. In addition to our school time we had one or two hours of private tutoring by a Monsieur Tardan in the
evening. We were supplied with bicycles to go to school and enjoyed that.

My interest in photography started when I got a Brownie camera for my birthday and a development kit and a little space of my own for storage.

My grandfather liked his wine and saved his empty bottles. That is where I saved some of my developer for re-use. Lucky he didn't get poisoned when he thought he was drinking wine instead of saved developer.

After four years in France we got lonesome for seeing father and planned a return home in America. Grandfather was a great help. We knew where the keys were to the wine-cellar and obtained many special favors for some wine. He was a great help in getting passports.

Richard went first and had no problems. The need for money was no problem either. We figured that since father was paying the bills for the family, this was just another expense, and we knew where the money was kept.

In a few weeks Jacques and I had grandfather help us with passports and shipping. We were early for our schedule and toured Paris on rented bicycles. The next day we reached Port Le Harve and saw the city on roller skates.

News broke that a German submarine had been sunk in Harve waters. This was at the start of the World War in 1914. All shipping was postponed. We were transfered to another ship the next day with only a minimum cargo. The painted water line was higher than normal.

As we got on board, we saw two men signal to come. We guessed right. Father had two detectives pick us up but decided we could come home as it was about time anyway.

We were out about three days when we ran into a terrible storm. The light ship bounced like a cork. At meal-time all liquids like soup and drinks were in quarter portions.

Suddenly, I noticed a day later that the sun on the wall started moving. The motor shaft broke from so much spinning out of water. We were drifting.

As kids we found play during the storm. As the ship rolled from left to right (port to starboard) we slid back and forth in a narrow hallway.

Finally, three weeks in all we arrived in New York. Father met the ship with the harbor pilot to assist docking.

Note: The story is told in a way that suggests this was planned and carried out by Andre JB, the father of Raymond and Jacques. But the reality is that Raymond and Jacques ran away and stowed away on a ship. Raymond once told Fay Bustanoby this fact and Ruth Bustanoby, Jacques wife repeated the story, which Mia Glover heard from her.