Arne Gandy's Final Phone Call

"Hackensack Record," May 24, 1934, via Newspapers.com20-year-old Arne Gandy of Teaneck, New Jersey, was a restless, adventurous young man who, like so many restless, adventurous sorts throughout history, felt the call of the high seas. After several voyages to South America, in December 1933 he signed on to serve as “messboy” on the “President Harrison.” Gandy carried with him a letter of introduction to Stanley Dollar, president of the ship’s line. After the “President Harrison” arrived in San Francisco, he planned to ask Dollar for a rating of cadet. Gandy planned to make sailing his life’s work.Unfortunately, when Gandy landed in San Francisco, he was unable to get a meeting with Dollar, and he agreed to continue his job on the “President Harrison.” However, on January 5, 1934, he mysteriously left the ship, in such a hurry that he left all his belongings behind. The “President Harrison,” on the assumption that he had deserted, sailed off without him. We know nothing of Gandy’s…