
Jack Armstrong - Carrying Line To The Pelican
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Narrator
Zach Armstrong, the All American Boy, is on the air in person to get you to eat. Wheaties fellows, girls, hang on for thrills, excitement, adventure. Today, Wheaties bring you a story of champions in action. Cheers.
Captain Hands
Cheers for champions.
Narrator
As a huge crowd of American baseball
Captain Hands
fans roar a welcome to Max Carey
Narrator
and Leslie Mann and 18 boys of the Wheaties All American Amateur Baseball Champions team. And now hang on for the big
Betty
thrill I promised you.
Narrator
Here's Max Carey himself in person, right
Captain Hands
in the studio with us today to tell us about the trip to Japan
Narrator
that won the Amateur Baseball Championship of the world. Fellows and girls, I am proud to present Max Carey of the Amateur Baseball Congress.
Max Carey
Hello everybody. I'm mighty glad to be here to talk to all my friends again. And I'm mighty glad to be able to tell you that the great Wheaties All American Amateur Baseball team which you fellas and girls of the Jack Armstrong audience helped to select, has won the Amateur Baseball Championship of the world. First thing I want to do to tell you something about our trip to Japan and the grand reception we received. We were met at Yokohama by the university league officials who put us aboard the electric car for Tokyo. At Tokyo, we were escorted to the Emperor's home, then on into Emperor Meji Shrine where we joined a mile long procession of seemingly millions of Japanese who came from all parts of Japan to pay their respects to the Emperor on his birthday. Then we went to the Imperial Hotel, which was to be our headquarters for our stay in Japan. We lost the first two games we played because it seemed like the boys hadn't regained their land legs after the Sea Boys. Following that, we played against the Yokohama Commercial College, which team we defeated handily on a score of 9 to nothing. Briganti, a pitcher from New York to shut out ball. The boys were now rapidly regaining their condition and the following day we played Waseda University, the largest university in Tokyo with an enrollment of 15,000 students and the champions of the University League of this year. Fred Herringer of Sanford University fits the game for us and shut them out by a score of 7 to nothing. The next game we played was against Jose University. We lost that one by a score of 5 to 4. Boys out hit the Japanese, but were very unfortunate in not scoring runs. The next game was played against the Tokyo Railways team who had just defeated the Tokyo Giants, the professional champions of Japan in a two game series. The All Americans won this game by a score of 6 to 4. At one time leading by a score of 6 to nothing. With the basis for in the 9th inning, our first baseman Ted Whitman pulled the old hidden barrel trick on them to make the last out of the game. The following day we defeated Kyle University by a score of 5 to 4. And five days later we played the Tokyo City champions composed of former University star players. We, these All Americans defeated this club by a score of 6 to nothing. Fred Haringer again picked fine shutout ball. Tyrus Wagner, by the way, hit a homer with two men on in this game. Then, having won the amateur baseball championship of the world. We boarded the good old Cayumaru at Yokohama and we started back for the usa.
Narrator
Thanks a lot, Max Carey.
Max Carey
You were swell.
Narrator
And now, Jack Armstrong, the All American boy. Yesterday, after the Pelican caught fire, Jack offered to take a line across the packed ice floes so that Captain Hands and his men might be rescued with a breaches buoy.
Betty
Here we are on deck.
Narrator
Jack has just started across the.
Max Carey
Listen.
Billy
Get off there.
Captain Hands
Running from that box. Watch it. L. Go easy. Yes.
Betty
There's lots of time, Jack.
Captain Hands
I'll get there.
Billy
Just keep paying off the line, see? Not if you need help, I'll come after you.
Captain Hands
We'll be watching you all the way, Jack. We can see you're playing against Cafeira and the Pelicans. If you get into trouble, we won't leave you out there.
Billy
Okay.
Captain Hands
Don't come unless I call Owen.
Betty
Better not shout to him anymore. Let him give all his attention to what he's doing. You need to be on the alert
Captain Hands
every step of the way.
Betty
And I hate to see him go.
Mrs. Northrup
Seems to me he's going too fast.
Billy
That's all right. He's getting along well at the start.
Captain Hands
First night's blow is pretty solid.
Betty
There'll be others far more treacherous.
Billy
And the worst of it is there'll
Mrs. Northrup
be something as though we can't see him. Those big hummocks will hide him more and more as he goes along. They will. And just when we're most anxious to see him.
Billy
I believe he'll pick his way. So he'll keep inside as much as he can.
Betty
I hope he doesn't try. He ought to pick the best way and forget everything else.
Captain Hands
Aye, and we've still got the line
Betty
to keep track of him by.
Captain Hands
If he stops pulling it out, we'll know something's happened.
Betty
Aren't you baying it out a bit too fast, Captain? It's quite enough down below us on the ice.
Captain Hands
I wanted to.
Betty
I aimed to give him plenty of
Captain Hands
flocks so as to put as little drag on him as possible.
Mrs. Northrup
Only it doesn't get tangled up in those big hollows.
Billy
I don't see how it can, unless it's caught in a crack or something.
Narrator
The ice is so smooth, it ought
Billy
to slide easy all the way. I'll bet he hardly feels it.
Narrator
He'll feel it before he's through.
Betty
He'll be pulling quite a weight of it by the time he's clear across.
Captain Hands
Aye, but it can't be helped, dear.
Mrs. Northrup
Maybe we should have used the lighter one.
Betty
This one's as light as we dared use, Betty. It has to be strong enough to pull two heavy ropes across them to get it there.
Captain Hands
Tackle, too.
Betty
If the men on the Pelican need it, there'll be no time for pulling it back and forth.
Captain Hands
They'll have their own time. No ship would be without it.
Betty
They have a fire on board, Captain. We can't tell what's been destroying.
Billy
Gee, your chur's blazing up now. The worst of it seems to be in the back from the sky.
Captain Hands
The shipwreck. Here's the glasses n see what's up on board.
Billy
Yes, Captain.
Betty
I. I forgotten them. I was so busy watching Jack.
Billy
He's still getting along swell.
Mrs. Northrup
Yes, but he's going behind the first big hummock now.
Betty
Well, we'll see him again when he gets a little beyond it.
Captain Hands
You watch the Pelican, Norfolk. Keep the glasses on her and tell us what the men are doing. You ought to see him playing. The way the blaze is now, we'll keep track of Jack. Very well.
Betty
But if you prefer to use a
Captain Hands
glass of yourself, I've got my job here paying out the roof.
Narrator
Caught.
Billy
Jack's out of sight now.
Mrs. Northrup
He's still going along in the same rope, though. You can tell by the way the rope slides out.
Billy
Maybe the men in the Pelican can see him.
Captain Hands
They ought to be now if they've had their own glasses on us.
Mrs. Northrup
But it's not as bright over here as it is there. They won't be able to see so well.
Captain Hands
What can you make out Northwood? Do they seem to be watching him?
Betty
No, I don't believe they've noticed him yet. They're still fighting the fire as best they can.
Mrs. Northrup
Then they don't know what they're trying to do. The fire much worse.
Betty
Yes, and it'll probably spread faster from now on. Some of the men are gathered way up in the bow. It must be getting plenty warm over there.
Mrs. Northrup
There's one man up on the bridge.
Captain Hands
That'll be Hans himself. Betty.
Betty
He's starting to wave his arms and shout. Some of the men are running to the rails. They're looking this way and pointing.
Billy
They've seen Jack at last. Hands must have spotted him.
Captain Hands
Good. It's about time.
Billy
Now watch close.
Captain Hands
Norco. Time to know what we're doing. You can soon tell whether they've got tackle or not.
Betty
He's shouting some kind of order. The men are running from the bow.
Captain Hands
They're going to do something.
Max Carey
All right.
Mrs. Northrup
They'll save a lot of time if they can get ready.
Captain Hands
Aye, and they'll know it.
Betty
They've got tackle all right. They're running to the forward mass to rig it out. Hands are helping.
Mrs. Northrup
Look. They're sending up another red rocket. What can that mean?
Captain Hands
Most likely to let us know that they've seen Jock. Or else it's the tell us that
Betty
the fire is almost too hot for them.
Mrs. Northrup
I hope it doesn't make Jack feel he has to go faster.
Billy
I wish we could see him again.
Captain Hands
He's not going as fast as he was at the start. The rope's paying out slower.
Betty
I feel sure he'll keep his head
Captain Hands
and be careful about all the way.
Billy
Yep. He won't forget what's at stake.
Mrs. Northrup
Yes, but what if those men have to read the kit before he gets to them?
Captain Hands
They don't aim to or they wouldn't be working at the tackle. They're getting it up.
Billy
I can see it clearly now.
Captain Hands
I hope Hans doesn't forget. I see.
Mrs. Northrup
Oh, Rachel. God.
Billy
The rope. Stop. Jack must be stuck.
Mrs. Northrup
It does first and then stop.
Betty
Tiny.
Captain Hands
Six or eight feet jump forward. All of a sudden it's not moving. No.
Mrs. Northrup
Oh. What could have happened? He saved and slipped and fell.
Captain Hands
That wouldn't cause the microp.
Billy
No.
Captain Hands
He put it on it for some reason.
Billy
It may have been to tell us
Captain Hands
he was in trouble.
Billy
I'd better start after him, Captain.
Captain Hands
Not yet, Billy. He said he'd yell if he needed help.
Betty
Yes, and we could hear him if he did. He's not more than 50 or 60 yards.
Billy
Out.
Mrs. Northrup
We can only see him.
Captain Hands
Bring your glasses.
Betty
On the line with that hummock.
Captain Hands
He went behind no foot. See if you can make out anything at all.
Betty
I can't, Captain. Not a thing. The rope winds around behind it and. But wait. It seems to be moving there.
Billy
Yes, it is.
Mrs. Northrup
It got some more.
Billy
Yep, it did. Three or four more feet shot out. And there's Jack.
Betty
He's moving over into full view.
Mrs. Northrup
He is? I can see him now.
Billy
So can I.
Betty
He's looking back and waving. He moved out on purpose so we
Billy
could catch sight of him.
Mrs. Northrup
What could be the matter? Has he reached a place he can't get past?
Captain Hands
I say he showed him something.
Billy
That means I got to go away.
Mrs. Northrup
What is.
Betty
Hoya, Billy.
Captain Hands
Listen, sir, all of you.
Mrs. Northrup
What did he say?
Billy
He's gotta make a jump.
Betty
Great. Sir, that must mean he's reached a stretch of open water.
Billy
Yep, that's it. He's stepping back for a short run before he takes off.
Mrs. Northrup
But he'll slip. He's almost dirty on the ice. And the ropes will hold him down
Billy
not a great deal.
Betty
He took care of that by girging it forward. He always been cracking his feet so
Captain Hands
he wouldn't feel the pull of the
Betty
whole length of it while he was jumping.
Captain Hands
Hey, he's keeping his wits about him.
Mrs. Northrup
He's getting ready to run.
Captain Hands
Can you see the open rubber, Northrop?
Betty
Yes, the same black slip. I can't tell how wide it is from this angle, though.
Narrator
At a rough guess, I'd say 8
Betty
or 10ft, possibly more.
Mrs. Northrup
How can he make it from a slippery takeoff?
Billy
I've got him sick his spot with his rough ice at the end.
Mrs. Northrup
Not even so.
Captain Hands
There he goes.
Mrs. Northrup
Did he slip at the edge?
Billy
He didn't.
Betty
He made a clean jump, but I failed.
Mrs. Northrup
Oh, he went down. I can't stay on the glass. He fell, didn't he?
Narrator
Yes.
Mrs. Northrup
Did he go on this? Did he fall back in the water?
Captain Hands
If he did, huh?
Betty
No, he flipped. If he landed on the other side, he fell flat and slid forward.
Billy
That may have knocked him out.
Mrs. Northrup
Is he moving?
Betty
Yes, he's getting up. He's on his feet again. He's all right.
Narrator
He's going on.
Mrs. Northrup
Oh, my. What a relief. Gracious. I hope he doesn't have to do that again.
Billy
He's more than halfway across anyhow.
Captain Hands
All right. I'm not paying enough. Steady now. I'm hoping the worst is over.
Betty
You've seen the wisdom of letting him
Captain Hands
make the attempt, Captain.
Betty
I doubt if any of your crews will make that jump. Safely.
Captain Hands
You're right. Now, S or I could have done it, but get your glasses back on the pelican again. What's going on? Most of the men are trotting back
Betty
to the rail to watch Jack. They've done about all they can to make ready for a breaches boy. Captain Hands is back on the bridge with his glass of clay on gas. They've about given up trying to fight the fire. They will as well if Jack reaches them safely.
Captain Hands
We'll have all of them off in half an hour.
Betty
Hey, McGregor.
Captain Hands
Hear him in Coming. We finished, sir. The breach and boy is ready for the hog on the ropes to be started across. Good. Bring in here then, so we'll have them ready. I've got them, sir. I'll pass them to the end of this white line if you want. Go ahead and tell the men to stand by on deck. They will. I couldn't tell them to go below for try. They're too anxious to watch the lad making his way across the ice. I gave him permission to line up along the rail, if you don't mind. Of course you don't mind. It's a thing worth watching and I wouldn't begrudge it to anyone.
Billy
We've got a fight again and say
Mrs. Northrup
the line's not going out as smoothly as it was. It slides out fast for a few seconds and then stops.
Captain Hands
He's feeling the drag of it that way. He fell on Amet with his hands
Betty
to ease the pull at his weight.
Mrs. Northrup
He must be getting dreadfully tired. Oh, I do this, he can keep it in front.
Betty
The farther away gets easier. The men on a pelican can see him and they're watching every move he makes.
Mrs. Northrup
There he is. I can see him again, but there's something wrong. I can't make him out clearly anymore, but he seems to be bobbing up and down.
Billy
Yeah.
Mrs. Northrup
And the rope Stop moving.
Captain Hands
Get your glasses on him, Nora.
Mrs. Northrup
Oh. What is it? I believe he's waving again.
Captain Hands
No, he's not.
Betty
He's got his arms out to keep his balance. I know what's happened. He's going across a thin sheet of ice that's loose from the rest. It's giving a little under his eyes.
Captain Hands
Will he make it to your ticks?
Betty
Yes, it's holding him. If he doesn't have another gap to jump across, he'll be all right.
Captain Hands
Watch him close.
Betty
I will. He's steady again now. I believe he stepped over on the full knife. Yes, he has.
Billy
Yep. There goes a strong pull on the line.
Betty
That Was one of those treacherous places I was worried about.
Mrs. Northrup
One thing after another.
Captain Hands
The worst is over, Mrs. Northrup, I think. You needn't worry. No.
Mrs. Northrup
But he still has quite a ways to go.
Captain Hands
Only 20 yards or Tom.
Narrator
Aye.
Betty
If anything happens to him.
Captain Hands
No. The men on the Pelican will go to his rescue. I don't believe he'll have any more trouble. The ice looks firm and unbroken the
Billy
rest of the way.
Mrs. Northrup
Oh, God. It's he.
Captain Hands
And we'll soon have the beach's boy work anymore.
Billy
We will but say, I've never seen a breach as bore in action.
Captain Hands
The vote the cable gives.
Billy
I mean the men will drag along the ice part of the way.
Captain Hands
That won't matter. We'll not pull them fast enough to hurt them any.
Betty
Jack's nearly there. The men are waving and shouting to him. Captain Hands are coming down from the
Captain Hands
bridge to guide them at the rail.
Mrs. Northrup
And there goes another red rocket.
Billy
I suppose they're setting it up to let us know.
Captain Hands
Jack nearly with him.
Billy
Gee, don't they think worth paying any attention to them?
Betty
I don't believe that's what the rocket means, Billy.
Mrs. Northrup
Then what are they for?
Betty
To warn us of the fire is spreading dangerously fast. To let us know. We'll have to work the breaches very fast when we get it started.
Captain Hands
McGregor, have you dropped that cable? Fast to the lane. Thanks, Captain. I've drinked the lot too. So she'll quite easy if she hits a rough spot.
Mrs. Northrup
Jack ought to be the first one to come across.
Billy
I don't believe he will. He'll figure he can come back across
Betty
the ice if he gets her.
Mrs. Northrup
He's nearly there. He's nearly there.
Betty
Yes, by Joe.
Captain Hands
There's no question before.
Betty
He'll make it now.
Captain Hands
And he's growing as strong as ever. Look at the bullet on that line.
Billy
Boy, I knew he could do it.
Captain Hands
He's almost at the Pelican's side. The men are reaching down to pull him up.
Betty
Captain Hands is facing them aside to be the first one to grab him.
Captain Hands
Hands no courage when he sees it.
Betty
Bagori. He's got him.
Mrs. Northrup
Dad.
Betty
Made it.
Captain Hands
Hands have lifting him up on deck. Good for him.
Mrs. Northrup
Good.
Captain Hands
Put the lodge give him a shield. The Lodge won his way across to the rescue.
Billy
Let her ring out so he can
Captain Hands
hear it over with the cables.
Betty
McGregor.
Captain Hands
We're pulling the line. T.R. over she goes, Captain.
Billy
Stand by, man.
Captain Hands
There goes another red rocket.
Narrator
They want us to hurry.
Betty
The time may be far shorter than we think.
Narrator
So Jack reaches the Pelican safely At last, will there be time to rescue Captain Hand and the crew. Be sure to listen in at the same time tomorrow evening. Find out what happens next.
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Narrator
this is David Owens saying goodbye from Jack Armstrong and the makers of Wheaties.
Wheaties Announcer
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Date: May 13, 2026
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
This episode features a classic adventure from the "Jack Armstrong, the All American Boy" radio series, titled "Carrying Line To The Pelican." True to the show's signature Golden Age style, the episode blends a celebratory guest appearance by baseball legend Max Carey with a dramatic rescue mission across treacherous ice. The narrative focuses on Jack Armstrong’s courage and quick thinking as he risks his safety to save the crew of the burning ship Pelican, demonstrating the spirit of teamwork and heroism cherished in 1930s-40s American youth radio.
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:40 | Max Carey | “I’m mighty glad to be here...the great Wheaties All American Amateur Baseball team...has won the Amateur Baseball Championship of the world.” | | 04:23 | Narrator | “Jack offered to take a line across the packed ice floes so that Captain Hands and his men might be rescued with a breaches buoy.” | | 08:02 | Mrs. Northrup| “The rope. Stop. Jack must be stuck.” | | 09:01 | Billy | “He’s gotta make a jump.” | | 09:37 | Betty | “He made a clean jump, but...he fell flat and slid forward.” | | 09:50 | Betty | “Yes, he’s getting up. He’s on his feet again. He’s all right.” | | 12:11 | Betty | “Jack’s nearly there. The men are waving and shouting to him.” | | 13:04 | Captain Hands| “Good for him. Put the lodge give him a shield. The Lodge won his way across to the rescue.” | | 13:31 | Narrator | “So Jack reaches the Pelican safely at last, will there be time to rescue Captain Hand and the crew...” |
The episode maintains the upbeat, can-do spirit of vintage radio adventure, blending communal teamwork, suspenseful peril, and period-authentic cheerfulness. The dialog is quick and earnest, laced with technical detail about rescue procedures and optimistic encouragement typical of youth programs of the age.
This episode is a brisk, suspense-filled vintage radio adventure that brings to life the values of bravery, quick-thinking, and camaraderie. Whether you’re a fan of old-time radio or discovering these stories for the first time, the urgency of the rescue and the celebration of American sportsmanship are sure to entertain. Don’t miss the resolution in the next episode!