The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-06-25
THE SINKING OF THE DELlLAH.
First Story of the Sea, Based on the Use
of Wireless Telegraphy.

England. stand the sentineiS OF tne
past and the future. A great ragged
rock rears its head above the sea some
four miles from the shore barren, but
for tufts of sicllly grass. uninhabited
save by the sea birds. Once guide
TO the unweildly ships that sailed
seeking empires, landmark to sail
ors. the first glimpse of homeland to
wanderers; nov a dangcr-mark to the
huge black lincrs--a forgotten senti-
mel OF the past.
And a little inland small tur-
ret house. with wooden mast point
ing skyward. and square glass eyes
ever staring oceanward. stands as the
sentinel of the future--the future OF
the wireless telegraphy.
The clouds had been driving round
the Lizard point for several days,
forming solid banks of blnckness in
the southwest. swooping across the
green seas. that hourly grew more
restless and often hiding the old barren
rock from the strongest telescope. The
lonely watcher-one by day and one
by night-in the gray house Marconi's
wireless telegraph station of the south.
had long known of the approach of
the storm. Ships already caught in
its fierce clutches had telegraphed its
advent to the watcher, and he. Jove-
like, had hurled electric warnings of
the danger to otner boats.
John Priest felt the nervous excite
ment in the air communicate itself to
his body, filling him with vague un-
rest and fear.
His companion was waiting at the
door,
I'm glad you're not late" he said.
II fear even now shall get caught in
the storm before | can cover those
three miles along the cliff. Good
night"
Good night" replied John Priest.
He watched the other run swiftly
down the path and along the cliffs He
felt strange longing to call him back.
The quiet threatening of the night,
quivering with electricity and storm,
thrilled his nerves.
II wonder what's wrong with me?"
he said aloud, and then checked him
self, unpleasantly conscious of his own
voice.
Nothing living was visible-not even
a tree; not q bird on the wing;
nothing. With an effort he laughed
and banged and bolted the door loudly.
and entered the operating room-the
room with the square eyes facing sea
ward. 1t was a round, plainly furnished
chamber, containing one comfortable
sofa, bookshelf filled with books,
several maps and charts, list of rules
and explanations concerning the work
ing of the Marconi wireless telegraph,
and in the centre of the room the in
strument itself
Priest looked at his watch. Eleven
hours and a half of solitary confine-
ment, practically cut off from all hui
man communication.
When he looked at his watch again
what had seemed an hour proved 10
minutes. Then he swore quietly at
himself for q fool and filled his pipe
deliberately. AS he put it to his lips
a sudden blaze of light liz the room
and terrible crash rent the air. tear.
ing silence and the night asunder and
echoing from cliff to cliff.
With the first great crash all the
elements sprang to life. To the watch
er it seemed as II fire, earth, air and
water were swirling and struggling
through space, inextricably mixed to-
gether.
How long he watched with awe and
wonder he did not know but the rush
ing winds howled him into a semi-con-
scious sleep, in which he heard the
waves rising and roaring nearer and
nearer.
He awoke with start, feeling some
thing or some one had spoken to him.
The yellow light burned more dimly,
but instinctively he glanced first at the
Marconi instrument. All was in order.
The Taper was silent, motionless. AS
he wondered what had suddenly called
him the instrument clicked.
He drew his chair to the table and
bent over the instrument and waited.
Again that little spark of light be-
hind him and simultaneously the click
dot --"-LE-LE-LE-
DII" it said.
''DH" that was no trick of the
storm; yet he did not know the call
Quickly he turned to the code:
'DH'-S. s. Delilah mail and pas
senger steamer 5000 tons-Good heav-
ems! what did the Delilah want and
where was she? Surely, If he remem-
bered right. she was due in Liverpool
two days ago.
For an instant Priest hesitatingly
watched and listened. From whence
amidst the thousands of miles of mad
waves was this message sent? iWth
unsteady hand he held his machine
and replied:
go on" and waited. No answer.
He held his breath and counted the
seconds.
At last an answer LIE" again; an
fnstant's pause then the machine be-
gan slowly with many pauses and
breaks as II the message flying on