The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-08-01

with the wind. the sea and the rain
the machine began to spell It's mes.
sage:
"The Delllah-damaged by terrific
seas-fear fast sinking-fve hundred
passengers-send help"
Flash oh. Where are your"
He found a dificulty in breathing
now the seconds dragged minutes,
surely, now, and no answer. Again,
Where are your"
At last an answer IS. s. W. Of Liz
ard; about one hundred miles off, In
struments damaged; rudder broken;
can keep afoat few more hours-is
help ." The rest was unreliable;
still the Taper clicked again lis
help"
With horrible vividness he saw 500
men and women huddled together on
the sinking ship in the midst of the
raging tempest waiting, for that an
swer, praying heaven that it might
he Eyes," trusting, believing it would
be yes"
His hand moved slowly, steadily
now, as he spelled out four words in
the darkness.
Impossible to send help"
Five hundred men and women, hus-
bands, wives lovers! Children, too
He had sent death.
He jumped from his chair and
rushed to the window and stared out;
black, black everywhere! Impotently
he beat his hands against the window
and mercilessly the rain and the wind
and the sea spume beat back.
Back to his seat he rushed, and of
sudden an inspiration came. If, per-
chance, there was another boat any
where near that he could telegraph
to!
He relit the lam pand turned up the
book giving the names of vessels fitted
with wireless telegraphy The last
boat on the list, the Scotsman, there
was just a chance she might be in
the English channel, the vaguest
chance, he knew, but is was possible.
Hastily he telegraphed now: Am
trying to signal Scotsman; if within
distance will send her to help you"
He waited for an answer but none
came. Had she already gone down?
If so-hastily he changed the signal
call-the machine clicked-and wait
ed. He was fighting the storm now,
fighting Nature who gives no quarter;
fighting earth who open-mouthed,
painted for 500 lives.
Why din't she answer? Wherever
she was she should receive the mes
sage! Alb. at last
IN. S. Delilah sinking fast. Are
you near enough to help?"
Presently the answer:
Fear impossible but will look out
for terrifying to beat down Channel
myself" Then after long pause: Am
trying to get into communication with
her"
Again Priest flashed For Gods
sake do your best-5OO passengers"
He waited and for an instant the
silence lifted and he heard an exult-
ant shrek from the wind and sea out
side and the house trembled. Where
were those 500 souls?
Click.
Close over the table he bent and
held his breath.
Cannot keep afoat until the morn
ing. Have you been able to send help?"
yes. Spoken Scotsman betting
down Channel She is looking for you.
Keep afioat as long as possible. All /
can do" his fingers ceased to move,
the horror of having done no more,
the weakness Of that message!
Again the Taper moved, and now he
feared what it would spell
Thanks. Don't leave instrument
Communicate with us long as possible
or until Delilah sinks"
A few minutes elapsed and no fur
Their message was sent; then, sudden
ly with long pauses between each let
ter
1--WE are getting out the boats An
other pause that semed hours. A
fash of lightning momentarily filled
the room with blue glare, and the
crash of thunder deafened Priest fol
a moment. When the last rumble
died away he heard the wireless in
sCrument again clicking. Had ht
missed something during that appalling
crash? Have launched one of tn,
boats" A pause that seemed to las
for hours. Then, Boat has over
turned with 20 passengers. All lost.
Another wait longer than the first. Il
imagination Priest saw men and won
en- struggling in the relentless waves
He pictured the others budding a
the side of the helpless liner, and a
each flash of lightning thought h
could see the CHASTITY terror on pal