The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-08-01
The SINKING OF THE DELILAH.
First Story Of the Sea, Based on the Use
of Wireless Telegraphy.

~ Tue HAtltme end on the Luiulhu
coast, on the most southerly point OF
England, stand the sentinels Of the
past and the future. A great ragged
rock rears It's head above the sea some
four miles from the shore barren. but
FOR tufts Of slckly grass, uninhabited
save by the sea birds. Once a guide
to the unweildly ships that sailed
seeking empires. a landmark to sail
ors the first glimpse of homeland to
wanderers; now a danger-mark TO the
huge black liners-a forgotten sentl.
mel Of the past.
And a little inland a small tur-
ret house. with a wooden mast point
ing skyward, and square glass eyes
ever staring oceanward, stands as the
sentinel of the fut0re-the future OF
the wireless telegraphy.
The clouds had been driving round
the Lizard point for several days,
forming solid banks of blackness in
the southwest, swooplng across the
green seas, that hourly grew more
restless,an 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
went to the watcher. and he, Jove-
ha al fri mo- IN n
the danger to other boats.
John Priest felt the nervous excite
ment in the air communicate itself to
his body, filing him with vague I'M
st and fear
His companion was waiting at the
Coor
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 a strange longing to call him back.
The quiet threatening of the night,
Quivering with electricity and storm,
thrilled his nerves.
Il 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 a 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 filed 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 confne-
ment, practically cut off from all hui
man communication
When he looked at his watch again
what had seemed an hour proved Is
minutes. Then he swore quietly at
himself for a fool and filled his pipe
deliberately. AS he put it to his lips
sudden blaze of light lit 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 if 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 a start, feeling some
thing or some one had spoken to him
The yellow light burned more dimly
but instinctively he glanced first atthe
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 clicl
dot -"-LE-LE-LE OH
OH" it said.
Dbl" that was no trick of the
storm; yet he did not know the call
Quickly he turned to the code:
DIPS. s. Delilah mail and pas
senger steamer 5000 tons-Good heav
ems! what did the Delilah want ant
where was sheg Surely, if he remem
bered right she was due in Liverpoo