Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-28

Stuioiy dO DCot ShC NOdio
through the night. For ten
hours she had fought her way up the
coast in the face of the worst storm
of the season.
Now. off Hatteras. the danger spot
In the route from Porto Rico to New
York, the sturdy little liner scarcely
seemed able to make any progress.
She had been forced miles off her
course and closer in toward the dan
gerous reefs than her captain liked.
Not that the liner herself was In any
grave danger, for the old Mongolian
and her experienced captain had faced
too many Atlantic storms for even a
big one to alarm them. The matches
had all been battened down. the pas
sengers were below, and the stanch
steamer. stripped as much as possible.
slowly rising to each attack of the
waves. drove on with all the power Of
her engines under the storm.
Up in the little wireless room. the
highest point on the ship. Harling. the
young operator. chung to his berth and
wondered what was going to happen.
1t was his second trip to sea and his
first big storm. so no wonder the young
operator felt the thrill of the strug-
gle and just the faintest fear for the
outcome.
Every officer and man connected
with the liner was on post. waiting
anxiously for whatever might happen.
They had little fears for the stanch
Mongolian. but there were many ships
less sturdy in those waters. and on
such a night. with the vessel out of
her course. there was no telling what
might occur. The captains last in
struction had been to look out for
wrecks.
Most of the vessels of any size in
these waters carried wireless outfits,
and in al of trouble they would be
sure at once to send out broadcast
their appeals for help. Little could be
done In any case. but at least the Mon
golian could stand by to help as much
as she could or. IL absolutely neces-
sary, take advantage of the warnings
to keep clear of wrecks.
For hours the pitching of the ship.
timed irregularly to the roaring drive
of the storm. had held the wireless
man fast at his post. 1t was now past
midnight and with little chance of
any abatement before dawn.
Harling's nerves were on edge as he
chung to his berth. wide eyed. alert.
waiting. listening TO the faintest click
thaf fntuhf ha Tho fnNorr,nun~ 20 4aIE 20
disaster and death. Half a dozen times
his strained nerves had brought him
struggling from his berth to receive
such a message. only TO find his mag
nation had been playing tricks with
his fear.
Suddenly there came from the in
strument clicks so sharp. so distinct
and yet so hurried hat the young fell
sprang from the berth and STUN
Dled to the table, sure now that at last
something was coming.
Again the instrument clicked wildly.
To the ears of the strained operator it
brought a chill, for he knew it was
ear. Anxiously, impatiently, be lis
ened. At first he could make out
They're crazy." he exclaimed to
whats the matter with
hem? They're crazy"
The wild rattle of the receiver stop
Jed. and Harling seized his own key.
What's wrong? Don't be a fool.
Keep your nerves. Send sense"
The touch of the key had brought
lin thoroughly to himself. His nerve
ightened and his head grew cool as he
his message iercely out into the
torn.
He paused. listening eagerly. and
gain the receiver began to click. al
most as wildly, as %insanely. as before.
only the skilled operator could make
'ut "C-Q-D."
"A distress signal" he gasped. tits
ONE"
Again the Mongolian's wireless oper-
rator seized his key and drove out