Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-01-21

dada reef is the only charted reef
within 20O miles of our present posi-
ton. Could You send 200 miles to-
| night"
Harling shook his head
Il don't think we could. sir. And
2CO mites for L yacht would be impos-
siblc. Wait Il minute.
He sprang to the key again and with
firm, emphatic strokes drove an i'm
perative meSSaCl..
whats that asked the captain.
Il asked for his radius Of cOmmuni-
cation-how flu. he could send" ex-
planned IIarlin-. He waited moment,
and then the receiver began again its
nervous. frightened clicking
The face of the listening operator
frightened.
Sixty miles" he exclaimed, translat-
ing the clicks ''Why. we must be
within forty miles to get him at oil
tonight But we are going toward
him. We might now be within thirty
miles"
The captain shook his head
Yes. but where?" he said. ut may
be in any position. Anywhere within
a forty mile reach. ahead or on either
see Il quarter mile with the search
light"
Again the receiver began wild
tattoo. The light went out of Har-
ling's face rs he listened. Then he
turned almost piteotlsly to the captain.
Tie says they're breaking up, sir.
For Gods sake"-
The CLICKING stopped suddenly. The
two men in the wireless room looked
at each other. and slowly each saw the
horror grow In the eyes Of the other
They waited with blanclrcd faces The
receiver stayed still.
They're gone" said the captain
softly at last. and outside the wireless
room the wind roarrd ,riumphantly.
while The big waves pitt he'd the ship
about in the teeth of the gale
1larling dropped back into chair
Gone" be muttered stupidity.
Gone" And then. to his plain imag-
1natioD. there came the picture Of the
yacht breaking up and the thirty going
down TO death in the sea. Perhaps
they might be closer: they might be
almost on them. Perhaps there was
still time. And then the thought. Sup
pose there are women. too, on board"
came to the young operator.
Harling sprang to his feet.
mo. no." he yelled loud above the
storm. They shan't be gone. We
will save them"
lie sprang to the key and desperate
ly. rebelliouSly. volleyed out into the
night a message of cheer and hope.
We're coming. Well save you yet
Where are you? Hang on!'
The captain laid his hand gently on
the young fellows shoulder.
IT'S no use. fear. boy" he said
softly. They are gone. That's the
way it is at sea. You've done all you
could. boy. Make full report and
transcription for me. II you should get
another call send for me at once"
Turning. the old seaman opened the
door of the wireless room TO fight his
way along the deck to the Iookout'S
position. Inside the room young Har-
ling dropped into chair before his
instrument and. bending over buried
his head in his hand.
Suddenly he sat up straight, tense in
every nerve and muscle What was
that? Was Il his Imagination playing
tricks again? No. He could not be
mistaken. There it was again.
lie looked. listened then sprang to
his feet. with n Shrek Of joy, for the
little recorder In front of him began
again slowly. rs though tired, TO click.
"A-A-A-A"
He read It Off aloud. with regret.
Just some battleship," he said bit.
terly TO himself That's the navy
call"
Next his face lighted. and be laughed
aloud Historically, for it was the navy !
call. but it came from the Iryessa. In
patiently the operator seized the tele-
phone. |