The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-20
The Wreck
of the
Titan
BY Morgan Robertson
Copyright. lS9S. by NJ F. Mansfield.
Copyright. 1912. by Morgan Rob-
ertson. All rights reserved.
BY Morgan Robertson

4
we will not discuss the speed of
the ship. my good man." he said, "or
the rules OF the company. You will
una. when you are paid at Liverpool.
a package addressed to you at the
company's office containing flOO in
Danknotes. This you will receive for
your silence in regard to this collision,
the reporting Of which would embar.
rass the company and help no one"
'On the contrary, captain. l shall not
receive it. On the contrary. sir, shall
speak of this wholesale murder at the
first opportunity"
The captain leaned back and stared
at the debauched face and trembling
figure Of the sailor. with which this
defiant speech SO little accorded. Tn.
der ordinary circumstances he would
have sent him on deck to be dealt with
BY the officers. But this was not an
ordinary circumstance. In the watery
eyes was a look of shock and horror
and honest Indignation. The accents
were those Of an educated man. and
the consequences hanging over him.
self and the company for which he
worked-already complicated by and
involved In his efforts to avoid them
which this man might precipitate were
so extreme that such questions as In.
science and difference In rank were
not to Ike thought Of. lie must meet
and subdue this Tartar on common
ground-as man to man.
"Are you aware. Rowland" he asked
quietly. that you will stand alone,
that you will be dlscredlted, lose your
berth and make enemcs?"
II am aware Of more than that" an.
swered Rowland eXcitedly. II know
Of the power vested in you rs captain.
] know that you can order me Into
Irons from this room for any offcnse
you wish to imagine. And I know
that an unwitncssed. uncorroboratcd
entry in your official log concerning
ME would be evidence enough to bring
me life Imprisonment. But I also
know something of admiralty law
that from my prison cell I can send
you and your first officer to the gal
lows"
"You are mistaken In your cOnccp.
tons Of evidence. could not cause
your conviction by log book entry,
nor could you from n prison injurc
me. What are you. may | asian ex.
lawyer!
"a graduate Of Annapolis = your
equal in professional technique"
"And you have interests at Washing.
TOM"
"None whatever"
Sand what is your object In taking
this stand. which can do you no posi-.
bic good, though certainly not the
harm you speak off,
"That may do one good. strong act
In my useless lifc that may help to
! arouse such sentiment of anger In
| the two countries as will forever end
this wanton destruction of life and
property for the sake OF speed, that
will save the hundreds of fishing craft
and others run down yearly to their
owners, and the crews to their fami-
lies"
Both men had risen. and the captain
was pacing the floor rs Rowland. with
flashing eyes and clinchcd fists. deliv.
cred this declaration.
"a result to be hoped for. Rowland"
said the former. pausing before him.
''but beyond your power or mine to &C.
complish. Is the amount | named
large enough? Could you all a posi-
ton on my bridget"
II can fill higher. and your colnra-
ny is not rich enough to buy me"
you seem to be a man without am
bition, but you must have wants"
FOOD. clothing. shelter-and wills
KY" said Rowland with n bitter. self
contemptuous laugh. The captain
reached down a decanter and two
glasses from a swinging tray and said
as he placed them before him:
"Here is one Of your wants FIJI
up." Rowland's eyes glistened as he
poured out a glassful. and the captain
followed.
II will drink with you. Rowland
be said Here is to our better under
standing" He tossed OF the liqn9r;
then Rowland, who had WAITED said,
II prefer drinking alone. captain ana
drank the whisky at a gulp. The cop
tain's face flushed at the affrcnt but
be controlled himself.
"Go on deck, now, Rowland, he
said II will talk with you again be
fore we reach soundings. MeanWhiie
I request-not require, but request
that you hold no useless conversation
with your shipmates In regard to thls
| matter"
To the first officer, when relieved az
! eight bells, the captain said: he Is
q broken down wreck with a tempo
rarily active conscience, but Is not lhe
man to buy or intimidate. lie knows
too much. However, we've found DIS
| weak point II he gets snakes Deloie
We dock his testimony Is wor'nie
FIJI him up and I'll see the surgeon
and study up on drugs"
Mhen rowland turned out 70 e-sS