Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-16

son was that at full speed she could
be more easily steered out OF danger.
and fourth that in case of an end
on collision with an iceberg--the only
thing afoat that she could not con
quer-her bows would be crushed in
but few feet farther at full than ut
half speed. and at the most three COM
partments would be flooded, which
would not matter with six more TO
spare.
So it was confidently expected that
when her engines had limbered them
selves the steamship Titan would land
her passengers 5000 miles away with
the promptitude and regularity of a
railway train. She had beaten all rec
ords on her maiden voyage. but up to
the third return trip had not lowered
the time between Sandy Hook and
Daunt's rock 70 the five day limit. and
it was unofficially rumored among the
1000 passengers who had embarked at
New York that an effort would now be
made to do so.
Eight tugs dragged the great mass
to midstream and pointed her nose
down the river; then the pilot on the
bridge spoke q word or two, the first
officer blew short blast on the wills
tie and turned lever. the tugs gath
cred in their lines and drew off. Down
in the boweAs of the ship three small
engines were started. opening the
throttles of three large ones: three pro
pellers began to revolve, and the nam
moth, with vibratory tremble run.
ming through her great frame, moved
slowly to sea.
East Of Sandy Hook the pilot was
dropped and the real voyage begun.
Fifty feet below her deck, in an in
ferno of noise and heat and light and
shadow, coal passers wheeled the pick
ed fuel from the bunkers to the fire
hold, where half naked stokers, with
faces like those Of tortured tends. toss
ed it into the eighty white hot mouths
of the furnaces. In the engine room
oilers passed to and fro, in and out of
with oil cans and waste, overseen by
the watchful staff on duty, who listen.
ed with strained hearing for false
note in the confused tumble Of sound
or clicking Of steel out of tune
which would Indicate a loosened key
or nut. On deck sailors set the trim
gular sails on the two masts to add
their propulsion to the momentum of
the record breaker, and the passengers
dispersed themselves as suited their
tastes. Some were seated in steamer
chairs. well wrapped. for, though it
was April. the salt air was chilly;
some paced the deck, acquiring their
sea legs; others listened to the orches-
ira in the music room or read or wrote
In the library, and Il few took to their
berths. seasick from the slight heave
Of the ship on the ground swell.
| The decks were cleared. watches set
at noon, and then began the never
ending cleaning up Mt which steamship
sailors put In so much OF their time.
Headed by a six foot boatswain, a
/ gang came aft on the starboard side
! with paint buckets md brushes and
distributed themselves along the rail.
"Davits an stanchions. men-nevel
mind the rail" said the boatswain
Ladies' better move your chairs back
Y little. Rowland. climb down out o
that; you'll be overheard. Take ven
tilator No; you'll spill paint. Pu,
your bucket away an get some sand
paper from the yeoman. Work nboart
till you get it out O. you"
The sailor addressed, slight bull
man Of about thirty, black bearded ant
bronzed to the semblance of health!
vigor but watery eyed and unstead!
of movement, came down from thu
rail and shambled forward with hi
bucket AS he reached the group o
ladies' to whom the bOatswain hat
spoken his gaze rested on one, sum.
haired young woman with the blue o
the sea in her eyes. who had arisen a
his approach. He started, turnet
aside as IL to avoid her and. raising hi
hand In an embarrassed half salute
passed on. Out Of the boatswain'
sight he leaned against the deck hous
and painted. while he held hts hand t.
his breast.
what Is it," he muttered YEARLY
whisky nerves or the dying flutter o
a starved love? Five years now and
look from her eyes can stop the bloo'