The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-22

man to notice what the passengers
have learned. and clear away that
wreck forward as soon as possible"
Tho voice of the officer was hoarse
and strained as he gave these direc-
lions. and the AYE. air. Of the boat
swain was uttered In a gasp.
Chapter ".
The crows-nest lookout sixty
feet above the deck. had seen every
detail of the horror from the mo-
ment when the upper sails of the
doomed ship had appeared to him
above the fog, to the time when the
last tangle OF wreckage was cut awaX
BY his watchmates below. When rex
lieved at four bells he descended with
az little strength in his limbs as was
compatible with safety in the rig
ginG. Al. the rail the beasswafn met
him.
Report your relief. Rowland he
said. and go into the chart roomW
On the bridge. as he gave the
name OF his successor, the first officer
seized his hand. pressed it and re-
peated the boatswain's order In the
chart room he found the captain of
the Titan" pale-faced and intense In
manner. seated at table, and.
~ tuped around him. the s/iole OF thu
watch on deck except the officers.
| lrokouts and quartermasters. The
cabin watchmen were there. and
some OF the watch below. among
VIII IN we're stokers and coal passsrs
ana also = few OF the idlere-lamp-
lr.en. yeomen and butchers. who.
sleeping forward, had been awakened
low knife within which they lived
mel stood
sI.s door. with sounding rods in tt-ir
hands. which they had just shown
the captain--dry. Every face. from
the captains down. wore a look OF
Eerror and expectancy. A quarter
raster followed Rowland in ana
SO i'd:
Engineer felt no jar In The en-
CINE room. cir, and there's NO excite
4, .snt in the stokehold.
'And you Watchmen report NJ
alarm In the cabins. How about the
steeragee Is that man back p sasSed
the CAPTAIN. Another Waterman APP
peared as he spoke.
IAN asiep In the Storage, sir, he
raid. Then quartermaster entered
wlrh the eame report of the fore.
/ .asties
| Very we'll" said the captain. r;s-
ing one by one come into my office
tim the men. Quartermasters w'll
v.a:cn the door-that no man gees
out until have seen him" lie pass. d
into another room. followed ty d
Waterman. who presently emerged
and went on deck with a more pleas
ant expression OF face. Another en-
tered and came out. then another.
and another. until every man but
Rowland had been within the sacred
oil ~
pleased, or satisfied, look on reap
pearing. When Rowland entere. the
captain, seated at q desk, motioned
him to a chair and asked his name.
John Rowland" he answered. The
captain wrote II down.
Il understand" he said. that you
were in the crow's-nest when this
unfortunate collision occurred"
Yes. str; and ! reported the ship
~ soon az saw her
You are not here to be censured.
You are aware. OF course. that moth
ing could be done. either to avert this
terrible calamity. or to save life at
terward."
Nothing at q speed Of Twenty-Five
knots an hour In q thick fog. sir
Tho captain glanced sharply at Row
land and frowned.
we will not discuss the speed Of
fhA shin INV rood man." he said, OT
tns ruies ~ the company. You will
ana when Won are paid at Liverpool
= package addressed to you at the
comnany.s once containing ono hun
dreA Mounds in bank notes. This. you
viii rsceive for your silence In re-
rsrd "a this collision-4the reportins
a. whtch vould embarrass the COM
nv AVA Main ma one.
.sSSn ire contrary. CAPTAIN. I shall
rot receive 4. On the contrary, CTR,
sh.ii sneak OF this Wholesale MUIR
a. ~ ths fsrst onnortunity,"
rhs - Main leaned hack and stared
~ the debauched face and trembling
e-urn ~ the sailor With which thts
as0snt .nieen I'd little accorded.
Tsrdar ordinary circumstances. he
vou,d have sent him on deck 70 be
SsSi. Nth by the of,cers. But this
Vas not An ordinary circunstance, In
th~ watarr ewes WAS. /. look Of shock;
ana horror. ana honest indignation;
ths .ccents vere those Of an educated
man: ana the conseuucnces hanging
ever himseif and the company for
whtch hc worked-elready compIicat-
"a ~ Ana involved in his efforts to
svoid them--which this man. might
precipitate, were 20 extreme. that
snch ouestions a insoience ana diff
fsrenoe IN rank were not TO be
thourht Of. He must meet and SUBJ
dns this Tnrsar on common ground
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