The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-25

hours. but what that mighty sine-
song cry announces the event at
Lloyds within thirty minutes, ,or. !.
known - the ChArt-room. Here can
be found In pe.fect order and Sc
auence, each on its rolior. the newest
charts Of all nations. with library
Of nautical literature describing 10
the last detail the harbors, lights.
rocks. shoals and sailing directions OF
every coast-iine shown on the chars
me tracks Of latest storms; he
changes OF ocean currents, and the
whereabouts Of derelicts and fceneres
A member at Lloyds acquires In time
a theoretical knowledge OF the sea
seldom exceeded by the men VINO
navigate II.
Another apartment--the captains
room---is given over to JOY and re-
freshment, and still another. the an
tithesis of the last, IL the intelligence
Office. where anxious ones inquire for
and are told the latest news of this
or that overdue ship.
ON the day when the assembled
throng OF underwriters and brokers
had been thrown into an uproiriods
panic the Criers announcement that
the great Titan was destroyed, and
the papers of Europe ard america
were Issuing extras giving the meagre
details OF the arrival at New York
of one ooatload Of her people. this
office had been crowded with weep
ing women and worrying men, who
would ask. and remain to ask again,
for more news. And when ii Came
later eablegram-giving the story
Of the wreck and the names of the
captain, first officer. boatswain. seven
sailors and one lady passenger as
those OF the saved, feeble old gen
tleman had raised his voice in
auavering scream. high above the
sohbing of women. and said:
MY daughter-in-law is safe; but
where is my son--where If my son,
and my grandchild ?" Then he had
hurried away, but was back again the
next day, and the next. And when,
on the tenth day of waiting and
watching, he learned of another boat
load OF sailors and children arrived
ut Gibraltar he shook his head slow
ly. muttering: George. George" and
! left the room. That night, after
| telegra phtng the consul at Gibraltar Of
! his coming. he crossed the channel.
| In the first tumultuous riot Of in
quiry, when underwriters had climbed
| over desks and each other to hear
again Of the wreck Of the Titan
one-the noisiest of all. corpulent,
hooknosed man with flashing black
| eyes--had broken away from the
crowd and made his way to the cap
tains room. where. after daught of
| brandy, ne had seated himself heavily.
with a groan that came from his soul.
Father Abraham he muttered;
this will ruin me-"
Others came in. some to drink
some to condoTe---all. to talk.
| Hard hit, Meyer" asked one.
Ten thousand, he answered,
gloomily.
Serve you right" said another UNI
| kindly; have more baskets for your
eggs. Knew you'd bring up
Though Mr.. Myers eyes sparkled
a. this. he said nothing. but drank
himself stupid and was assisted home
BY one Of his clerks From this on.
neglecting his Misunderstanding to
occ asionally visit the bulletins-~he
spent his time in the captains room
drinking heavily. and bemoaning his
luck. On the tenth day he read with
watery eyes. posted on the bulletin
below the news Of the arrival at Gil
braltar OF the second baodolat- of11w:
braltar of the second boat-load of
people. the following:
"Life-buoy OF Royal Age london.
picked up among wreckage In Lat:
45-24, ". Lon. 54-sf w. Ship Arctic,
1 xDObLOup &aPt. DEuhuts
"Oh. mine good God. he howled.
as he rushed toward the captain $
room.
Poor devil--poor damn fool OF an
| Isra elite" said one observer to an
other He covered the whole OF the
| Royal Age. and the biggest chunk Of
the Titan TIN take his wife's dia-
| monds to settle"
Three weeks later, Mr.. Myer was
| kaf n Irp ~
> a crowd OF shouting underwriters,
who rushed into the captains ROOM
; seized him by the shoulders. and hur-
ried him out and up to bulletin.
Read II, Meyer-read it. What
/, dyou think of it?" With some diff
, Guilty he read aloud. while they
watched his face:
John Rowland, sailor OF the III
r TAM with child passenger. name un'
, known, on board Peerless, Bath. al
, Christiansand, Norway. Both dan
. gerously i'll. Rowland speaks Of ship
:. cut in half night before loss of 'Tf'
: tam"
1 What do you make OF II. Meyer
r Royal Age isn't it?'' asked one.
. Yes vociferated another. i've
+ figured back. Only ship not reported
r lately. Overdue two months. Waa
| spoken same day fifty miles east OF
e that iceberg
z Sure thing said others Moth
: ing said about 1t in the captains
!. statement-looks queer"
t Well. vwhat of it?" said Mr.. Meyer
i painfully and stupidity: deere Is col
$ lision clause in der 'ritan's' policy.
I merely bay the money to der steam
r ship company instead OF to der Royal
! Age beepie."
t But why did the captain conceal
z it," they shouted at him. What
q hia oh3eet-.Assared against collision
SUITS
!. Der looks OF 1t. perhaps $500 looks
, pad
Nonsense, Meyer. what's the mat
! ter with YOU Which one OF the lost
tribes did you spring from-youre
like none of your race-drinkinS
, yourself stupid like a good Christian.
> rye got II thousand on the Titan. and
II I'm to pay II + want to know why,
You've got tho heaviest risk and the
brain to fight for it--you've rot 70
: lido H. 90 home stra1gl1ten up. and
, attend TO this Well watch Rowland
till you take hold. We're all caught.
They put him into cab. took him
to a Turkish bath and then home.
. The next morning he was 1T his