Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-01-03
Wireless
A Story Illustrating a
: Theory
By EDWARD KENYON

A great deal has been spoken or writ
ten about the power of the imagina-
ton. Certain stories are said to be
great imaginary works or wonders of
originality. Then we hear II stated
that truth Is stranger than fiction.
Certainly 1t Is, for the imagination Is
simply the weaving together of certain
truths. In other words, imagination
is not thing OF itself, but blending
of things
This is as clear as a stack of black
cats seen through an impenetrable fog,
isn't III Well. listen to the story l
have to tell and possibly you shall see
the cats through the fog. A little light
may at the outset be cast on my prop
Osltion by the statement that quar-
ter OF century ago there could have
been no such story. No brain could
have Imagined It. And yet In the be-
ginning Of this twentieth century, aft
or man had existed on the earth many
VI gthibs haNO PooScu
through experiences which II they
could have been conceived Of In the
nineteenth century would have been
considered highly imaginative.
But to my story was wireless op-
orator on the Tartaric, an ocean liner.
We had left a strike Of seamen in
port and were provided with not more
than half a crew. The consequence
was that before we were long out they
had been worked to a condition that
many of them, yielding to a natural
requirement. were sinking to sleep at
their posts.
The night was fine, the stars blinked
overhead. but thin mist had settled
on the surface of the water. was In
my wireless Office waiting for another
half hour TO pass before shutting 1t up
and turning In. Suddenly l felt q
shock. Like fash Of the electric cur.
rent | handled came realization Of
what had happened. The watch In the
crows nest had gone to sleep and we
had collided with either an Iceberg or
a ship. sprang to the door Of my
cubby hole, threw 1t open and saw a
great black hulk drifting slowly away
from us. had been right In my dag
nosis The watch had gone to sleep,
the signals Of an approaching vessel
had not been seen. and we had col
llded.
What became OF the ship we struck
we did not know at the time. She had
passed away from us In a sinking con.
dltlon and went to the bottom. Upon
examination of our own vessel IN i'm
mense hole was found to have been
made In the side, and there was dan.
ger OF the bulkhead separating the
compartment from the next giving
way.
How sat for three hours Mt my In.
Btrument repeating the letters @ q d
Come quick-danger) and giving our
latitude and longitude. how ships sped
toward us, how they came too late. has
been told In other similar cases and !
will not dwell upon them. One thing
/ will mention, and only one. Among
those who during those anxious hours
from time to time crowded around my
booth, inqulring by anxious looks II
succor was coming, was struck by the
appearance Of n girl who seemed I'M
der far better control than the others.
She asked me how long I would stick
TO my instrument. and l replied. "I1lI
II can no longer be worked" An IN
terest in me and the responsibility rest
ing upon me seemed to override u sense
Of her own personal danger
When the ship had gone down, boat
ing In the water ! seized an impro
vised raft that had lost Its occupant.
saw by the light Of early dawn tho
face OF this girl turned toward mo
with an appeal for help. My support
was barely enough for one. but could
not resist that appeal. I extended
hand and pulled her aboard.
From the raft we were taken into
a boat in which were only three other
persons alive. and they died during the
long period In which we were exposed
I lived, and the girl barely lived. Then
came q wind that blew in westward,
and at last we were overturned in
breakers. How In my weakened con.
dition ! managed TO drag my compan-
ion beyond the waves do not know.
On looking about me. what was my
establishment to see not far away a
wireless station, fits upr1ghts extend
ing far up toward the clouds. Not
knowing where we were, I could not
tell what station 1t was. No one was
near with whom to leave the girl that
might bring succor. Indeed, did not
know whether was on an island OF
the mainland or whether the place was
Inhabited.
Nevertheless there was but one thing
for me to do-leave her and 20 for
help. On approaching the station was
surprised not to see any one CHANGING
up at one Of the posts. ] saw that II
had been shivercd. doubtless by light.
ming. Entering the operating hut, there
lay the dead body Of a man. / sur.
missed that he had been killed by the
bolt that had struck the post
There were supplies on hand, and,
taking what needed to revive my com.
panion, ! returned to her. and, after
getting her into condition to warrant
a removal. | carried her TO the station.