Титаник

           Itwasafewminutesafterwardsthat,aswehaveseen,theCaptainputhisheadinatthedoorandtoldthemtogetreadytosendacall,returningtenminuteslatertotellthemtosendit.

           ThetwooperatorswereratheramusedthanotherwiseathavingtosendouttheS.O.S.;itwasapleasantchangefromrelayingtrafficmatter.“Wesaidlotsoffunnythingstoeachotherinthenextfewminutes,”saidBride.Phillipswentstolidlyon,firmlyhammeringouthis“S.O.S.,S.O.S.,”sometimesvaryingitwith“C.Q.D.”forthebenefitofsuchoperatorsasmightnotbeonthealertforthenewcall.Forseveralminutestherewasnoreply;thenthewhiningvoiceatPhillips’earbegantoanswer.Someonehadheard.TheyhadpickedupthesteamerFrankfurt,andtheygaveherthepositionandtoldherthattheTitanichadstruckanicebergandneededassistance.Therewasanotherpauseand,intheirminds’eye,thewirelessmencouldseetheFrankfurt’soperatormilesandmilesawayacrossthedarknightgoingalongfromhiscabinandrousingtheFrankfurt’sCaptainandgivinghismessageandcomingbacktotheinstrument,whenagainthewhiningvoicebeganaskingformorenews.

           TheywerelearningfactsuphereintheMarconiroom.TheyknewthattheTitanicwastakinginwater,andtheyknewthatshewassinkingbythehead;andwhattheyknewtheyflashedoutintothenightforthebenefitofallwhohadearstohear.