Титаник
Chapter 15
14’W.Thedreadnewswasbeingwhisperedalloverthesea,andevenashore,justasthedwellersontheNorthAtlanticseaboardwereretiringtorest,thestationatCapeRaceinterceptedthetalkoftheTitanic270milesaway,andflashedthemessageoutfarandwide;sothatGovernmenttugsandshipswithsteamupinharbours,andeverythingafloatinthevicinitywhichheardthenewsmighthurrytotherescue.CapeRacesoonheardthattheVirginianwasonherwaytotheTitanic’sposition,thenthattheOlympicandCarpathiahadalteredtheircoursesandweremakingforthewoundedship,andsoon.Throughoutthenighttherumoursintheairwerebusy,whilestillthesteadycallscameoutinfirmelectricwavesfromtheTitanicstillcalling,stillflashing“C.Q.D.”At1.20shewhisperedtotheOlympic,“Getyourboatsready;goingdownfastbythehead.”At1.35theFrankfurt(afteranhourandahalf’sdelay)said,“Wearestartingforyou.”Thenat1.41cameamessagetotheOlympic,“C.Q.D.,boilersflooded.”
“Arethereanyboatsroundyoualready?”askedtheOlympic,buttherewasnoanswer.
Othershipsbegantocall,givingencouragingmessages:“Wearecoming,”saidtheBirma,“onlyfiftymilesaway”;butstilltherewasnoanswer.
AllovertheNorthAtlanticmeninlightedinstrumentroomssatlisteningwiththetelephonesattheirears;theyheardeachother’squestionsandwaitedinthesilence,butitwasneverbrokenagainbythevoicefromtheTitanic.
