Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

28 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY ing was far different, too. It was firm and steady, and upon this vessel there was no panic. But "Ta-ap, ta-ap!" it kept coming. "M-M !" "Ta-ap, ta-ap ! M-M ! A-A" Harling shouted crazily. "A-A! A-A!" Mechanically his mind had taken it in the code he had been using — the Continental, which wrote it in senseless M's upon his mind ; but, in the burst of his returning alertness, "A-A!" it came. "The navy code! The general call in the navy code, of course !" "Mongolian!" The roar of his answering spark behind him subdued his excitement for the moment. Of course, a hundred ships might call in the navy code; and why should the lrvessa? "Irv " he replied, with the sweat breaking out again. "lrvessa," spelled the taps in the navy code. "The lrvessa!" he cried, and took down the bridge telephone. "Captain!" he shouted. "Captain! Harling. I've the lrvessa again, sir !" "Look !" he cried, pointing at the tape, and forgetful of his transcription as the captain again stood dripping over him. "The lrvessa, sir. It's not the same one — not Pinckney sending, sir ; for it's in the navy code, and " Steadily and firmly, and without chatter or tremor, the message was coming in. "And, besides, this one's no regular operator, sir ; he's just picked it up. But he keeps his nerve. Listen, sir. lrvessa is aground on reef probably within thirty-five miles of you getting message. Storm center passing direct northeast by east. There is big break clouds now, directly east." The Mongolian's spark roared out: "Storm center southwest us, lightning by west. We can see break south by west. Are steering southwest by west to find you. How long can you last?" "Maybe half hour." "We cannot make better than twelve knots," the Mongolian's spark answered mercilessly, at the captain's nod. "Cannot reach you within two hours, even steering direct for you. Have you lifeboats? Where was that lightning?" "Two ! East by north." "Guide us by wireless long as can, then take to boats. Take rockets on boats." "Lifeboats left yacht ten minutes ago during break in communication. Each carries fourteen persons. I — they started with rockets, but are using them already. "First boat must have used all." Harling took up the reading again. "Second almost. They now seem understand from direction my searchlight you coming from northeast. Their lights seem moving toward you. Fear all rockets gone, but they have lanterns. Depend only upon lanterns." "Who are you?" the Mongolian demanded, as she changed her course slightly. "How many crew stayed with you ?" There was a long pause, and then the answer came: "One." TO BE CON'CLUDED. Film Flams By Dean Bowman /~\NE of the latest arrivals at Charles Chaplin's Essanay studio in Los Angeles is Charlotte — called Lotte by her close friends. Lotte is to appear in some of the forthcoming Chaplin comedies, and just now is perfecting a marvelous imitation of the famous Chaplin walk. Lotte, by the way, is an exceedingly intelligent turkey. Night motion photography in the most inaccessible places where artificial light has heretofore been unknown, has been made possible by means of an independent traveling motor plant, the fruit of the fertile brain of Romaine Fielding. Frank Powell, whose masterly direction of "A Fool There Was" added new laurels to his reputation as one of the foremost photo-play directors in this country, is associated with the Fox Film Corporation. Howell Hansel is now the director in chief of all the productions of the Arrow Film Corporation. Mr. Hansel directed "The Million Dollar Mystery," the most successful serial ever pro duced, and he is now ranked among the first of the country's photo-play directors. Now that Geraldine Farrar has been perpetuated in "Carmen" as a photo-play feature, rumor has it Enrico Caruso is to follow suit. De Segurola, the Spanish basso of the Metropolitan Opera, is said to be heading a company to perpetuate Caruso on the screen. Warden R. Dick, of the Oklahoma State penitentiary, is making arrangements to build a motion-picture theater within the penitentiary grounds for the amusement and benefit of the prisoners, about 2,999 in number. John T. Kelly, late Weber and Fields favorite, is devoting his entire time to film work, and will be seen soon in a Vitagraph feature, entitled "Green Stockings." Miss Carrie Reynolds, formerly in musical comedy, has signed with the Lubin Company, and has already appeared in two of their releases. In her next picture she will play opposite Billy Reeves. Mabel van Buren, late leading lady with Jesse L. Lasky, made her initial appearance under the David Horsley banner in a two-reel Centaur feature, "The Vindication." Another Vitagraph feature on the patriotic order is in prospect, with Charles Richman in the leading role. It will be titled "Colton, U. S. N.," having the United States navy as a background. The Safety First lecture held at the Coliseum, Peoria, Illinois, is said to have drawn the largest crowd ever gathered in that house, it being estimated that about sixteen thousand people attended. A motiograph was used for the projection of the pictures, and the lecturer indorsed the machine very highly. Why do moving-picture leading men always break the rules of good manners by taking their fair companion's arms, instead of offering them theirs?