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66
NEWSREEL MAN
“Four days later, while standing on the flying bridge, I happened to note the Commander making some very careful observations. ‘You boys had better get your cameras on deck,’ he suggested in answer to my obvious curiosity. ‘Are we getting near ice?’ I inquired. ‘Xo, Carey, but we are about to stand by to perform a duty which is directly connected with the motive for founding the Ice Patrol.’ The officer’s face was very grave as he spoke. ‘On this spot,’ he continued, ‘Latitude 41°46’ North and Longitude 50° 14' West at eleven forty the night of April fourteenth, nineteen hundred and twelve, the steamer Titanic rammed into an iceberg.’ Turning, he issued an order to the exec. ‘Mr. Kendall, please have all hands muster on the quarter deck for the Titanic memorial service.’
“Reek and myself set up our cameras as the bosun’s piping whistle summoned the crew aft. While the engines barely turned over, the commander delivered a benediction, and the crew stood at rigid attention. As we bowed our heads in silent prayer, we heard the lonely call of a sea bird sounding like the cry of a lost soul. After this. Taps was blown, and as the last sweet note trailed off across the restless waters a wreath of immortelles was cast over the taffrail. I have seen the ceremony many times since, and it has never failed to move me.
“That night our course was altered, and we headed north into the teeth of a howling gale. It was my first taste of seasickness. The little ship tossed and pitched incessantly; I could hear the wind scream and the water bound as it broke over the prow. Like a game little terrier the Mojave woidd bury her nose in the sea, shudder the length of her keel, then fairly leap out of the water.
“Never have I put in such a hellish night. Here we are, I thought, a thousand miles from shore and about to enter more perilous waters. What if we should scrape keel over some invisible growler? 3Iy imagination was working overtime. I could not blot the thoughts of the Titanic tragedy from my mind. I was in a funk and the fact of my illness didn’t help matters any. Da^m found me awake and trembling in every limb. Reek, noticing my misery, kindly saved me from a joshing in the w’ard room by telling the Filipino boy to take some breakfast to my cabin. It was no go though, for I promptly lost it. I must have looked pretty unhappy when I stepped out on deck; even the sailors refrained from giving me a ribbing.