Recollections (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ...I presided. The circumstances were not ideal for oratory, but, holding on as best I could to the table, I took the opportunity to quiet the fears of the nervous by reminding them that the Cunard Company had never in all its experience had a great misfortune at sea. My tribute to the management of this well-known line was sincere, for both on that and on other occasions I had been impressed with its thoroughness and efficiency. I confessed to a certain amount of wonder about our ocean experiences when I saw the Caronia back in dock in Liverpool. Her towering sides, rising up like some massive barracks from the landing-stage, seemed to make quite unreal the tossing about we had had during the cyclone in mid-Atlantic; and, looking higher still to the crow's nest, it seemed beyond belief that the man up there had been drenched with spray. Several members of our party whose homes were on the Continent sailed from New York on a North German Lloyd vessel shortly after we left, and for a time we saw in the distance, at night, the lights of their steamer. It was in the early days of wireless telegraphy, and both vessels were fitted up with the new apparatus. The science was much more fascinating at that time owing to its novelty, and one of our means of amusement was to keep in touch by wireless with our friends. For part of the voyage this was possible, but when the cyclone overtook us this pleasant means of communication was stopped by order of the captain. How they were faring, therefore, was constantly on our minds, and for some time after we arrived in England there was no news of them, causing us much anxiety on their behalf. After a time we heard that the German vessel had lost her rudder in the storm, and her captain had steered with the...