"Warning! -- from the S.S. Bolivia, New York-Liverpool. Just cleared large area consisting of detached masses of field ice, with several bergs, through which we have been working for the last three hours. Very dangerous: advise ships to observe utmost caution, particularly at nighttime." He was standing at the piano warbling "Dear Heart" to the doctor's accompaniment . . . when the proceedings were abruptly interrupted by a jolt -- it was scarcely severe enough to merit the term "shock" -- instantly followed by a perceptible lifting of the ship's bows and a slight listing to starboard. The ship's smooth, steady, gliding progress gave way to a rapid succession of jerks, accompanied by a rending sound distinctly audible in the dead silence that suddenly fell upon the party. Then the bows of the ship were felt to dip, and her stern to rise, while her speed slackened so abruptly that those who were standing only retained their footing with difficulty!

Author Biography

William Joseph Cosens Lancaster AKA Harry Collingwwod (1851-1922) was a British civil engineer who specialized in seas and harbors. An author of nautical and piratical fiction. Wrote under the pseudonym Harry Collingwood.