Fatal Action

And now stay tuned for the program that has rated tops and popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program in radio history. The Signal Oil Program, the Whistler. Signal, the famous Go Father Gasly, invites you to sit back and enjoy another strange story by the Whistler.

I am the Whistler, and I know many things before I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadow. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak.

And now for the signal oil company the Whistler's strange story. Fatal action. It happened suddenly. The motor ship came swiftly out of the fog bank, struck the offshore reef with a grinding crash.

The startled crew yelled in paltive directions at each other as the sea poured through the gaping wound in the ship's hull. She healed over fast, doomed, and everyone on board knew it. Most of all, Captain Ernie Hill knew it as he snapped his orders with machine gun precision.

All hands, prepare to abandon ship, look! He rushed from the bridge rail, dropped to the quarter deck, and continued parking order. There was excitement, yes, but a minimum of confusion before the lifeboat swung out on their dabbits, dropped neatly into the sea, and began to pull safely away with their loads of men.

And not until he was certain that his ship was through, headed for the bottom, did Captain Hill leave her. Moments later, standing in the lifeboat, he watched in silence until his ship upended and her bow disappeared beneath the waves.

He shook his head. Gone. She's gone. gone. Not much you could have done about it. Company will be satisfied. You got everybody on. I don't know. It's rotten luck. This isn't the first ship I've lost this way. Now whole cargo could have happened to anybody. A lot of uncharted reefs all around here. Yeah, I guess so. I just hope the company sees it that way.