We had decided to let Harold make a trip to Europe alone. The first message from him after his departure was a brief note to his mother saying that they had had a turbulent voyage, but all had landed safely upon the other side, none the worse for their experiences. The next day a number of letters came to me from total strangers. One of these ran as follows: My Dear Sir: Prompted by my own impulses, and urged to do so by the passengers under my charge, I improve this first opportunity to express to you our high appreciation for your noble but very modest son, to whom more than to any one else we owe the lives of all on board our fated ship. I am sending this direct to you both, because I understand a father's heart and because the young man escaped as soon as we came to land, without any of us learning his address. I beg you will communicate to him the desire of the president of our company to meet him and personally to thank him for his gallant conduct. I am also instructed to say that whenever Harold desires to cross the ocean the best which any ship I may command can afford will be his without charge. Very respectfully yours, -------- Captain. S. S. Another letter was the following: My Dear Sir: Permit me to congratulate you on having such a heroic and self-possessed son. We, his fellow passengers, are, if possible, as proud of him as you must be. I fear that his account of the affair will not do himself full justice, and so, with your permission, I will give you the full details as I have gathered them from the passengers, from the crew, and from my own observation. During the last night of our voyage a thick fog closed about us. The constant blowing of the fog whistle made the night dismal. Few persons slept at all. About two o'clock in the morning the ship struck a reef, and instantly it seemed as though every person on that ship reached the decks at the same time. The water poured in and put out the fires. The ship heeled badly, and it seemed that any minute she might slip off the reef on which she was resting into deep water and go down. To add to our horror fire broke out. It seems to have started in the wireless operator's room. Very much damage was done to the wireless outfit itself, and the operator was badly burned, so much so that he was taken to the ship's hospital suffering with many painful and dangerous wounds. Meanwhile the flames spread rapidly and we were unable to summon help. The crew and many of the passengers fought the flames, but with little success.