 Autolight and its 98,000 dealers bring you Miss Agnes Moorhead in tonight's presentation of Suspense Tonight Autolight presents the first radio adaptation of one of the most amazing human documents ever written The personal diary of Emily Woodridge, which she called the wreck of the maid of Athens our star the first lady of suspense Miss Agnes Moorhead I Have buying a magazine. I see yes sure Why not take this one? Oh, no, thanks. Everyone do his own taste, you know Harlow in buying magazines Yes, Hap but in replacing electrical system parts for your car. Definitely. No, huh? Well, for example many leading makes of our finest cars have auto light electrical systems as original equipment, right? Right, but if replacements are needed do the owners of those auto light equipped cars insist on auto light original service parts Exactly the same as those specified by the car manufacturer If they don't they're sure taking a big chance with a big investment Harlow They sure are Hap because auto light original service parts meet the electrical system Specifications of the car manufacturers and they know what's best for their cars So friends insist on and be sure you get only auto light original service parts for your auto light equipped car See your car dealer or your dealer handling auto light original service parts and remember From bumper to tail light. You're always right with auto light and now auto light presents Emily Woldridge's the wreck of the maid of Athens starring Miss Agnes Moorhead hoping once again to keep you in suspense 84 years ago tonight their sail from the port of London the Brigantine made of Athens 60 some days later off the cold southern tip of South America The ship was a fryer and sinking in heavy seas Abort her along with the necessary officers and crew was the wife of the master captain Richard. Woldridge Her name was Emily and this is her story First mate's over side sir. He was trying to free the port lifeboat. We can't go after him. Those boats are jammed We'll never use them very well. Tell the rest of the men to come here. We'll have to abandon ship as quickly as possible Perhaps the most terrible thing of all is the fact that there wasn't room in the lifeboats for all the men Always in my memory will live the picture of those who fought to live and who died so hopelessly in those cold scenes The scene of fearful desolation Great ways seem to swallow in that troughs are too surviving lifeboats And when we were lifted to their crest the site of the burning ship met our eyes the gallant maid of Athens She seemed to me the loneliest thing I'd ever seen as we deserted her I Looking the other way by the grace of Providence We could see a low fringe of land on the horizon my husband took this to be the island of San Carlo and perhaps our salvation We found that instead of safety we had run on even greater danger in the heavy surf that pounded the rocky island To try to land through it was a fatal risk as was proved later But my husband had no other choice than to order the boats into it Vision of a wave towering over us high as a mountain and falling on us. I have no memory of coming ashore As though waking no not quite a waking from a nightmare. I saw a boat overturned on a tiny strip of sand I saw my husband and the men who had survived the landing and I saw the bodies of those from the second boat who had not My husband was pulling the last of these from the anguish Then Penny was bending over me where I lay Are you you all right my dear? Yes And you I'm quite all right But the poor devil's in the other boat. Oh, yes, I know Besides us There are only four left now. Hey, what oats Roberts and old Rawson. I was nothing I could do to save the others Of course there wasn't Everyone knows you did everything you could Can you stand To the rest of us have a chance Very good chance Come on, we go further up the shore and build a shout out some sort It's a nasty cold wind Yes, Lawson the others have been talking. We'd like a word with you. You don't mind. Oh, of course. Of course. What is it? We've lost a number of our chums as you will know I do know Lawson I'm terrible sorry not much good being sorry is it not going to help any of the poor blokes is it I just what do you mean Lawson I Feel our losses greatly if not greater than you do now. What do you mean the way? We've been talking Easy to say how sorry you are after the damage is done But what we want to know is why wasn't something done to prevent it from happening I don't think I quite understand you every precaution was taken in London the cargo and the loading was well supervised You all know that then why did the ship catch fire? I don't know nobody said nothing to us about a cargo Catch fire. It was not a dangerous cargo. Hey, what then why did it catch fire? I've told you I don't know under given circumstances the most peaceful voyage can go wrong what circumstances captain It's only decent to place the blame when you've lost as many chums as we have the fine lot they were now listen to me man Talked like this won't do any good I'll admit we've had more than our share of bad luck. We don't say I do that Six was spared and if we are to survive we've got to work together We won't be any more than survival on this filthy island. We haven't got food stores for a week And I'll wait till it doesn't see a ship once a year where we won't wait to be found by a ship Now the mainland of South America is a bit more than 300 miles west. I Have the navigational instruments to get us there if we can repair the boat Oh, maybe it's not so bad. You thought it was lost. It's bad enough We'll have to be lucky to live to tell of it. It won't be easy, but it is possible and I can't stress the importance of speed strongly enough There are two reasons one is scarcity of food the other is more important We're approaching the storm season in these latitudes and when it arrives the gay Ron was cost nice. We're having our share of bad fortune. It's a fact. We should be all right If we work quickly we can repair the boat in say four days and launch it without accident I have every confidence that will be on our way to safety and home Darkness fell as Lawson and the others buried the dead a thick fog settled on the island and in spite of exhaustion The dampness and cold made sleep out of the question We spent the night huddled over fires one for the crew and one for my husband and me We were separated from the men by only a few paces and although nothing further was said there was a tension Between the two groups The next morning my husband set the men to work on the boat where her planks had been battered on the rocks And he set out to search the island hoping to find a beach better suited to launching through the surf No sooner had he disappeared than Lawson A sullen unpleasant man from the start of the voyage walked toward me and behind I could see the other men leaving their work to follow him I trust you spent the night counting your blessings Mrs. Wolverine. Why I I'm thankful to be alive as we all should be and did you give a thought to the poor boys what went down and Then we buried of course Husband told you men to repair the boat. Why aren't you doing it? We want you to hear what we have to say What do you want with me? What is it the day you stepped aboard in London? I said there was gonna be trouble. I told the boys you want it dead and gone now a woman at sea is a deadly thing I told him we didn't have to believe him then but we do know but you can't believe it There's no truth in it. It's only a superstition. I am one with some meaning behind it Do you know the history of the maid of Athens? No, well, I do 42 boys is she had 42 not a sea she hadn't crossed through fair weather and foul and she'd never carried a woman until you came aboard What do you say to that? What is it? It doesn't mean anything. It does They got more proof on our side than you have on yours. We saw the ship go down It isn't proof. Listen to this. I've sailed for 32 years with good fortune all the way That is until this trip. How do you answer that? There is no answer. But then you admit you're the cause of the trouble. I do not you're acting like children children you say You should be speaking of the poor fatherless children of them that went down made orphans by a fire that nobody can explain And maybe you can the rest of you the rest of you listen to me There's there's no one to blame when you're carrying cotton and if it gets damp Sometimes the weight of it causes pressure and friction and and and fire start it's happened before when I don't know But it does happen. I haven't told me it did Any of you chums every of anything like that to fire starting because cotton is wet in 12 years at sea I never did it happened because a woman at sea is a deadly thing You've caused it. There's no doubt of it. That's not true. Can you prove that it's not? Well, one needs facts to disprove something and you'll accuse me without facts. What you mean is you can't prove where wrong But we take that as your confession. Hey, let's go. It is not. I have nothing to confess You brought us this trouble and we all know it There's nothing you can say to change our minds and that goes for what you might say for your husband, too Good day, Mrs. Woolridge Come on Quite obviously there was an unspoken threat in their words Although I hope that I'd maintain my composure in front of them. I was frightened Considering the problems already weighing upon my husband. It was my pay to keep this fear to myself But when he returned my will weakened and I told him about it My dear you mustn't let it trouble you as you told them they are like children What they think today will be forgotten tomorrow, but I can't forget their faces. They hated me No, they only thought they did they must have something to hate because of the situation we're in remember before it was me They blame I suppose you're right. I suppose I'm Silly to be frightened, but oh, please dick. Don't leave me alone with them again. I hope I won't have to But if I do mind to have courage and know that although they are simple in their logic They are good seamen and they're very important to us His word did give me courage The men were important to him as semen When he said that I realized that he was more important to them because he was the only one who could set us on a course that would take us to safety He was the only one who could navigate With his importance to them surely the men would do nothing to me. That is what I hopefully thought But I could not forget the expressions of hate on the faces of the four men as I stood before them Is bringing you miss Agnes moorhead in Emily Woldridge's the wreck of the maid of Athens tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense Say hapa if a reader asked for a sports magazine Would he let the man substitute detective stories? Of course not Harlow yet many magazine readers will stand for Substitute parts in the vital electrical system of their auto light equipped cars and but why Harlow well hap I guess it's because readers can easily see what's inside the cover of a magazine But not what's under the hood of the car, but it's simple Harlow Just insist on auto light original service parts for your auto light equipped car and then you can't go wrong right? You are half auto light original service parts meet the exact specifications of leading car manufacturers Who specify auto light electrical systems as original equipment? That means they fit and work as a balanced team with the rest of the electrical system to give you the Smoothest performance money can buy you don't take substitutes in magazines. So why take them for your car? Yes friends be sure you get what's best for your auto light equipped car See your car dealer or your dealer handling auto light original service parts and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Miss Agnes Moorhead in Elliot Louis's production of Emily Woldridge's the wreck of the maid of Athens a true story Well calculated to keep you in Thinking back to my meeting with Lawson and the man it was impossible for me to understand how they could be so blind But when one remembers the witchcraft trials and Salem and the burning of witches in Europe Then one realizes that humans have often used demons and superstitions were no reasonable cause For a situation can be found As the work on the boat continued it became my responsibility to add to our megalodre With some rough hooks fashioned by my husband and some stout cordage secured to the rocks I fished Although I checked these set lines often even at night when sleep was impossible the results were disappointing I thought it possible that the attitudes of the men would soften toward me because of my efforts to better conditions There were no indications that this change was taking place only dark accusing looks One hayward the youngest of them seemed less hateful than the others. He averted his eyes when I looked at him That evening of the second day Lawson paid a visit on my husband a Visit that made my fears all the more real Top of the evening to your captain. Thank you Lawson. Mrs. Woolridge. Good. Good. Good evening Though the top of the evening ain't worth anything on this rotten wet island. I hope you don't mind my coming sir Of course not Lawson. What is it? Are you satisfied with the way the work is going sir? Yes, I am more than satisfied To be quite honest considering the mood you men were in the day we arrived. I expected trouble Thankfully there hasn't been any bit upset. We were losing all those chums, but it's survival of the fittest I suppose When do you think we'll be ready to leave? I should say it will depend on the surf Well, the boat should be fit day after tomorrow But if the surface heavy we won't be able to launch safely here and we'll have to move to the other beach That'll take a day the fourth day then. Yes, I should say so barring any trouble that is. Yes Now I wouldn't want you to think that I'm expecting anything bad to happen So it was the boys that asked me to talk to you about this about what the way they feel sir Well, we're all in this together everybody equal taking the same chances. Yes, that's right Going through that surf and trying to make the crossing to the mainland anything might happen to any one of us Yes, that's true, too Well, what the boys means says that right now everybody's not quite equal That's because you're the only one who can keep us on course once we start. I suppose I am yes Yeah, well now I repeat we aren't looking for anything bad to happen, but suppose it did To you Then where would the rest of us be what with 300 miles of ocean to cross and none of us knowing how to keep us on a course I see You want me to teach you navigation? Oh, no, not just me sir No, don't do it. What's come over you money. They're up to something. I don't know what's upset you mrs. Woolridge We're thinking of you too with a captain wouldn't want you to drift about until you died of thirst in case Something happens to him, right sir. That's quite right, but I'll tell you what upset mrs. Woolridge. Perhaps we can straighten it out You told her she was to blame for our misfortune Miller because she was a board The ridiculous thing for you to say and it frightened her well some of the chums got to talking about it They got a bit excited. It wasn't the other men. It was you I only said what they told me to mrs. Woolridge, and I'm sorry that I did None has there been any more conversation about it. Oh The only thing they talk about now is getting home. I Don't suppose we're much for brains, sir. But do you think we could learn? Navigation oh at least enough to reach the coast then one could feel his way until he reached a port We'll have the first lesson tonight. Thank you, sir. The boys will be pleased to hear this. I'll be with you in a moment Night mrs. Woolridge don't teach them if you do you will be important to them any longer They'll be in control. I know that that's what they want. They're evil men Decapable of anything what have they left to see? Oh Emily stop it. Stop it. Oh In a situation like this we must be realistic It's for the good of all that the men should learn to navigate My husband returned an hour later quite pleased with the spirit of the men in the progress They had made during their first lesson. I Tried to match his confidence with my own but the next day that became impossible There was no mistaking the hate for me in the faces of the men when my husband was not present But he had no chance to realize this because the expressions changed when he appeared The men took on a rough good humor and an enthusiasm for their work and the future that completely beguiled him At times I doubted my reason but at others I was sure that I didn't imagine this purposeful change of attitude Then during the afternoon I was able to speak with Hayward the one I hoped felt less strongly toward me He was on his way to the spring that supplied our water when I was able to meet him alone Mrs. Waldridge What are you doing here? I wanted to talk to you. I don't want to talk to you I've got nothing to say. Why did Lawson lie to my husband and me? I don't know what you mean. He told us last night that you men didn't blame me for what happened Well, we don't but you realize how ridiculous the things were that you said to me the first day that that I was the cost That's right. But then why do you hate me? Hate you? We don't Mrs. Waldridge. The expressions on your faces when my husband isn't there couldn't mean anything else What is it? What are you thinking? You must be mistaken Mrs. Waldridge. All we talk about is getting home That's what Lawson told you to say if you had to talk to me, isn't it? I don't know what you mean. He said the same thing last night in the same words But he was lying wasn't he just like you are. You've got no reason to say that Mrs. Waldridge I don't know what we'd want to lie about. About what your plans are. Plans? Well, I don't want to get home as quick as we can Isn't that what you plan? You're lying to me. But Mrs. Waldridge, why should you say that? That's not what you're thinking. What are your plans? What I told you to go out. You're lying to me I can tell from your face. It's been a trying experience Mrs. Waldridge. Perhaps your mind is playing tricks I don't know what else could upset you like this Final repairs on the boat were completed that day and all of the next was consumed in moving it to the safer beach The surf was not as high as the shore was protected by a curve of reef from which I cast my set lines The crashing waves caused terrible currents and the frightening prospect of maneuvering a boat through them was real enough to keep my Mind clear of my other fears which seemed to have no basis at the moment At nightfall I was huddled close to our fire as my husband awoke from a short nap How long have I slept? No more than an hour Seemed like days. I will sleep days once I get into a better game Luxury that'll be a oh, I hope everything will be all right tomorrow with the crossing no reason It shouldn't be a start boat. We're with the prevailing winds. No, you don't have to make it sound easy for me You know Just tell me if there's a good chance of reaching safety. There's a very good chance And I must say that I'm happy to see our mood improved morale will be most important when we're at sea I'll help the best I can. I know you will my dear. Oh Yes, yes, yes, what is it? I hope you don't mind the boys is a bit uneasy tonight They asked me to come wrong nothing special sir. They wonder if you could tell them Where we'll land roughly that is that they wanted me to ask if you'd talk to them for a suppose They are uneasy. Yes. I'll have a word with them. They'd like that sir the only self I'm not troubled. I'd say it's in the lap of the gods. So while you go to see them I think I'll have a look at the beach again. See how the surf is running. I think that'd be a good idea Let me know how the currents are crossing with you. Hi, sir. I'll be back in a few minutes No, no, no, don't leave me. Only a few moments, Emily dear. Now you try to race. All right, Mrs. Woodridge What are you going to do? Nothing Mrs. Woodridge, but you are time to tend your set lines out on the surf I think I'll go with you in case you have an accident on those slippery rocks in the dark No, I'm going to do it in the morning. You've done it before at night You've killed enough men and now it's an eye for an eye. I haven't killed anybody You're insane. I haven't You'll kill him if you call for him. The boys are ready to take care of him if you do Now we don't need him anymore Oh I knew, I knew It's all up to you Mrs. Woodridge. Ain't fair of you to risk us all When a slip of the reef will save us I won't shout Come along then. We've seen what a woman at sea brings about But it won't happen again in the small boat We've seen what happens and what you see is proof We'll talk no more about it But thank heaven the other men were more human than lawson They let him lead them until tonight But they couldn't justify murder And told me what he planned to do The five survivors of the Maid of Athens reached the port of Stanley in the Falklands As Emily Woodridge stated it in her chronicle In time to hear of the death of Charles Dickens A sorrowful landfall after all our trials Suspense Presented by Autolite, tonight's star, Miss Agnes Moorhead This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Autolite, the world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment In 28 plants from coast to coast, Autolite makes over 400 products for cars, trucks, tractors, planes, boats and industry These products include bumpers, die castings, industrial thermometers and batteries such as the famous Autolite Stay Full Ignition engineered Autolite spark plugs, both standard and resistor types Voltage regulators, wire and battery cable Autolite bullseye sealed beam units And Autolite original service parts for all Autolite electrical systems Autolite is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry So from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolite Next week we bring to life one of the most famous detectives in literature As we dramatize E.C. Bentley's classic novel of deduction, Trent's Last Case Our star, Mr. Ronald Coleman That's next week on Suspense Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis With music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Ludblustkin Emily Wildridge's The Wreck of the Made of Athens was adapted for suspense by Gil Dowd In tonight's story, Joseph Kearns was heard as Captain Wildridge and Ben Wright as Lawson Featured in the cast were Larry Thor, Richard Peele and Jack Prussian Agnes Morehead may soon be seen in the Universal International Picture Magnificent Obsession And remember, next week, Mr. Ronald Coleman in Trent's Last Case Autolite dealers Yes Radio Network