 Hi radio fans welcome to behind the mic from otrpodcast.com. I'm your host Austin Vock and on this podcast we explore the history behind many of old-time radio's greatest performances. We jump around from series to series picking one episode each week and together we learn about the actors, producers, sponsors and more before listening to that full episode as it was originally broadcast. If you have feedback for today's show or have a great idea for a future podcast please send me an email at contact at otrpodcast.com. You can also send me a voice message by clicking the link in the show notes or if you're watching this on YouTube just leave a comment down below. Today's episode will begin after a brief message from our sponsor. On July 7th 1947 CBS Radio aired the very first episode of Escape, a high-adventure anthology series featuring a new story and different set of characters in each episode. Many stories both originals and adaptations involved a protagonist in dire life or death straits and the series featured more science fiction and supernatural tales than other popular shows of the time like Suspense. Despite becoming one of the most popular series of its genre it did not have a regular sponsor and was subjected to frequent schedule shifts and lower production budgets during its seven-year run. Today's episode is the fourth in the series and was originally broadcast on July 28th 1947. The same day English swimmer Tom Blower completed the first swimming of the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland achieving the feat in 15 hours and 26 minutes. Please enjoy Typhoon from Escape. Escape. Escape tonight for the China Seas in Typhoon. The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations presents Escape, a new series of programs of which this the fourth is Typhoon by Joseph Conrad produced and directed by William M. Robeson. Of all the great authors who wrote of the sea, none so captured the wonder and the horror of it as did Joseph Conrad. Tonight we escape to the China Seas in his great story Typhoon. Told in the words of a certain Mr. Jukes, chief mate of the China co-steamer Nan Shan, a young man of very remarkable perceptions. I've been sailing the China Sea long enough to see some strange and terrible things but nothing as bad as that was. I got himself forgot us and the whole blinking universe set out to do us in that night. It was the, but that comes later. I guess you can't really understand what happened on board the Nan Shan without knowing something about our skipper, Captain Mcwhir. Stupid Mcwhir I called him and after sailing with him for three years I ought to know what I'm talking about. May I tagged him right off? First day he came aboard to take command. In Liverpool it was and Mr. Siggs, who was one of the owners, was showing him around the deck. It is no more modern ship afloat. I might say again that you've come to us very highly recommended Captain Mcwhir. We've a great deal of confidence in you. Thank you Mr. Siggs. She's a brand new ship and a good ship. There's no reason why you shouldn't continue in command of her as long as you like. Well that's fine. She'll be the smartest thing afloat in the Chinese trade. Why, she's put together like a Swiss watch, precision built from stem to stern. Wait, just a minute Mr. Siggs. What is it? That lock. Lock? What lock? Here on the cabin door. What about it? You'll notice how it's been set in the frame, somewhat cocked at an angle. The ship starts rolling a bit and the first thing you know it snaps open and leaves the door swinging. It really should be fixed Mr. Siggs. That's Captain Mcwhir. The best birth he'd ever had. New command of brand new ship. When instead of pinching himself to see if he's awake he complains about a lock on the cabin door. See what I mean? Captain Mcwhir, I see what you mean. I'll have it attended to right away. I think you'll do all right. Thank you Mr. Siggs. Well everybody knows what the China coast is. You haul out of Bangkok for a quick run up to Singapore and then shove off for Hong Kong. Two days ashore, you do it all over again. Three years of it. Three years of heat, smells, weather, copra, silk and tea. Alone in there somewhere the owners decided to transfer the ship's registry to the Siamese flag. Don't ask me why. They just did that's all. Anyway I can tell you I didn't like it. When you grow up under the Union Jack you figure to go on sailing under it. Not that the skipper of course could understand that kind of a feeling. Oh no. Not all stupid Mcwhir. Hi. What is that Mr. Jukes? They just sent the new flag out from shore sir. Here it is. Oh fine fine. Unroll it. Let's have a look. Oh yes. In my opinion sir it's a queer kind of flag for a man to sail under. Oh and what's the matter with it? Well it just looks queer to me that's all. Well now let's see. A white elephant on a red field. Just a minute. I'll look it up in the book. Here we are. Siam. White elephant on a field of bright red. Length exactly twice the breadth. So there's nothing wrong with this flag Mr. Jukes. Oh isn't there? Not a thing. I hardly thought there could be. After all these people ought to know how to make their own flag. It stands to reason. Does it now? You must have it confused with some other flag Mr. Jukes. Well all I can say is. Of course you'll have to take care of the seamen. Don't hoist the elephant upside down. That is before they're quite used to. I presume it might be taken for a signal of distress. And in that case well the way I see it that elephant stands for something like the nature of a Union Jack in the British flag. Oh you think so. Well it's like a bloomer Noah's Ark. That's what it is. Mr. Jukes. I'm sorry sir. I can't see where the color of a flag could any wise effects the navigation of a ship. I alright sir I'll instruct the hands. It'd certainly be a most distressful sight to see that elephant hoisted upside down. Well that was Captain Mcwhirer. Couldn't get a thing through his head if you drew him a picture. And that's the skipper we had to sail under on the maddest wildest trip that any coaster ever took. We were loading out in Singapore. Half the cargo had already come aboard. The sun was blazing and the smoke from our stacks hung over the decks like a blanket. The Nanshans winches puffed away aft. Cargo chains creaked and clattered across the comings. I was in the way supervising the loading when Mr. Rout the chief engineer came up. Hey there Jukes. What's going on down there on the dock. Looks like a bloomin' army. I don't know Mr. Rout. Must be a mob of coollies on the move. Here comes a captain. Could be some of his door. Hi sir. Keep the port between the clear of cargo. There'll be two hundred coollies coming aboard and we'll plan to bunk them down there. Good lord where are they bound. We'll have to put in there this trip. Yeah but we're not fixed to handle passengers sir. They'll bring supplies aboard with them. Every man's got a comfort wood chest so you'll have to nail deck buttons down there to keep them from sliding. Yes sir. I'll see to it. I've all been working on a plantation north somewhere. Two year contract. They're dying to get home. I wouldn't have been quite right to turn them down. You may as well start them coming aboard Mr. Jukes. All right sir. Olly number one boy Olly same. Listen you're savvy huh. Olly fellow catch him here top side catch him step step bottom side Olly time chop chop. Single file now one fellow one time all the time. What do you suppose they carry in those boxes. Oh I suppose their personal belongings Mr. Jukes and of course their two years pay in silver dollars. Well they're as vicious a looking bunch of murderers as I've ever seen. Murderers. Oh come now Mr. Jukes one or two of them may be but in the main I'd say they're honest workmen have to be to stick out a two year contract on one of these plantations. Just the same sir we better not take any chances. Oh I checked the lading weights carefully Mr. Jukes. We can carry them without any overloading at all. I mean that all right sir I'd better go hide the silverware in the office's mess. He's a hard lad to understand sometimes. I could say I had a premonition right then and I wouldn't be lying. Anyway that's how it started. At the hottest time of the year two hundred half civilized Cooley's aboard a captain with no more imagination than you could stick in your ear we steamed out from Singapore and laid a course for the port of Fuchao. Jukes I don't like it. I don't like it a bit. What don't you like about it Mr. Ron? The looks of things. Something ominous about it. Oh there's a bit of a swell running all right. It's not a breath of wind. It's uncommonly hot that's all. It gives a man with jumps. You're as bad as the second mate. He's been groaning around like the voice of doom all day. Mr. Jukes. That's the old man. I'll see you later. Keep your steam up Mr. Ron. Were you calling me captain? I was Mr. Jukes. What was all the long conversation with Mr. Rout? Oh I'd find nothing much sir. I didn't see any harm in talking a bit. I'm not on watch you know. Oh no no nothing wrong with it. Nothing at all. I just wondered what you could find to talk about. Well different things I don't know. I've seen people on shore. Sit around the table and talk for two or three hours. I never could understand it. It's just conversation that's all about nothing in particular. Seems pretty silly. Well you've noticed the barometer no doubt. Yes sir it's dropping. Falling fast. Quite low now. Take a look. I'll say it's dropping. Bad time of the year for that sort of thing. Very bad. Anything you want me to do sir? Oh no no. Must be someone commonly dirty whether knocking about somewhere. Hey Mr. Jukes. Yes sir. Well that's all. Just thought you ought to know about it that's all. Carry on sir carry on. It's a heavy one all right mate. Them coolies must be having a time of it down below. Lucky for them the old girl rolls easier than any ship I've ever seen. You just wait. Oh you think we may be in for it huh. Oh no. I don't think anything. You're not going to make a fool out of me that way Mr. Jukes. I didn't say a word. What's the matter with you second. Why shouldn't you say what you think if you're a minder. No you don't catch me. Whoa there's another one. That's pretty rough. Now whatever is about we're steaming right into it. You just try telling the old man that. And why shouldn't I. Matter of fact I think I'll ask him about this cross swell it's getting worse all the time. I've known skippers to break some right good men for saying a whole lot less. Captain McQuirk. Yes Mr. Jukes what is it swell is getting a good deal worse sir. Yes I noticed that in here anything wrong. Well I was thinking about the passengers. What passengers. Why the coolies sir. Then if you mean coolies say coolies Mr. Jukes. I'm out to say what he means. What about the coolies. She's rolling her decks full of water sir. I thought you might want to put her head at the swell for a bit until it goes down of course. So that's it. Put her head at the swell four points off the course. Well it's just for a while sir as swell as high as this can't last long that stands to reason. Mr. Jukes take a look at the barometer. Good Lord. Yes exactly. It's a dead calm outside isn't it. It's not a breath of air stirring sir. Only that cross swell. I've been reading in the book here about storms. Funny thing. If a man believed everything written down here he'd spend half his life running to get behind the weather. If I was to go by what this fellow says I'd alter my course and come booming into Footshaw from the north. Four days late. Three hundred extra miles in distance and a pretty bill for coal on top of it. I tell you Mr. Jukes if I knew every word in here was gospel true I couldn't bring myself to do that. No sir I guess not. And how's a man to know the book is right. If you dodge a round the spot of dirty weather how do you ever find out it was there in the first place. Answer me that. No Mr. Jukes there's things that a man can't get from books. I've thought it all out this afternoon. Will hold her steady as she goes. Whatever you say sir you're the captain. I guess I'd better write up the log I'm going on watch. Good. I'd say we're heading into something a bit out of the ordinary. Call me at once if anything shows up in the night Mr. Jukes. All right sir I'll see to it and Mr. Jukes. Yes sir. If you're going into the chart room please close that blinking door. I can't stand here a door banging. Yes sir. 8 p.m. swell increasing. Ship lavering heavily and taking water on all decks. Still a dead calm and very hot batting down the coolies for the night. The barometer is still falling. All appearances indicate an approaching typhoon. Hold her steady as she goes that's all we can do. Hi sir. Sure try to. Well do the best you can. Hi sir Mr. Jukes. Mr. Jukes. Hi captain I'm coming. Stand by. I want the trail. Right sir coming over. Mr. Jukes. Why didn't you call me. There was no warning sir. It is all of a sudden about five minutes ago blasted right out of a dead calm. The book was right in some parts anyhow. How's it going the wheelhouse. Hack it is. Look out sir hang on. What about Hackett. He's on the wheel. Second is putting up shutters. The window glass will go if she starts breaking any higher. Oh she'll break higher Mr. Jukes. What's higher. It's a happy thought. To have an order of course. No sir heading straight at the wind. Good. Got the answer we can't do Mr. Jukes. Understand. Yes sir. Some things a man can't find in books. Just keep her at it. That's all. Can't be helped Mr. Jukes. Hammering through on this like this. You're bound to leave something behind. It's not to reason. She's still rising all right. That one broke over the wheelhouse. We're done for for sure. What's that Mr. Jukes. You say something. I said is there any chance at all sir. Can she live through it. She may. We can hope so at least. She's a good ship. That's all a man can ask. What's that somebody yelling. It's the lowest on the floor Dexter. Up here starboard bridge. Man shouldn't be on that deck as he has to. It's a bit dangerous. Over here. What's the trouble bosson. In Chinese sir. Hang on. The Chinese. What about them. They've all fetched away sir. One big lump. It's horrible. Yeah. Now what do you mean patched away. Rolling around in the hold in one big lump. Screaming like blooming maniac sir. All adrift. Mr. Jukes. Yes sir. I can't make head or tail of this. I guess you'd better go below and see to it. Put things in order. What shall I do sir. I can't tell you up here. Find out what's wrong. Straighten it out. That's all. That's all. Take the bosson with you. I'm going to drive to the wheelhouse. All right sir. Come on bosson. Just straighten it out. That's all. Well. How's the wheel stand Huckett. Yes. Teddy here she goes sir. You realize of course we've hit a tight phone. Oh yes sir. Sorry I can't give you a relief. Can you manage a while longer. I'll hold it to the course sir. As long as there's a ship by night. That won't be long. Oh anything wrong second. Wrong. We're all as good as dead men. That's what's wrong. Oh no I wouldn't say that. She's still afloat. And we've got it lucky here on deck. Plenty of chance to see what's coming before it hits us. A man always feels better when he can see what's coming. But it's a different story down below there. Not having knowledge of what's going on. Not knowing if we're afloat or sinking. Now there's a light that's got it tough. Now one's down there in the engine room. Now for the steam to drop. Here ride that throttle field. Can't let her rip her shaft out when she breaks clear of those wells. Hello bridge. Hello bridge. Why don't they answer the speaking to him. Can't tell if they're dead or alive up there. Hello. Hello. Yes sir. Captain. How is it on deck. Bad luck. It depends mostly on you. Well so far so good. We're holding a full head of steam. Good. We'll need it. Don't let me drive her under sir. Have to take a chance. Can't see 20 feet up here. Not to keep moving enough to steer. I understand sir. Count on us. Get and smash the mountain to deal. But do it fairly well. As long as the wheelhouse is done. Wait. Wait. Hold on. Hello. Hello. Set the captain, Mr. Round. I've got to talk to him right away. Wait a minute Jokes. Something's happened up there. Hello. Hello bridge. You're still there Mr. Round. Right. Anything wrong sir? No. Not now. The second mate's lost though. Overboard. Oh no. Lost his nerve. Awkward circumstance. Not to lock him out too. Do that. You hear that Jokes? Yes. Let me talk to him. Captain. Jokes here. The boss and I just took a look at the tween deck. It's the emblem and boxes sir. They've all broke loose and smashed to bits. The Coolies are fighting like crazy men for them silver dollars it's rolling around. Fighting? We can't have fighting on board Mr. Jokes. There are 200 of them sir. They're all trying to kill each other. I can't have it Mr. Jokes. Put a stop to it at once. Do you hear? Put a stop to it how? They're crazy mad. They'll kill anybody that came on that deck. You're second in command Mr. Jokes. Use your authority. Make it clear to them. We simply can't stop fighting. Make it clear to them? Oh yes sir. After that you better gather up all the money. I can't have it lying about on the deck. Get the portion there. Wait. Here it comes. Gee. Arsaphat. There's the one that does it. That must have swept the deck from stem to stern. Hello. Hello. Captain McGuire. You all right up there? Everything's all right Mr. Wright. All the boats and half the Starboard Rail carried away. Nothing serious. Nothing to worry about Mr. Wright. Carry on. Nothing to worry about. Carry on. You're all right Captain. As you say sir. Carry on. Carry on? Hey now. Hey now. Where you going? Where you going eh? Where do you think I'm going you loud mouth old windbag? Out on that deck to get myself murdered. Nothing serious Jokes. Nothing to worry about. The whole blooming world's falling apart and I'm out picking up silver dollars. Captain's orders. Come on bosson. Don't be silly old Jokes. Carry on boy. Carry on. No help for it. Our gallant skipper says to stop the fighting. Use our authority. All right then quiet down. Come on bosson. Stow it there you fools. Cut it out under your hearing. Authority huh? You're clean out of their heads. We gotta drive them to the bulkhead. Back up though. Hey none of that. Do it bosson. We gotta show them what for. Nothing else to do. She'd say oh you jolly sailor land. Keep over there. Jam them up bosson. Into the bulkhead. Captain. Where are you Captain? Over here Mr. Jokes. You got everything cleared up down below? Oh yes. We took care of everything sir. I thought you would. The wind fell all at once. Stop cold. It's been like this for 10 minutes now. If you think it was an easy job to bring that mob under control. The Gullies? Oh I'd say it wasn't. I had to do what's fair by them though. Mr. Jokes. That barometer in there stands at the lowest point I've ever seen a glass in my life. You mean there'll be more of it? The worst yet according to the book. It'll break sudden now. Any minute. A puff or two of wind and then it hits. She's taken a horrible beating sir. She has indeed. And she's in for a worse one. We haven't much chance have we sir? She may come through it. She's a good ship. Here's the first puff. It'll hit us hard when it comes. You left them pretty safe did you? The Gullies? We strung lifelines. Gives them something to hold on to. Good. I'd like to give them all the chance we can whatever happens. Oh they'll be all right sir. I broke out rifles. The crew put them to guarding all the companion ways leading off the team deck. You aren't the crew Mr. Jokes. Oh sure. We won't have any trouble with them now sir. Mr. Jokes please have those rifles returned to the magazines at once. What? There'll be work for every man aboard in a few minutes. I can't spare seamen to stand around and hold rifles when it isn't necessary. It's unnecessary? Don't you realize those savages will think we stole their money? But they'll tear us to bits if they ever get out of that deck. Oh I think they'll understand we're dealing fair by them. Collect the rifles Mr. Jokes. Captain it's suicide. The best thing we can do is turn the whole mess over to the authorities and food chow. If we ever get there. Well I don't know. I figure that when anything happens on shipboard it's up to me to settle it on shipboard. Part of the duties of commanding a vessel Mr. Jokes. I have no doubt here I'll be able to reach an understanding with these men later. Understanding? You would have seen him a while ago and me and the Bosun was down there. Lost their heads a bit I guess. No wonder at that one. Here she comes. Pick up those rifles Mr. Jokes and something else. Yes Captain. If anything happens to me you'll be in charge. Only advice? Keep for facing it. Best way to get through facing it. That's enough for any man. Alright Captain I'll remember it. But one thing more Mr. Jokes. Yes sir. Something that always helps at sea is to keep a cool head. Just keep a cool head. But no keep a cool head. The stitch in time saves night a rolling stone. There was a clear blue sky and bright sunshine in the morning we steamed in the food chow harbor. Mr. Rout was leaning on a hatch combing smoking a pipe. The Bosun lounged on the foredeck waiting to pick up a line from the wharf. And the captain? Well he was engaged in the most unusual occupation. He was sitting at a table on the foredeck handing out silver dollars to them blinking coolies. All divided up even. The same amount to each one. Craziest thing you ever heard of in your life. You see the way the captain figured it. Since those blighters had all worked for two years at the same rate of pay then their savings ought to all be about equal. As you can see of course it wasn't necessarily true by any means. It wasn't even legal. But you couldn't tell him anything. Yes sir coming captain. Well Mr. Jokes I've disposed of our little collection of silver dollars. Now that's great. Only way to those boys get a sure and file claims against us. Oh no they won't do that. As a matter of fact they were quite pleased at having it arranged that way. Figured it might avoid a lot of arguments later. They said to Spokesman to thank me. Well I'll be. Mr. Jokes your mayors will give all the hands six hours leave before we start working the cargo. Whatever you say captain. Oh yes and before the carpenter leaves. I wish you'd have him fixed the lock on that port cabin door. What? That seems to have got broken somehow. During the storm I suppose I can't stand to hear a door banging Mr. Jokes. Aye sir I don't suppose it matters that the ship is battered from stem to stern half her topside carried away and smashed till she looks like a bloomin' Tinson freighter. Mr. Jokes I don't understand you. You don't understand me sir. Do you understand that we've come through the worst typhoon in the China season twenty years where the only ship that got through? It's true. I suppose we were a bit lucky. Lucky sir. With two hundred murder and cutthroats running loose aboard in the very heavens doing their worst. We had a job to do and we did it. That's all Mr. Jokes. That's the important thing. Yes sir that's all. That's all he says. A job to do a bit lucky. What can you do with a man as thick as that? But then as I started to turn away Captain McQuarr said something else that surprised me. With emotion rung from the very bottom of his soul he... he uttered words I never thought I'd hear coming from so stupid a man. But I'm glad we brought her through Mr. Jokes. Truly I am. She's a good ship Mr. Jokes. A good ship. I should have hated to lose her. I... I should have hated to lose her. Typhoon by Joseph Conrad was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and produced and directed by William N. Robeson. With bright love joy as Jokes, Raymond Lawrence as Captain McQuarr and Psy Kendall as Rout the Engineer. The special musical score was conceived and conducted by Psy Fuhr. Escape is presented by the Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations each week at this time. Next week we invite you to escape to Paris of 500 years ago in Robert Louis Stevenson's story of a fascinating adventure. The Sire de Maldres d'Or. And so good night until next week at this time. When again it will be time to escape. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. Thank you for listening to that episode. If you would like to listen to more Escape, please visit OTRpodcast.com. That's OTR for old time radio and podcasts with an S. OTRpodcast.com. On the website you can register for my mailing list and as a thank you I will send you the links to more than 14 podcasts, each featuring every available episode of a popular radio program. In addition I'll send out an email each week as I release a new episode of this podcast so that you never miss a single one. 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