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Dangerous Betrayal

Page 18

by Bill Blowers


  Viko used every ounce of self-control he could muster, forced himself to relax, took a deep breath, and looked right into Tesla’s eyes. “Uncle Nik, what is going on here? Why all the boxes? Please tell me where the new transceivers are.”

  Tesla began, “Viko, I am leaving tomorrow for Colorado. I have finally realized and proven that the secrets to wireless AC power distribution can be found in the mysteries of lightning electrical discharges, their origin, and in controlling them. The boxes you see contain materials and equipment that will prove I am right. Do you realize what this means, Viko?”

  Viko held up his hand. “Just a moment. Answer my question. Where are the new transceivers? What have you done with the order from Wittington?”

  The look on Tesla’s face answered Viko’s question, just as he feared—nothing at all had been done.

  Tesla then confirmed, “Viko, don’t you understand? Harold will understand. I am using his money for much better purposes. When he learns of the success I have in Colorado he will be ecstatic!”

  Viko shot out of his chair, sending it crashing backward to the floor. “You are using his money? But it is for the transceivers! What have you done? What about the faith that has been put in us by Harland and Wolff? Do you realize that the future of communication is teetering on a brink you have brought about, and you are ignoring it?”

  Tesla tried again, “But Viko, you are young, you do not understand, let me explain.”

  “No, you let me explain! What kind of stupid old fool are you? How can you possibly be so blind? You cannot use other people’s money like this! You cannot abandon your responsibilities. No wonder the likes of Morgan will have nothing to do with you! You are no more than a thief. You are the most brilliant idiot I have ever known. I cannot leave you to follow through on anything! I have just convinced the world’s largest shipyard to use your new wireless; I even convinced them to redo the complete electrical systems on these ships to use AC power, your AC power for God’s sake! I come back and you have abandoned yet another opportunity of a lifetime?”

  Viko was about to continue but he stopped his tirade. His emotions were on an explosive edge and he feared that if he continued he might actually do physical harm to Tesla. He threw up his arms in disgust, took a few steps toward the door, and looked back at the pathetic little man before him.

  “Go ahead, get out of here! Pursue your idiotic dreams. The rest of us will make these transceivers, and stay away, very far away.”

  Viko stormed out, leaving a bewildered Tesla to stare after him in shock.

  Tesla was gone, off on another wild goose chase to Colorado.

  Despite his initial feelings of abandonment and the flashbacks to the failed fluorescent lamp project, Viko managed to pull himself out of an onrushing darkened mood and took stock of the situation.

  His first order of business was to find out how much damage Tesla had wreaked on their financial condition. Early the next morning he went to see Robert at the bank. Robert was delighted to see him. As they sat down in Robert’s office he inquired about the details of the trip.

  After a very brief description of the success he had in Great Britain and a promise to fill in all the details later that night at dinner, Viko explained that Tesla was on a train for Colorado, that he managed to do it again, escape from reality. Viko needed to determine the financial condition of Tesla Electric.

  Robert knew that Tesla used funds from the account in the past month, all related to “wireless.” Robert assumed that the expenses were going toward the manufacturing of the transceivers. Tesla used a little over twenty-three thousand in the past month, leaving the account with a balance of twenty-nine thousand, eight hundred dollars.

  Viko and Wittington had determined that the total amount needed to finance the expansion, hire new people, and arrange for the purchase of raw materials would be just over forty-five thousand. Wittington made a deposit of fifty thousand, giving them a small cushion with which to cover contingencies. Now there was not enough money. For a few moments, Viko and Robert sat there in silence. Once again Tesla abandoned a project that was a sure path to success to move on to yet another idea, possibly brilliant, possibly world changing, but as yet incomplete, and in so doing betrayed the trust and faith of his friends and business partners alike.

  There was no saving this man from himself.

  Robert spoke first. “Can you do this by yourself? I will do what I can on the financial side, but I need to know that you can make this happen. Can you get these transceivers built on time?”

  “Yes, I can do it, and I’m starting right now!”

  They shook hands and parted as Robert reminded him, “See you tonight, eight o’clock sharp, and I’m certain Katherine will want to know all about your escapades in Ireland and England.”

  Viko went back to Tesla Electric. The place was deserted except for Henry Abbott, Tesla’s foreman.

  Viko was troubled to learn that everyone had walked out two weeks earlier. Tesla had not shown up for a third week, no one had been paid, and there was nothing to do. Henry was sent out with instructions to round up everyone he could find and get them to come in at three o’clock that afternoon for a meeting.

  Viko went to Tesla’s rolltop desk and found a huge stack of unopened mail and a few cablegrams. Underneath the bills and assorted mail was the original cable from Wittington, its seal unbroken. It contained the order from Harland and Wolff for twenty transceivers.

  This was going to be even harder than he imagined.

  At the three o’clock meeting, with most of the employees present, Viko explained about the new program. The following morning they would be on a twelve-hour day, six-day-per-week schedule. He announced a 6 percent raise for everyone. He figured out the back pay they were owed with a promise to have cash for them the following morning.

  He sent Henry to the bank with a letter explaining his need for cash to pay back wages and asked Robert to have it for him that night at dinner. He proceeded to put together lists of the work to be done, as the road ahead seemed to get longer and longer.

  What have I gotten myself into echoed through his brain like the melody of a song trapped in his head.

  Dinner at the Johnsons’ was a welcome relief. Robert had the money for him and announced that there would be no talk of business. It was a marvelous evening. Viko relaxed for the first time since his return; he had wonderful stories to relate about being in England and Ireland, about the fabulous ships being built at Harland and Wolff, and the incredible hospitality shown him by Harold Wittington.

  CHAPTER 35

  Bad News from Great Britain

  Weeks passed in a blur of activity. Equipment was coming together. Everyone was putting in extra effort under the encouragement and leadership of Viko. There was harmony in the group that had been missing for a long time. Using the transceivers that Viko had brought to Europe for the demonstration, the men quickly learned how to put together this new device and constantly marveled at the ingenuity that went into it.

  It was shortly after ten o’clock, Tuesday, March 22, 1911, when Robert Johnson rushed in looking for Viko.

  They went into a corner of the building where they could be alone. “I’ve just received terrible news from England. Harold has passed away.”

  “Harold, dead? He was in wonderful health when I saw him a few months ago. What happened?”

  “It was his heart. There is a history of heart problems in his family. His wife Margie is beside herself with grief. He dropped over at his office yesterday. By the time they could summon a doctor he was gone; it was terribly sudden.”

  Robert paused. “This spells major trouble for the New Tesla Wireless Company. No one but Harold himself knew of his investments with you. He kept it a complete secret in order to protect Tesla from his enemies. He feared that Morgan would learn of his support for Tesla.

  “There will be no more funds coming into the company. I went over the accounts this morning. There is a little less than ten tho
usand dollars left. I am looking into some assistance to help out, but you must proceed with extreme caution.”

  The delivery date for the first transceivers was getting close. Due to his careful management and the herculean efforts of a few dedicated employees, they managed to make up for the six weeks lost by Tesla’s inactivity—and now this terrible news!

  Viko and Robert went for a walk. They considered going back to Harland and Wolff and asking for an advance payment, but they feared this would get back to Morgan. Viko estimated that with eighty-five hundred more he could complete the delivery of the first four transceivers, meet the delivery deadline, and the cash flow they generated would allow them to continue forward.

  Robert made a personal loan rather than trust the New York financial world for even a dime of funds. Morgan had eyes everywhere. The news of any loans connected to Tesla would reach him at the speed of the nearest telephone.

  CHAPTER 36

  Morgan Learns of the New Wireless

  Morgan was quite surprised when his secretary came into his office and announced that Edison was in his waiting room ranting about changes to Titanic’s electrical purchases.

  Edison stormed into Morgan’s office. “Have you seen what those bastards at Harland and Wolff are doing with those God-forsaken ships? They’ve decided against my dynamos and are putting in AC power equipment from that bastard Westinghouse. I can’t believe it! The equipment was nearly finished and ready to ship when we received notification to cancel the order. They put the orders on hold months ago, and now have cancelled the damned things. I sent Batchelor in there, and after nosing around he found that they had switched to AC power. That son-of-a-bitch Tesla must have had something to do with it.”

  “Now Thomas, please calm down before you have a heart attack. You know very well that after all the problems I’ve had with Tesla, I will allow nothing of his anywhere near the Titanic. Give me a few days to sort this out. I suggest that you continue with the work to complete the original order.”

  Morgan wasted no time. He sent for J. Bruce Ismay at the New York offices of IMM, and then he sent a cablegram to Belfast demanding a complete explanation of what was happening, and referenced Edison’s accusations. When Ismay arrived, Morgan sent him to Belfast with instructions to immediately send him back a cable with a full report of the changes being made.

  Ismay smiled as he left Morgan’s office. Harland and Andrews would rue the day they arranged for his exile to New York. Oh yes, he knew they were responsible for whisking him away from overseeing the progress on Titanic. Who did they think they were to have him banished!

  Thomas Andrews and Edward Harland braced themselves for Ismay’s arrival. The stream of cables from Morgan was occupying all of their time, as they faced the very real threat from Morgan that he would pull funding. And now Ismay was returning. He had the personality of an anvil and a voice like the sound of fingernails on a blackboard.

  Harland and Wolff Shipyards had an exclusive contract to build all ships for White Star Line. Morgan suggested that they better explain themselves if they wanted to remain in that enviable position.

  Andrews felt there was a way out of their dilemma. “When we tell Ismay about the new wireless and voice communication across the Atlantic, he cannot help but relent. He will see this as another marvel of modern luxury for the passengers, and that will appeal to his sense of extravagance. We need to make him see this as his idea.”

  That made Harland relax somewhat, but a part of him still remained apprehensive.

  Harland and Andrews did not understand the extent of the hatred that Morgan held for Tesla and anything related to him, and that in some measure was justified. Burned so many times by Tesla, Morgan would allow nothing of his near the ships. He would go to any lengths to prevent such a thing from happening.

  Ismay arrived. He stormed into Harland’s office. Pulling himself up to his full six-foot-two-inch height, he said, “I have been sent here by J.P. Morgan himself to find out exactly what you two think you’re up to. Have you any idea how much you have upset him?” And as his voice rose to its usual nasally pitch he screamed, “What is the meaning of your removing the Edison equipment from the Titanic? Have you lost your minds?”

  Harland, who had the ability to soothe an angry lion, crossed the room and extended his hand to Ismay, who was both amazed and infuriated that his tirade seemed to have no effect whatsoever on either Harland or Andrews. “It is good to have you back; I trust that you enjoyed a pleasant crossing?”

  “Cut the bullshit, you know very well why I’m here; I have been given the directive by none other than Morgan himself to get this ship back on track.”

  “But you do not understand, Bruce. Give Thomas here a chance to show you. We have something for Titanic that will make the name White Star Line more famous than you can imagine. It will be in every headline of every newspaper in London and New York, and of course your name will be prominent in all the articles as the head of the IMM.”

  Andrews had always been in awe of Harland’s ability to cajole, soothe, and kiss ass, but this was nothing less than masterful. And it had the intended effect. The color in Ismay’s face returned. He began to breathe normally, thinking that maybe he had better listen.

  “You have five minutes. What is so damned important that you have allowed it to upset Morgan?”

  Andrews told Ismay of a device that would allow his passengers to talk directly to their families and businesses half a world away while they were in the middle of the Atlantic. “Think of it, voice communication, just like a telephone. No Marconi wireless forms to fill out, no limit on the number of words. Titanic will be the first ship, in fact the first installation anywhere of this marvelous device. The word will spread that Titanic, the greatest ship ever, the flagship of the White Star Line, under the leadership of J. Bruce Ismay, is a marvel of modern invention. People will stand in line for the chance to sail on Titanic. The German competition that you are fighting won’t know what hit them.”

  “What has this got to do with Edison, and why have his orders been canceled?”

  Andrews explained the advantages of AC over DC, and that the new wireless required AC as a source of power.

  Perhaps he needed to listen to what Andrews and Harland were trying to tell him, that these were indeed the best decisions for Titanic. After all, if this would give his passengers more comfort, more luxury, all at no extra cost to Morgan, why not? But in reality, it was the thought that his name would be prominent in more newspapers that was the convincing argument.

  Ismay relaxed. The tension that had consumed him since being sent by Morgan ebbed. He asked for tea.

  Harland explained that Ismay’s friend, Harold Wittington, invested in a new company in America that invented this new amazing wireless. Ismay knew Wittington and was aware of his business acumen, but considered him a coal man. “What was he doing with a wireless company, in New York City no less?”

  Harland told of the entire experience of the demonstration, the communication across the sea with Nikola Tesla, and the tremendous opportunity that lay before them.

  Ismay felt relieved by all he had just heard. He asked for a stenographer, and using his most diplomatic and carefully chosen words, dictated at length to Morgan about the new wireless from Nikola Tesla and explained the reason behind the electrical changes to Titanic. He praised the help given them by Viko Tesla.

  With a five-hour time difference between Belfast and New York, the cablegram marked “URGENT, DELIVER IMMEDIATELY” was dutifully delivered to the offices of Morgan at three o’clock in the morning. It was not until nearly ten o’clock the next morning, when Morgan took a break from a meeting, that his secretary, Miss Harbaugh, handed him the cablegram. She apologized profusely that a cablegram marked “URGENT” wasn’t delivered to him at his residence in Manhattan regardless of the time of day.

  Morgan demanded to know who delayed the cablegram. Then he stormed into his office, slammed the door, and tore open the cablegr
am.

  For the reaction that came from Morgan, the cable may well have contained just one word: “TESLA.” When he read the name, he let out a bellow that could be heard several offices away.

  “NO! NO! NO! NOT POSSIBLE! THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN!”

  Fearing that someone was attacking him in his office, his secretary rushed in to find Morgan staring down at his desk in a rage, which even for Morgan was extreme.

  “Sir, sir, are you all right?”

  His eyes bulged and his face was red. His normally huge nose seemed to have swollen to larger proportions. The shirt around his neck was restricting his breathing. Having seen Morgan’s temper before, Miss Harbaugh was frightened. Morgan slumped down into his chair. Fearing he would throw her out of the office, she began to back away.

  “Come in and close the door. Contact the Harland and Wolff office on Sixth Avenue, and tell the manager to get over here immediately. After you have done that, send Curtis in to see me.”

  In a short time, Harold Findley from the offices of Harland and Wolff was in his office. With them was Mark Curtis. Morgan asked Findley to describe what he had witnessed in the offices of Tesla Electric. “What is this new wireless?”

  “I was told that it was confidential and to be kept a secret.”

  Morgan stabbed forcefully at the cablegram. “This is from J. Bruce Ismay. I’m sure you know who he is. He has told me that they’re planning to use this new device on the Titanic. I have a major financial investment in Titanic, and since Mr. Ismay of White Star has already told me about this, I think you are quite free to discuss it with me.”

  Findley explained what he had seen. Morgan asked for a few clarifications, took a few notes, and thanked Findley for his time.

  Tesla had never fulfilled his promises to Morgan. This time it had gone too far. This was not the lamp fiasco that ended in a disastrous fire, it was not his latest motor development that was abandoned, nor the harebrained babble about wireless electricity. This was a huge ship, the world was watching, people were waiting. The future of International Mercantile Marine rested on this.

 

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