The Crack o’ Doom (1914)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Adventure, Short
Release: 1914-09-08
Director: N/A
Writers: Bess Meredyth , Louis Joseph Vance
Language: None | English
Stars: Cleo Madison , Cleo Madison , George Larkin
Runtime: min
Awards: N/A
AKA: The Crack o' Doom , The Crack o' Doom (United States of America) , The Trey o' Hearts #6: The Crack o' Doom (United States of America)
Plot: The power lifeboat containing Alan, Rose and Barcus is running along under the lee of the mainland. They are looking for someplace to land. Alan sights and calls attention to a bright white light on a point some distance ahead. A moment later the engine stops. Investigating the cause of the trouble, Barcus finds the gasoline tank is empty. They carry Rose ashore, leaving Barcus on guard. Alan runs up the beach, and beyond the point of the lighthouse finds a small fishing village with a railroad station. The agent and the telegraph operator are about to shut up for the night. There is one other man in the station, the smuggler-messenger who has brought ashore Judith's telegram to her father. He recognizes Alan, but keeps out of sight. Alan asks for trains and is informed none leave till morning. Alan takes off his money-belt, extracts a sizable wad, and tips the agent. Judith's messenger sees this. Alan sends a telegram to Digby asking him to arrange for a special train to await him at Providence and a motor car on the waterfront at New Bedford. Then, learning that there is a hotel in the village, he secures a flask of brandy and returns to Rose and Barcus, dogged by Judith's messenger, Alan, with Barcus assisting, gets Rose to the hotel. He then goes out to charter a fast motorboat. The proprietor of the hotel introduces him to a rough-and-ready ruffian who has such a boat. While they are talking outside the hotel, Alan sees a rocket go up from the highest point of land in the vicinity, asks the meaning of it. can get no explanation, and suspects that it is a signal to Judith and her gang with their allies. Judith on the schooner spies a rocket going up on the mainland. The smuggler captain agrees with her interpretation of the signal and crowds on sail. Alan, in alarm, calls Barcus and tells him his suspicions. They arouse Rose and start off for the motorboat. Meantime Judith's messenger has conferred with the owner of the motorboat and told him of Alan's money. They agree to rob him, the smuggler passing as the crew of the boat owner. The owner points a pistol at Alan's head and demands his money. Alan knocks the pistol out of his hand and, after a short struggle, throws him overboard. Barcus, meantime, performs like service for Judith's messenger. They shape their course for New Bedford. Shortly after Judith learns what has happened. She delays only long enough to bribe the telegraph operator into re-opening his office, and send another message to her father, asking him to have a motorcar in New York. Trine summons Marrophat and orders him to go to Judith's aid. Sometime out of the harbor, Barcus complains of the engine; it would seem that they have picked a poor boat. Alan catches sight of the white sails of the smuggler's schooner. The night-long chase is on. Barely the winner, the power-boat makes a public wharf in New Bedford in the gray of the morning. Alan sends Barcus with Rose to look for the motorcar and remains behind to cover their retreat. He finds a club at the end of the wharf. The smuggler's schooner ranges alongside. Singlehanded, Alan proceeds to repel boarders. The smugglers, exasperated, open fire. Meanwhile Barcus and Rose have found the motorcar. Arriving he runs to Alan's assistance. Alan grapples with Judith. Her pistol goes off. He notices that at the last instant her hand swerved from the direct aim; the bullet fires over his head. He disarms her, taunting her with the fact that she hasn't the nerve to shoot him. He throws her pistol back on the deck of the schooner, and it explodes in one of the broken powder kegs. A terrible explosion results. Judith falls stunned to the wharf. Barcus grabs Alan and hurries him to the motorcar. On the way they are halted by a policeman who grabs Barcus. The latter goes to the mat with the cop, shouting to Alan to go on. Alan feels that this is the only course left to him. Two minutes later Marrophat drives up in a high-powered touring car, something heavier and faster than Alan's. He arrives just in time to rescue Judith. She directs him in pursuit of the fugitives.
IMDB:tt3170806