ten o'clock
Heavy clouds of smoke from the triple stacks revealed that a hundred glowing furnaces were being fed with fuel , assistant engineers were busily inspecting , and oilers were active in lubricating the ponderous engines that every emergency might be promptly met . Ports were closed and every precaution taken . The anxiety of officers and sailors and the increased agitation of the sea was soon noticed by the ship 's gay company . Before ten o'clock most of the passengers were glad of the good-night excuse for retiring . The smoking room , however , was crowded with devotees to the weed . Old-timers were busy with cards , or forming pools on the first day 's run from Sandy Hook , or speculating as to the time of arrival at Queenstown . The atmosphere of the room was as thick as the weather outside .