The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-22

the boiler. I pushed against it with all
my strength still knew that one hun
dred pounds of steam pressure could not
remove that plate. felt exhausted by
my efforts, and [ threw myself at full
length upon the hues. The water covered
me up to my neck aud head, which kept
above its level.
A desperate thought came to my mind ::
Why should I.not drown myself by lower
ing my head? It would end my misery at
once. Some one seemed to whisper in nay
ear, "Do it." Then another voice said,
alt is suicide, and God will punish you!"
laughed yes, l laughed. ''It's only
a DREAM" said l, "and l soon will awake
and once more see the blessed light Of
day"
But it was moi dream it was terrible
reality. The love of life came back to me.
Again l pressed my hands over the cold
surface of the boiler. They came In con-
tact Nth something that moved.
God, in his infinite mercy, had given to
me the means of escape from that living
tomb. My hand tUas grospin0 tie short
iron bar trhieh the boys Aad dropped into the
boiler I 1t was lying across some Of the
stay rods which traversed the boiler ia all
directions.
l used it as hammer against the cast
iron plate which covered the man hole
One sharp blow, crack, and a stream Of
binding light fell upon my eyes. It was
the rising sun, for the back part of the
boiler looked towards the east. Two
more blows. and the broken plate fell with
a splash into the water and left the aper-
ture open and clear for my escape.
1t is yet wonder to me that the intense
joy that 1 experienced did not kill me-
With difficulty crawled through the
opening. l staggered towards the engi-
neer's room and opened the door. The
apartment was tenantless James had
gone to his breakfast. looked at the
clock it still lacked fifteen minutes to
six.
A strange thought flashed across my
mind: "What if should take the spare
manhole plate from the storeroom close
by, and fix it into the aperture r. had
yet ten minutes time. Would not James
think that was still within the boilerf
ran to the store room and took the
plate from the shelf. It seemed very
heavy to me as l carried it to the back
part of the boiler. There / laid it down,
and closely examined the lead gasket
which was around its rim. Every thing
was complete, with the exception of put
ting on some red lead. l went back to
the store room, got the little cask of lend,
and put some of it upon the tow that
James had wound round the lead gasket
Then fastened the plate to the aperture
by means of clamp and nut. While [
was at work heard the voice of the fire.
man. He was swearing Mt the neglect of
the watchman in not lighting the fire.
There was no dangor Of my being detect
ed. He, az he afterwards told me, thought
that it was James making some repairs,
for he heard the clanking of iron when he
was employed about the furnace.
II was near six, and in a minute more
James would return from the boarding
house that stood some distance apart from
the saw>mill. l looked about me. Near
the boiler, and close to the steam gauge,
was high shelf half concealed by large
beam. By Jumping upon the boiler
could roach that shelf. was not minute
| OOOu'
hind the beam before l saw James enter
the engine room. He looked very pale,
and large black circles were around his
eyes, as if he had passed sleepless night.
There was no partition between the
boiler and engine room. One glance at
the steam-gauge told him that the watch
man had neglected his duty. He rushed
down the few steps in front of the furnace
and shouted to the fireman:
"Quick, Jim, throw more pitch pine
slabs into the fire. Mr.. Smith will give
us fits Look he is coming now to find
out why I haven't blown the whistle !"
''Watchman's fault l" grumbled Jim,
opening the doors and shoveIing into the
furnace huge pile of shavirgs. Mr..
Smith entered the fire-room, and James
explained to him;why steam was not up
high enough to start the engine.
'George ought to have fred up at five,
but suppose he was sleeping at his
post" concluded he.
"Well," said the father of Minna, ''I
will tell Louis to pay him his wages and
discharge him!"
When James heard my anne mention
ed, could see that he trembled from head
to foot.
"By the way, where is Louisi He has
not been to breakfast, and he did not
sleep in his room last night" said Mr.
Smith.
'I-I don't know" faltered the guilty
wretch, turning away his face.
'He said to the second sawyer that he
was going to S upon some business !"
said Jim, looking up.
"An right. Now, Mr.. Alton, do your
best TO get up steam as soon az possible,
for every hour lost is money out of the
Company's treasury" said Mr. Smith,
leaving the fire room.