The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-07-09
BIDDEFORD, ME-, FRIDAY

Where ". II Surely 1t was not o dream, for
I felt that was thoroughly awake Iniscd my
right arm to my head and my hand came in
contact with an iron rod upon which my head
was lying. Again the question passed through
my mind: "where am Ir'
Soon, but too soon, the question was an
swercd:
Hark heard the sound Of distant voice.
II came nearer and nearer-ycs, my cars didnot
deceive me. II was the voice Of George, our
night watchman.
He was singing song. The words Of the re-
frain came distinctly to my ears:
aAnd for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'D lay me down and dia |"
It took all my strength to raise myself into q
sitting posture. I Istrctched out my arms. My
hands came In contact with cold iron. felt
that I was sitting upon something that had o
cylindrical shape, and the water was now only
up to my waist.
All at once the horrible truth flashed upon my
mind. Great God Of Heavens I was mad
No no, not mad. but l felt that lunacy in the
shape Of terrible spectre was approaching me
for the question was answered:
~ irds imprisonsd ,rithin the steam boiler ?"
began to shout:
"Help! George, for Gods sake, helpr'
But my voice sounded like that Of mufAed
bell. Then I commenced to pound with my fists
upon the iron. Surely, George must hear that, -
thought l.
But no, he was whistling the tune Of Yankee
Doodle.
Once he stopped, and thrill Of Joy ran
through me- Then he began again.
I felt my way to the head Of the boiler, for ]
now heard that ho was opening the furnace
doors. knew we'll what he was going to do.
Soon heard q scratching sound-he was light
ing q match. Then l heard the rustlng Of
shavings which he was throwing into the furn-
ace. This was shortly followed by cracking
sound.
"He has lit the fire, and I will Be boiled
alipe 20 thought I, again pounding and scratch.
ing against the sides Of the boiler, In the vain
hope Of making myself heard. I felt not the
pain, but felt that the warm blood was drop
ping from my lacerated knucklcs and torn nails
listened. The sharp cracking sound Of the
fire became lower and lower. Again l had hope
the fire had gone out, and knew that the
watchman had gone to bed, for tho lighting Of
the fire was his last duty at Ave o'clock in the
morning. also knew that the fireman would
not rise until half-past five. Twenty, perhaps
twenty-five minutes, and then he would come
and relight the fire.
"Thirty minutes and then must die 70
folded my hands, prayed to God, as had
never prayed before. recalled to my mind q
prayer my mother taught Inc when was q
child. and holy calm camc over me, for surely
thought !, lie who secs the sparrows fall. viii
not desert me in my present need. -.
Slowly my hands parted and fell to my side,
and slowly crawled back to the end Of the
boiler, where knew was the man-holc through
which had been showed by the wicked engin-
ecr while was under the influence Of the drug
which he had administered. passed my hand
over the cast-iron plate which shut up the only
ingrcss to the boiler. Ipushed against It with
all my strength still / knew that one hundred
pounds of steam pressure could not remove that
plate. felt exhausted by my efforts, and
threw myself at full length upon the hucs. Tho
water covered me up to my neck and head,
which kept above its level.
A desperate thought came to my mind
Why should not drown myselfby lowering my
head 1t would end my misery at once. Some
one seemed to whisper into my ear, "Do It,"
Then another voice said, "It Is suicide, and
God win punish yOu''
I laughed. yes I laughed. "It's only
dream" said l, "and ] soon will awake and
once more see the blessed light Of day.
But II was not dream. 1t was terrible 70
ality. The love Of life came back to me. Again
| pressed my hands over the cold surface Of the
boiler. They came in contact toith somsthing
tchich moped!
God in His infinite mercy had given to me
the means of escape from that living tomb.
My hand icas grasping the short iron bar
,ohieh The boys had dropped into the boiler
1t was lying across some Of the stay rods which
travcrscd the boiler in all directions.
used II as hammer against the cast iron
plate which covered the man hole. One sharp
blow, crack. and stream Of binding light
fell upon my eyes. II was the rising sun, for
the back part Of the boiler looked towards the
east. Two more blows, and the broken plate
fell with q splash into the water and left the
aperture open and clear for my escape.
1t is yet wonder to me that the intense Joy
that experienced did not kill me. With diff
Guilty crawled through the opening. i stag
gercd toward the engineers room and opened
the door. The apartment was tenantless; James
had gone to his breakfast. looked at the clock |;
II still lacked fifteen minutes to six.
A strange thought flashed across my mind.
"what If should take the spare man hole
plate from the storcroom close by, and fix II into
the aperturef' l had yet ten minutes time.
Would not James think that was still In the
boilerl
ran to the storeroom and took the plate
from the shelf 1t seemed very heavy to me as
I carried II to the back part Of the boiler.
There laid II down and closely examined the
lead gasket which was around its rim. Every
thing was complete with the exception Of put
ting on some rcd lead. went back to the store
room, got the little cask Of lead and put some OF
Il upon the tow that James had wound round
the lead gasket. Then fastened the plate to the