The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-10-01
UNDER A FLY-WHEEL

ne cllcking anu rattlIng OF the lighter
machinery, the groaning of the heavily
laden shafts, the oily thud of hundreds
of cogs, mingled in busy din. Thehuge
engine sighed as, with it's brawny arm
of polished steel, it is impelled the main
shaft to turn the wheels of the factory.
Tom worked by the door, near the on
CINE room. He could, therefore, easily
see the engine and all its surroundings.
The interest of Its rapid, ceaseless mo-
ton partly reconciled him to the fact
that, while most boys of thirteen were
enjoying the liberty outside, he was
shut up within doors
This morning, more than usually, he
had been watching the forbidden splen-
doris Of the engine room, for the engineer
allowed no one in his sanctum. The
great machine fascinated Tom with it's
easy grace and movement. His eyes
dwelt long on the neat finish of the hex
agonal bolt-heads that CLEANED about
the cylinder. He tried to tell from his
position how full the oil-cups were, 40
they flashed to and fro on the polished
arm; and then his eyes rested on the fy-
wheel that revolvcd 80 gracefully In its
narrow prison. Only one-haf Of the
wheel could be seen at once, the other
half being below the floor, almost filing
a narrow, rock-lined cavity called the
pit"
As Tom watched the whirling sp0kes,
il seemed as if the mass of iron stood
still, 80 swift was it's motion. He re-
membered that once the engineer, see-
ing his interest in the machinery, had
stood leaning over the wooden guard,
his face SO close to the hy-wheel that the
wind from its surface blew back his
hair, while he looked down into the pit
with wonder and dread. He remember
ed asking the engineer il he supposed
any one could climb down there while
the wheel was in motion. The answer had
come: There isn't a man in the factory
that has nerve enough, even IL there were
room, the space between the wheel
and wall being nearly foot a half In
width.
The boy u eyes next wondered from the
object Of his thoughts aud rested on the
bright brass domes of the force-pumps
that occupied brick "settie' on the side
Of the room and then up to the mass of
pipes that crossed and rccrossed above
toiling machinery.
Suddenly, glancing down. he saw .
little child standing beneath the guard,
close to the fly, wheel.
The engineer was nowhere in sight,
and little May his only child. Toms
heart gave great leap. In on instant
he scrambled down from the purch and
was In the engine room.
As he passed the doorway hs was
Just 10 time to see the child t0ddle for
ward and fall into the pit With an aw-
full shudder he waited to see the mon-
ster wheel spurn the baby-girl from It's
curved sides but. no such sight came.
He dashed forward and looked into
the pit. She sat on the hard, rocky
bottom, sobbing to herself. The full
had not harmed her, yet she was still
in great danger. Any attempt TO move
frcm her position would give the re-
lsntless wheel another chance.
Tom slipped out of his brown Jump
err" tore off his light shoes, and stood
inside the guard. One eager look in
the direction of the iron door through
which the engineer would come, and
then he began the descent The great
mass of iron whirled dizgily close to bis
eyes; the inclined plane down which he
was slowly sliding was covered deep
with dust mingled with Gil; thick, oily,
damp air, famed by the heavy breeze
from the wheel, almost took his brsath
away. When the curve of the wheel
was nearest it almost brushed his clothes.
With his back pressed tight against the
rocks he slid down until his feet pressed
the bottom. Aud now came the worst
part Of the ordeal--the ponderous wheel,
sweeping in giddy curves above him, 70
affected his nerves that his strength be-
gan to fail. There was one space whsse
the wheel curved away from corner, 30
he dropped on bis knees there and for
An instant shut his aching eyes.
The child was in the other corner Of
the pit, sitting in an open space similar
10 that in which Tom knelt. As he look
cd past the terrible barrier, she made .
movement as if to stand up. That
brought back Toms fleeting senses. u
she should stand up the wheel would
strike her. Lying carefully fiat upon
the bottom. of the pit, he began slowly
aud cautiously to work his way beneath
a.. ,rass Of flv;uU iron He COuld fo8t