Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-08-20
He saved His Life.

rom tnt Oulu companion
One of the men bent over portion of the
machine to pour in a few drops of oil, where
brass cup that supplied one OF the bearings
was empty. Luke watched him eagerly,
longing to ask some question, but hot daring
to risk rebuff. The other was absent at the
moment, and as the man dropped in the
clear oil, the huge machine glided slowly
and deliberstsly--almost imperceptibly-on.
lukes hand was IN his pocket playing
with q new knife that he had purchased out
OF his last weeks earnings-a knife that he
had bought only after hard battle, for it
seemed so extrsvagsnt an act, but he had felt
that he certainly ought to possess one, and so
he had spent couple of shillings III the
useful little implement 1t was a capital
knife, with the most highly polished OF
blades, but two shillings were two shillings
and there was a slight feeling of repentance
in his mind which seemed to start out OF his
pocket at the touch of the knife, and run up
his arm to his brain.
The man went on dropping oil into the
machine, over which the great srmor plste
rode slowly on. All at once Lukes hands
turned cold and wet inside, and the dew
came out upon his forehead, for the iron
plating that formed the floor around the
machine was worn smooth, and IN addition
marked by few drops OF oil over this the
engineers feet were gliding as he reached
forward and overbalanced himself, so that he
L lay TlsnL lOrWard on Ms CnGSt Win LIS tett
clear of the ground.
1t seemed nothing to mind. The man had
| only to shuttle back a little and recover his
footing. There was plenty OF time before
| the plate passed under the huge cross-piece
| that held the sides of the planning machine
like stays. There seemed to be noshing to
mind-no reason for hands to turn damp
| and cheeks of pale ashen hue. But there
| was cause, and as the engineer realized II, he
dashed away his oil-tin, and tried to drag
/ himself back.
He uttered low, hoarse cry, and lay back
motionle less for few moments, chilled as
| Luke had been in Bostock's hands, every
| faculty frozen by the horror OF his position,
| for the side Of his stout jacket had been
| drawn in between two cog wheels, and even
in those few seconds he was being drawn on
and on, slowly and slowly, as il by fate, be-
| meath the great iron cross-pIeces, to be crush
| ed and torn by the irresistible force into irag-
| ments too horrible to behold.
| I" Held Helpn' he cried, but his voice
| was drowned by the shrieking OF the planed
steel and the hiss of steam and rumble OF the
| machinery. "Oh Heaven my wife and
BARNS - These words seemed to rouss
| Luke to action as he saw now that the man
| was frantically trying TO eNtricate his arms
| from his jacket, and he darted of to call for
help, but turned back on the instant He
felt that before aid could come, the man
would be crushed to death. He sprang back
to try and throw the machine out of gear,
but he did not know which lever to touch,
and the poor struggling wretch could not
| tell him.
1t seemed so slight thing to do-to slip oil
| the stout jacket, but one portion was tightly
| held by the wheel, and its wearer was being
| dragged closer, till, in his horror and dispair,
| he ceased his efforts to tear off his garment
and seized the massive iron framework to
| press himself back. Vain struggle, the
| strength of a hundred men would have been
| as nothing against the Iower of that ponder.
| ous machine, and as Luke darted round 10
| the ptber side and ban him ba
| down at the starting eye balls, the convulsed
| face and the white teeth from which the lips
| were drawn away. Luke instantly opened
his knife and began cutting the coarse cloth
| that 80 firmly held the unfortunate wretch to
| his fate.
"Say a prayer, mate" the poor fellow
whispered, hoarsely. 'God help me VIII
| 1t be over soon ?'
Crirr-r-r-ck !crr-r-r-r such a curious tear.
ing noise!
And then again and again as the stout cot
ton material gave and tore and split at that
magic touch. And again and again, rip rip
tear tear as 1t wound round the cog.wheel,
while Its wearer forced himself more and
more away. Another application OF Luke's
knife, and the man was free to roll himself
right oil the great plate and fall upon his
knees by the side OF the ponderous machine,
and raise his hands clasped as II In prayer.
The next moment he had fallen over side.
wise, fainting dead away. Luke's eyes fell
| upon the mans tea-tin, and, catching 1t up,
he poured few drops between his lips drew
him into an easier position, and then was
about to run Tor help, but the poor fellows
| eyes Enclosed, and he gazed vacantly about
for moment before he realized what had
happened. Then he rose heavily to his feet
and took Luke's hand, to give 1t a firm
strong grip, looking him straight in the eyes
1t was full minute before he could speak
and then his voice was very husky as he
said:
- can't hardly say owt, mate on'y want
that theer knife An theer 1t be % he cried
STOPPING and picking 1t up from where Luke
had dropped 1t, the bright new blade shining
in the black dust "Ive not got much
mate" he continued, "bnt pm going to give
you q suv'rin for that little knife as saved
me for my poor wife aud BARNS"
He stood holding the bla'ie in his broad
black hand for a few moments, and then h,
kissed 1t and handed 1t back.
| " Mate" he said "if you hadn't had tha
knife and cut my jacket as you did, ]
shouldn't have been "--he could not finish
for his voice grew husky, and, sitting dowr
upon bench, he covered his face with BIZ
hands.