The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-20
PIERCED BY RED HOT WIRE.
-"e" A"iu' Fnto of u Workman In a
Trenton Mill,

hseh A"iui Fato of Workman In N
Trentcn Mill.
The Haunted Mill" ist tie title DIV.
en- by woIkingmeu to the new Clinton,
street annex to Roeblipg's wiro aud roll.
Ing mill in Trenton, New JERSEY.
Inc men have sOme cause for the
name, too, for, although tho mill h.s
oeen operation but few months. nearly
dozen OF Of their fellow workmen have
oeen stricken there with death in the
most shocking manner possible. Indeed
80 superstltious are the men becoming
mat they go to their labor very reluc-
family.
THE PERILoUs PROCESS.
Ihe drawing of wire under the pro-
cesses used at Roebliugs is extremely
dangerous, although the firm is rapid,y
replacing the old machinery by the pipe
guide system. rrO
number OF large bars Of heavy iron
several inches in diameter are now plac-
ed In furnace, and when at white heat
they are rushed over to the chain of
| twelve rollers with grooves, aud it is
while they pass through these rollers
| that the danger arises.
TWO men on either side of the rollers
take charge Of the iron in it's heaviest
| state, and from then on to the fiuisher,
| VINO Is stationed at the end of the long
line OF rollers, are boys
DANGEROUS WORK.
| The iron passes through the first groove
| In the heavy state very rapidly, and at
| the opposite side Of the rolls stands q
hoy with pair of tonge, who must
| catch this rod Of red hot iron, going at q
rate Of about rod q minute, twist i,
about his head in a snake like wriggle
and pass the end into another groove OF
hole smaller than the one through
which it has just passed.
| Ii the boy misses the hole or guide in.
TO which he should pass the hot iron
IN an instant the iron bends, the enc
shoots up and if the lad is not nimble
enough to get out Of its way it goes
through his body.
| rms was the position held by Charles
Cheattle, and, although he was considered
a hrst class workman, he was not quick
enough TO escape the swiftly rolling iror
ana 1t pierced his body through auG
through.
| HoTCHK1ss' AWFUL FATE.
"A few days ago Thomas Holchkiss
one or the most expert "roughers," OF
men who handle the hot iron when il
hrst passes through the rollers, was kill
ed in this mill in an even more hotribl,
manner than was young Cheattle
| Hotchklss was standing before the
| furnace with his tongs hen an acciden,
happened. n fellow workman stooped
over to repair the damage, and at the
same Instant large square rod Of iror
| came rushing from the furnace and ow.
ing to the dlsarrangement of the furnace
Hotchkls codld neither stop the iron nol
turn it from it's curse. Nor could be
| move out OF his tracks.
| lie bent over, thinking it might pas.
over his head, but in this he was mistak
ens
CLEAR THR0rGH HIM.
| Ihe end o! the red hot rod entered the
| lower part of his abdomen and pass ed
I through the body, coming out at the
| neck an! burning out his entrails.
| Not one drop Of blood was shed, but
Hotchkiss was dead before the iron could
be eXtricated.
The hungarian who was injured ) in
| the wire department on Tuesday night
lies in precarious condition. It'll
The Roeblings employ abe
men.