Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-08-06
Nechancsown Frederick County, Maryland Thursday August g. 1884,

the engine Is as dear to him as a bride
or I would have bettered his fortune
he took me in hand. We walked along
those mere bird cages of stair ways and
platforms, a labyrinth of passages in a
forest of steel arms, wheels, shafting
and steam piping. To landsman, that
endless maze of mighty anatomy is at
first simply awful. 1t sobers one, this
sullen, ceaseless tbrob of the monsters
heart, the deep breathing of the steam
chests, the sigh of the creatures spirit
us the pistons make one move and yet
one more herculean thrust turning the
crank shaft.
Each tine, as the piston slowly
starts, it seems as if it must be the last,
and infinite fatigue prevail. But no, it
goes on, night and day, motion, motion,
motion. Don't let me tire you, reader,
but I do wish l conld express to you
something Of the solemn impression
began to seize upon me, crawling like a
fly after Ell, the oiler. Then the hiss,
the scream, the little signs and means
of here and there a jet of truant steam,
almost human sounds, issuing from the
jungle of a polished steel
''She's tiger, she is?' cried Ed.
"Look out
heard that kind exclamation ire
quently as we went our rounds. There
were others doing the same work, but |
became u chosen attendant of my cat.
like friend. lie had sprained elbow
and l helped HIM professionally. He
got my story. We were intimate in
two or three days, and record it with
honest satisfaction, for Ell, B-was
genuine man.
1t was one day off the banks that we
stopped. The chief got notion that
the shaft was not sound, and the next
voyage it proved so, for hair line
along and around that huge polished
arm Of power turned out an incipient
fracture. But it was on Investigation
decided this voyage that there was
nothing wrong. Still, there we lay on
the breast of the swells f)r more than
two hours Ed came to me and said
Nov she's still the second engineer
thinks we might 60 into the pit and
clean out the waste and oil puddles.
don't like it, doctor, when she's got
steam on. What if she turned her
crank, eh?'
The brave boy went jumping down,
however; down, down, till he stood d.
rectly under that massive crank, which |
had stopped at the half turn oyer his
head.
The reader will understand that the
space allowed for the crank to make the
full circuit round below was only sufi.
cient for the iron to sweep through.
Into that now empty space Ed was pre-
parlng to step. It was dark as a grave
and about a graves dimensions. l held
the torch above his head Men work
ing by torchllght in that place resemble
imps. We were good natured imps,
however, and, though very cautious,
were chatting cheerful enough.
Il never like this job at sea-" resumed
Ed, "nor any time, except when the
last pound O steam is out of her, two
or three days at dock"
"But the engineer knows we are
here,' replied.
eyes, he ordered me down-and
there's no need of t-and he don't like
me- Ed got off between his breath,
bending to his perilous work in the rit.
"Heavens, man." / exclaimed, catch.
ing at what l thought was his meaning.
"That would be murder! p
FLUSH. doctor. Not that, not that
But if had refused to come, as he
thought would, don't you see he could
break me--that is, discharge me when
we get into New York"
A few minutes later Ed sent me aloft
tor an extra mop of cotton waste. |
was to hurry, for we knew not what
minute the captain might 90 ahead. |
remember had secured the waste, |
was picking my way along the enigma
oflittle ladders and platforms. Far be-
low, through The shadows. flung from
occasional gas jets the sleeping monster,
like nickel plated spider, lay prone.
and seemed to be exploring its viscera
like some daring pathologist. Away
below me in the light Of his torch Ed
reminded me ola microb.
Suddenly the gong struck from the
pilot house. God help me, can hear
it yet
was near the engineers landing.
Quick as flash | was on the engineer,
and like tiger caught at the wheel
which he was turning to let on steam.
"Man B - is in the crank pit i