The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-15

me, crawling like fly after Ed, the oiler.
Then thehiss, the scream. the little signs
and means OF here and there jet of truaht
steam, almost human sounds, issuing from
the jungle Of polished steel!
She's a tiger. she isl' cried Ed. "Look
outl'
heard that kind exclamation frequently
rs we went our rounds. There were others
doing the same work, but l became chosen
attendant Of my catlike friend. He had a
sprained elbow and | helped him profts-
, sionRlly. He got my story. We were In
innate in two or three days, and | record it
with honest satisfaction. for Ed D. vi as
q genuine man.
1t was one day off the Banks that we
stopped. The chief got a notion that the
shaft was not sound, and the next voyage
1t proved 80, for a hair line along and
around that polished arm of power turned
out an incipient fracture. But 1t was on
investigation decided this voyage that thtre
was nothing wrong. Still, there we lay on
the breast Of swells for more than two
hours. Ed came to me and said:
| Now she's still the second engineer
thinks we might go into the pit and clean
out the waste and oil puddles Idon't like
| 1t, doctor, when she's got steam on. What
If she turned her crank, ehr
The brave boy went jumping down, he CIV
ever; down, down, till he stood directly
under that massive crank, which bad
stopped at the half turn over lis head.
The reader will understand that the
space allowed for the crank TO make the
full circuit round below was only sufficient
Tor the iron to sweep through Into that
now empty space Ed was preparing to
/ step. 1t was as dark as q grave and about
graves dimensions. i held the torch
above his head. Men working by torch
light in that place resemble imps. We
were good natured imps, however, and,
though very cautious, were chakting cheer
fully enough.
II never like this job at ses," resumed
Ed, NOR any time, except whAn the last
pound o. steam Is out of her two or three
days at dock"
But the engineer knows we are here !" /
replied
ayes, he ordered me down, and there's
no need of it-and he don't like me,n Ed
got off between his breath, bending to his
perilous work In the pit.
Heavens, manp' exploded. catching at
what thought was his meaning. THAT
would be murderp
Hush, doctor! Not that, not thati But
If had refused to come, as be thought
would, don't you see he could break me
that is, discharge me when wa get into
New York"
A few minutes later Ed sent me aloft for
an extra mop of cotton waste. l was to
hurry, for we knew not what minute the
captain might 70 ahead. l remember l
had secured the waste, was picking nv
way along the enigma OF little ladders and
platforms. Far below, through the sAad-
ows flung from occasional gas Jets, tho
sleeping monster, like nickel plated spi-
der, lay prone, and seemed TO be exTllor-
ing the viscera like some daring patholo-
glst. Away below me in the light of his
torch Ed reminded me of a microbe.
Suddenly the gong struck from the pilot
house. God help me, 1 can hear 1t yet
was near the engineers landing. Quick
as flash was on the engineer, and like
tiger | caught ut the wheel which he was
turning to let on steam.
"ManP yelled, you haven't struck
your own warning all clear B. is in
the crank pitp'
But was too late. She gave one turn,
Mt least. Then thescoundrel or fool, don't
know which, yielded to ME and we stopped
her. But such n cry as came echoina up
from the very heart of the enginel
THANK God for that second cry, - fairly
sobbed as it floated up.
Then ] sprang away and down. Ed lay
fnsensible on the arm Of the crank, as il
the engine had stopped in pity and held
him out to us. He had tainted with|pain |
only, for the sprained elbow had been
broken. How he escaped heaven only |
knows.
Now this is the curious part of my story. |
Less than year after, when she was cold |
ana lying at the docks without pound of |
sleain' that engine Killed this same en-
glneer. 1t must have been in the middle |
Oh the night. What he was doing down In |
her no one knows. A list by cargo and tide |
must have moved the machinery a half |
turn and crushed him.
Ed b says that engines have souls, |
but seafaring men cherish queer notiuns.-- /
New York Press.