Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-07-31

1hrustlng his hands In his pockets. he !
walked off with a command to try him |
at oiling."
Ed B, the head oiler-dear, brave
heart-I often 60 down to the dock to
see him when in port here, but the en-
CINE is as dear to him as bride or l
would long ago have bettered his for
tunes-he took me in hand. We
walked along those mere bird-cages of
stair-ways and platforms, labyrinth of
passages in forest of steel arms, wheels,
shafting and steam piping. To lands
man. that endless maze of mighty anat-
omy is at first simply awful. It sobers
one, this sullen, ceaseless throb of the
monsters heart, the deep breathing of
the steam chests, the sigh of the crea
lures spirit as the pIstons make one move
and vet one more herculean thrust tuln-
ing the crank shaft.
Each time, as the piston slowly starts,
it seems as if it must be the last, and in
! finite fatigue prevail. But no, it goes
on, night and day, motion, motion, mo-
ton. Don't let me tire you, reader, but
I do wish could express to you some
| thing of the solemn impression that be-
|
| after Ed, the oiler. Then the hiss, the
scream, the little signs and means of
here and there jet OF truant steam, al
most human sounds, issuing from the
jungle of polished steel!
| ''She's a tiger, she is?' cried Ed.
"Look out!"
I heard that kind exclamation fire.
quently as we went our rounds. There
were others doing the same work, but L
became a chosen attendant Of my cat
like friend. He had sprained elbow
and I helped him professionally. He
got nv story. We were intimate in two
or three days, and I record it with hon
est satisfaction, for Ed B-was gen
uine 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 for more than two hours. Ed
came to me and said:
CHOW she's still the second engineer
thinks we might go into the pit and
clean out the waste and oil puddles. l
don't like it, doctor, when she's got
steam on. What if she turned her
crank, Ell"
The brave boy went jumping down,
however,; down, down, ill he stood di-
rectly unoer that massive crank, which
; had stopped at the half turn over his
head.
The reader will understand that the
space allowed for the crank to make the
full circuit round below was only sutfi-
c1ent for the iron to sweep through.
Into that now empty space Ed was pre-
} pairing to step. 1t was dark as grave
and about graves dimensions. l held
2 the torch above his head. Men working
1 by torchlight in that place resemble
imps. We were good natured imps
t however, and, though very cautious
q were chatting cheerfuily enough.
e 81 never like this job at sea, resumed
. Ed, ssnor any time, except when the
t last pound O. steam is out of her, two OF
y three days at dock"
n but the engineer knows we ar
q here, l replled.
O eyes, he ordered me down-ant
# there's no need of it-and he don't Xix
IS me-" Ed got off between his breath
4 bending to his perilous work in the pit.
n "Heavens, mani" exploded, catch
i ing at what thought was his meaning
r, s'That would be murder"
r HHush, doctor Not that, not that
r. Rut if T had refused to come, as b
n thought would, don't you see he coul
5, break me-that is, discharge me whe
It we get into New York"
st A few minutes later Ed sent me alo
for an extra mop of cotton waste.
N was to hurry, for we knew not whs
VS. minute the captain might go ahead.
70 remember had secured the waste, l VIZ
is picking my way along the enigma of Ii
tie ladders and platforms. Far below
| through the shadows, flung from occa
g ional gas jets the sleeping monster, Iii
De a nickel plated spider, lay prone, and
ID seemed to be exploring its viscera hk
some daring pathologist. Away belo
i'll me in the light of his torch Ed remlnde
~ me of a micrOb.
l. Suddenly the gong struck from tt
We nilot house. God help me, can hear
yet!
be T was near the engineers landln:
a Ouick as a flash I was on the englnee
ne and like tiger 1 caught at the Whe
which he was turning to let on steam.
a s.NIan! B. is in the crank pit
,r- But was too late. She gave one tur
=: - -TLo, tho ccoundrel or fOO!,