The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-05

carpen ter-vork remain
ed to be done bat the Captain thought that
could he finished while the boat was running.
We had worked very hard for two days, aho lhe
last afternoon was allowed US Tor recreation
for early next morning the anchor should DE
heaved. So we went ashore.
When ! returned to the boat the nlght was
bitter cold and very stormy. Instead OF sta
tioning watehman on deck, the boatsTaIn
locked everything and retired TO ms c2Dih'
Only the engine room was open, ana the
boards and planks which were demolished by
the explosion had not been replaced Inc
floor was wet and no place could be found on
deck as a shelter against the increasing storm.
concluded to leave the interior OF the boat
and sleep in open air instead Of being exposed
to the fearful draft ! felt in the dark with
nv hands along the engines to find way out,
when my foot caught on a cover lying near. 1
stumbled and fell with my arms IN the Oval
opening or the lower end of the boiler. through
which a man might crawl for repairs, ana
which, when the boiler is used, is closed with
G heavy iron cap. fastened with Welghty
clamp-iron, making the boiler air-tlght.
In this opening the blacksmith had gone the
day before to repair the boiler. When faIllng
into this opening / knocked my head against
the boiler giving ne great pain. When / re-
covered from the shock / did not hesitate to
use this uncomfortable but protected shell
Ter liz preference TO the rough weather outside
So / crept into the boiler.
The place was dry and warm, and would
have lain very comfortably if this couch had
only been little softer. But for ali that slept,
and I slept well. / had to change my position
several times before closing my eyes. First,
erept to the farther end; but moved forward
sgain. and from time to time stretched my
hand through the opening to convince myself
that 1t was not vet closed.
As did not fear that they would close the
opening without my hearing the adjusting OF
the heavy iron coTer, ! gradually drew back to
the other and warmer end of the boiler. Here
fell asleep. all the sounder, as the shock against
my head had stunned me.
Nv awaking was horrible I heard divers
sounds, by which I concluded that day was
approaching, though all around me was i'm
penetrabe darkness The fearful thought
struck me that during my sleep the opening OF
the boiler might have been closed. crept
towards it. A chill went to my heart All
was dark, closed, impenetrable, within the
great coffin around me, without the least open
ing to admit air and light. Terror deprived
me of consciousness Moaning, / dropped
down. How long l lay / DO not recollect.
But the physician told me later that 1t must
have been more apoplexy than faintness.
While lay there a sensation crept over me
se II ny feet were lying in water. 1t rose
higher and higher. 1talready reached towards
my knees, and it made me feel uncommonly
chilly. The chilliness increased. An inde-
scribabIe sensation crept over NE, as more and
more the water covered my body. at last,
rising slowly, il reached my head, and finally
my mouth. / heard the regular motion Of the
pumr, pumping water into the boiler.
With horror ] started up. My terrible stu
alton seemed to strengthen me, the blood
rushed to my head, but-the Lord be praised
did not faint again.
The stunning terror which fell upon me
when ] first realized my fearful situation,
gave way to a fervent desire for self pTeserva-
tiOn. 1 screamed and shouted with all my
might. ] again moved to the closed opening,
stretched my arm to the place through which
got in, and came to the conclusion that / vas
buried alive. ] yelled again and again in my
fear. so that the walls of my iron coffin shook.
But the regular pulses Of the pump gave an
Ewer as in mockery.
gave up al hope at last and became tranquil.
The thought of my death, and in such hor-
rible way, had now nothing terrible TO me. It
was nothing new that man had to die such
death. Thousands are often caught ia such
small spaces of ship, have sunk to the bottom
of the sea- have in despair beaten against the
too-well closed matches, and been drowned.
Why should not also die in this way? But
after had accustomed myself to the thought
another came 10 me. ] felt the water becom-
ing hot. ] heard the cracking Of the fire.
which had TO change the water into steam
before it could rise high enough to drown me.
shuddered. Ny fearful situation overpowered
me again. Feebly ! sank back upon the floor
Of the boiler.
But my full consciousness returned again.
As was too hoarse to shout very loud ] beat
against the wall louder and louder with in
creasing force and with q strength which only
despair could impart.
There were men close by who ought to hear
my knocking Could i not hear the shutting
Of their feet-the duh falling Of the wood?
Could not hear even the laughing Of the fire.
man, who was only few inches from my tomb?
But the singing Of the water which surrounded
my knees made in the steaming boiler more
noise than my weak knocking against the iron
wall.
Then suddenly ] stepped upon a movable OBJ
feet, for the increasing beat forced me to keep
my feet in motion. Mechanically / reached
ont and touched heavy hammer that the
blacksmith had accidentally left there.
With what delight ] took this tool! With
what renewed hope ] beat against the iron
walls Of my living grave. But, oh, horror J j
had scarcely listened for 4 moment when j
heard the clinking Of the iron doors, which the
fireman opened. ] perceived how the fire
which was about TO torture me to death would
be fed with a supply Of fuel.
Suddenly new hope sprang up IN my heart.
There was no choice. j might have been
saved If ] had found the hammer even few
minutes sooner Now ] had TO take the last
means left TO me, which might save me or
might cause me death still more horrible.
] recoliected that ] had chisel in my
pocket and in less time than it takes TO describe
IL put il against one Of the plates and drove
IL through with the hammer The water
PUSHES through the hole. Would they see it?
No; wooden partition hid it yet from them;
the water had TO rue over the deck before they
would notice the leak.
/ enlarged the opening. The water de-
creased. Ii it ran out much more / was in
danger of roasting alive upon the iron plates,
which burnt my feet already. Ha, now they
see it hear voices. They call for q crow
bar. The panks crash as they are torn away.
They End the leak. They try to come close to
It,
Good God why don't they first try TO ex-
tinguish the fire instead Of calling Tor tools?
desperate thought crosses my mind aud
faiBting, do. the last thing which can save
me. With extreme oxertion ] put my index
finger OF theright hand through the hole.
. bear the cry Of the men WHO saw it. / hear
The calfto extinguish the Gre. ! hear the first
motion Of the pump TO throw cold water into
the boiler and consciousness leaves me.
When awoke j lay upon a soft bed sur
rounded by kind and sowing friends minister
ing 10 my wants. The leak would have been
stopped in a few minutes had / not put my Gu
Ger ia the hole. That finger is shape,css
Children Cry g3g