Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-18
IN THE STEEL MILLS.
4 woRkMAN's ACC CUNT OF HIS
 FIRST DAY AT HOMESTEAD.

Flame. and Blistered by the Terrible Heat-rhs Fate of One Poor Maa-Tossed With Aching Bones at Night
 When went to the superintendent and asked for work. he said. "What can you do?''
 Anything. I am large. strong, ac- tive and willing. l have been about machinery all my life and want work badly"
 He touched a button, and a boy ap- peared- "Show this man down to the converting mill and ask Fred if he can do anything for him. Good morningl" he said, and my interview was over.
 put on my new overalls and jumper and followed my guide down through the mills We made our way through piles of stock, raw material, rolls, etc, and came at last to the huge converting mill The superintendent was found and the word delivered. He glanced at me a moment; then said, not unkindly. "You look good and strong. Jump in and help those fellows there on those vessels.
 hardly knew what he meant, but through the smoke and steam saw IlGu Ont LII tlt NtSSSAsf OA converters, working with sledges and bars to get the bottom of. The mill, with its ponderous and massive cranes, the immense vessels all covered with black scale and soot, the flying sparks, the roaring flames, the lights coming and going, the air filled with steam and smoke, and, finally, the shrin and deaf ening noise, awed, confused and even disconcerted me more than I should have liked to acknowledge.
 Iseized a sledge lying near and jump ed in We at last got out the keys, |" as they call the wedges which hold the converter together, and by tho help of hydraulic ram took the bottom of. This left a white hot opening feet in diameter and about feet from the ground, under which we must work. It seemed to me as though the skin on my neck and hands would burst with the heat My clothes even steamed and smoked. How wished had been any where under@the suD-good old Sol- | rather than under this fendishly hot sun hanging So very near usl
 When we had the new bottom on, we went up to the platform above the con- verters and drove the keys home more securely and stopped any small hole there might be with ball stuff.
 A shrieking engine passed by me and swiftly poured into the converter q "heat" of iron. Then the blast was turned on, and a cloud of yellow and saffron flame. mixed with sparks and small particles of metal, rushed out oi the mouth of the converter into the air. One of the men caught me by the arm and pulled me away just in time to save me from being seriously burned. for was not expecting the flame
 By noon was so tired could hardly stand. but I stuck to it for all wa. worth. During the afternoon frequent ly fell down because my knees were to- weak to h0id mo up. My hands wer burned and blistered. and my new over alls were filled with holes burned b, flying sparks. About 4 o'clock in tn afternoon, while working under tn platform, was startled to see a stream of red fire run over the edge of the plat form and strike in the midst of som workmen. As it touched the wet groun, it exploded with a report like that of cannon. The molten metal flew in ever. direction. Many workmen were burne more or less severely, and in the case O one poor fellow-it makes me sick stil to think of it!- the steel came down di rectly on the head and back. We go him out of the steam and smoke an, carefully and tenderly cut his burne clothing from him. As we placed hin on tho stretcher the burned flesh drrIp ped from his bones
 When was relieved at 6 o'clock, seemed as if it would have been uttCrl impossible for mo to live in that mil another hour. 1 dragged myself to m room and went to bed at once. All tha night I tossed and turned my achin bones, trying to get into some position less painful than tho last. was tor tured by thousand grocesque fancie and by the picture of the poor felloy who was burned 90 badly. At last go into an uneasy drowses but Ifelt as if had not been asleep niinut when m alarm clock announced to me that was 4:45, aud that must get up to m 5:l0 breakfast. Oh, the misery of thn } rising and going to the milll Ever bone and sinew seemed as if made c redhot iron. and the joints as if ruste ; together.
 It was dark, foggy morning, found when, having desperately got up enoug will power to dress, I tumbled out my boarding house. The Pittscur smoke and fog are proverbial, but
 really think that on that particula morning one might have cut tangibl chunks out of the black, wet air. Tn board walks in Homestead arc never 1 repair, and on the way to the mills stumbled along through mud and stones over boards and into holes, carrying i l my hand my tin dinner bucket, whic contained my midday meal.
 On my first Sunday we refined tn converter. and it became my duty { stand up in the inverted vessel on hand up tho ball stuff and limeston with which to refine 1t The vessel ha been left to cool simply over night m I suppose the temperature of the dry al inside of it stood at about I40 degrees worked us hard as could, but nea , noon tainted. for the first time in m life.
 My experience at Homestead was tn experience of the majority of workme there. as Seen by One C Its Workmen" in McClure's Magazine. \ The resurrection plant, Q native c South Africa. becomes dry and appal ently hfeless during drought, but open