Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-04-04

zen 10 cioSc III, Jne superintendent
had shut and locked it, without
suspecting that any one was within.
Harry pounded upon the door
again, hoping that the superintend-
ent was not far away. But no re-
spouse came. No one was within
hearing. His key was useless, for
the door could only be opened from
the outside.
He sat down and pondered again.
What would happen? He knew
that within short time after the
clearing of the tunnel the furnaces
were 'fred up" again; and, as soon
as the fires were started, he would be
suffocated by the smoke and gases,
and would die dreadful death.
The thought filled him with
alarm. Again and again he beat
upon the door with the shovel,
but no one came to his assistance.
Could he climb down through one
of the furnaces and escape that way
before the fires were lighted?
No; he knew well enough that
the way toward the furnaces was
barred by a huge iron crate that
extended across the tunnel. New
ertheless, he rushed to the gratings
as if hoping that by some accident
there might be passageway.
The gratings were impossible, of
course! He knelt upon them, his
lighted lamp in his hand, peering
down into the darkness below, and
wondering if he could make the
fremen hear through the hues by
shouting. He called again and
again. 1t was quite useless; the
distance was too great, and the flues
did not readily convey the sound.
As he knelt there he fancied that
he smelled smoke. Could it be his
lamp? Certainly,not. 1t was the
smell of burning wood, which now
came distinctly to his nostrils. The
fires were already being lighted.
Harry turned and walked up the
tunnel. 1t was useless to hurry
He was in trap and must be suf-
located in few minutes.
As he walked along, he suddenly
remembered that within the chin.
ney there was an iron ladder, rum
ming to the top, which had been
placed there by builders to afford a
footing for the men who cleaned
out the chimney. Why could he
not climb the ladder and reach the
outside in that way? 1t was a long
distance to climb but it was his only
way out.
He ran now, as fast as he could
The smell of smoke grew stronger
and stronger. He knew that if the
smoke did not come too fast, he
could climb to the top Of the lad.
der; but how was he to get down
Never mind about that now, he
thought; he would rather be dashed
to pieces on the ground below the
chimney, than suffocated in this
horrible tunnel. Besides, he could
call for help if he once reached TIL,
top of the chimney.
Soon he gained the foot of thu
ladder, and placing the lamp in hi
hat began the ascent. Already thu
white smoke was beginning to fill
the chimney. He must climb fol-
his life. The clouds of smoke grew
thicker and thicker about him az
he made his way desperately up thu
slender ladder. With every steI
his breathing became more difficult
Could he hold out till he reached
the top?
Half stifled with a sickening, diz
zy feeling stealing over him, he a
last reached the top of the chimney
and drew himself up upon it's rim
Leaning quickly over the side he
managed to get breath of fresh
air. That revived him. He glanc
ed hastily about. Darkness was
fast settling over the hill, but ther,
was still light enough to show hin
that no one was in sight.
Far below in the valley he saw
the red lights cleaning from thu
open doors of the smelling works
and now and then caught the darl
forms of the workmen, but h,
knew they were beyond the SOUND