The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-19
A BURNED FINGER.


was always put where hardest toll and
greatest skill were needed. These tasks
also always sought, for thus gained the
best payment, not from misery motive,
but that might win a home for my Mar
garet, whom had learned to love even in
my boyhood. Daily added to the little
store intended for that purpose and Joyed
in the work, for love made labor delight,
and each days work brought me nearer
my hearts desire.
One September night had sought my
bed, wearied with a day of hardest toll,
when messenger from my employer
brought me word that was needed to re-
pair a boiler at the largest gunmaking
works In the city. felt too tired to go,
but they would have no workman but me,
and the job must be done that night since
the factory was engaged in q large contract
which must not be delayed. Night work
meant double pay, and every extra shilling
gained fastened my marriage day, so
forced my wearied limbs to agreement
with my will and hurried through the
dark streets to my labor. The boiler was
of the old two fiue style, and the leak
was in the far end of one Of the fues.
Tho job was slow and painful. was
forced to do most of the work while lying
upon my back, but by the aid of the en-
gineer and the stoker had nearly finish
ed it by O'Clock. There was but an
hours work at trimming and calking,
which could easily finish without their
aid, SO let them go to gain few hours
rest before their daily work began. Lack
of sleep and the painful labor in a confined
position had SO benumbed my senses that
as struck the last blow 1 sank back and
fell into the deepest slumber. How long
lay thus know not. At last dreamed
that I was bound to the deck of a sinking
ship, and my helpless frame was awash
with the tapping waves. Now in dumb
stupOr, between sleeping and waking, I
felt their cold touch, and shrieking with
terror l awoke. / was enshrouded in
pitchy darkness. The swash of water still
filled my ears; it's clammy chiIliness was
stiffening my limbs, and its rising tide
was covering my body as I lay nerveless
with dread
But was by nature quick of thought
and in n moment recognized the full hor-
TOR of my situation. While / was pros
trate in deepest sleep the engineer had re-
turned to his work for the day, and, sup
posing me long ago gone, had replaced the
boiler head and was filling the boiler with
water. For moment lost my manliness
and became a mailman. / screamed with
rage, cursed and struck the cold iron of
my tomb with clinched fists. I cried out
against the cruelty of Sod and man which
had imprisoned me, who had never harmed
his fellow man and destined me to so cruel
were free to enjoy the blue sky and glori-
Gus sunlight, while I, an honest workman,
was entombed alive, to be slowly drowned,
or, still worse seethed like lobster. Tho
heat of my rage overcane the chill of the
surrounding water and fevered my blood,
yet the cold enveloping Of my cruel shroud
closed tighter about me. Then sullen
calmnees replaced my passion, and I re-
solved to die without a sob. could never
forgive the injustice of my unmerited
punishment, but could at least die with
dignity. So 1 sat listlessly till suddenly
the Thought of the grief of my parents and
the long suffering of my betrothed at my
mysterious disappearance reused me to
energy. I would fight for my life. There
must be, there should be some mode of es-
cape. Mover would I be drowned, like
a rat in flooded drain, without strug
gle for life and freedom. Quick thought
racked my brain. I seized my hammer,
crawled to the front and struck, with all
my force upon the boiler head. But be-
fore it was an iron hood, which deadened
all sound to those without. But, though
their senses were so dull, mine were quick
ened to an unnatural sharpness, and a new
sound more piercing and more heartrend-
ing overpowered the splash of the falling
water 1t was the roar Of the fire in the
furnace below. Death by drowning was
far less frightful than the one that now
threatened me.
There was but one hope, one chance OF
escape. If 1 could burst hole through
this cruel iron and food the blazing Goals,
1 might save myself Among my tools
was a punch. Slowly crawled through
the water, growing sensibly warm, to the
place where had been working and CROPPED
till found it. Back in the same weari-
some way till near the furnace door,
placed the punch in position, and, praying
Gods aid, struck with all my force.
But, alas, the depth OF the water caused
my hammer to rebound, and 1ukewarm
splash upon my face showed me that my
escape must be quicker than the quick
death that threatened or it would never be.
How could my blow be made effectivei
Suddenly thrill of hope shot through my
mind. I recalled a long countersink
which I had been using. With this
might SO lengthen the punch as to strike
an effective blow. A third journey of an
guish through the water, DIV almost hot,
brought me, with my last hope, to the
place where had been trying to pierce the
boiler plate. Putting the countersink
upon the punch and holding their junction
| with my left hand, Iprayed this time bott
to God and to my Margaret and again
struck mighty blow. The tools flew
| apart, my left hand was frightfully bruis
| ed, but God and Margaret be thanked
| felt the iron yield beneath the punch
| Again [ placed them and again struck
| Blow followed blow, and, though the hea
| was torture and the bruises martyrdom
, joy filled my heart for I felt the depression
! growing deeper at each stroke. At las
| the punch burst through the opposing iron
| I heard the fierce hiss of the water as i
| struck the blazing Goals and the clang o.
the furnace door as the astonished stoke1
| swung it to learn the cause of the steam
sudden escape. 1 quickly thrust my fin
| ger through the hole amidst the rushing
water and heard his scream of terror at tn
| sight. Then the quick fall OF the rak
upon the Goals as the fire was drawn fel
| like angels voices upon my ear, and
| knew no more When 1 regained m.
| Senses many DAYS afterWard. Margarel