The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-06-05

lent willing hands. 1t was risky work,
but Billson was gradually pulled up,
and after being wrapped in a blanket
was taken to his home.
Death on Either Side.
Patrick L. Fennel, who recently left
his home in Montgomery, Penn. to
work in Susquehanna County, has had
q thrilling adventure. Fennel, who Isl
an engineer, went up into The lumber
woods of Susquehsnna County to run
an engine in sawmill. When he ar
rived In camp he found that the saw
mill had been in disuse about ten
years. Among the machinery left in
the old mill were boiler and station
airy engine. They were IN bad shape,
but Fennel got them ready for bust
ness.
The other day Fennel fred up to
test the boiler and engine, and then
went away to another part of the mill.
He was delayed some, and returned to
find the boiler was generating steam
with startling rapidity. He rushed
into the boiler house, the door closing
after him with bang. The door fas-
tened on the outside with hasp and
drop hook, and the jar caused the
the hook to drop into the staple, max
ing Fennel q prisoner. Although
tested to only 100 pounds. the steam
gauge showed the boiler had already
generated Ito pounds, and the CULVER
ing hand on the steam gauge was
mounting higher and higher. That
the boiler was liable to explode at any
moment Fennel we'll knew. He
glanced at the safety valve and was
startled to see that it had become
fastened in some manner and refused
to work.
He was about to- climb up to loosen
the refractory safety gauge when his
eyes beheld a sight from which he
drew back. Around the safety valve,
Just where he was about to grasp it
with his hand, was coiled big rattle
snake, while two other reptiles of the
same species lay on the floor OF the
boiler house. They had evidently
been drawn from their hiding places
in the wall or floor of the old boiler
house by the heat.
/ The quivering hand of the steam
gauge told Fennel only too plainly
that the pressure on the boiler was
becoming terrific. But he could not
pass the serpents and reach the boiler,
neither could he get out of the door.
The only means of exit was a small
window, and to reach this he would
have to pass the snakes. Near by
stood an iron bar used in clearing out
the fire, and grssping this he crushed
the head of the serpent nearest him.
The other snake coiled about his leg
and struck viciously, fastening lis
fangs into his rubber boot. A blow
with the bar crushed the snake on the
safety gauge, and then came q struggle
to remove the one around his leg.
Quick as fash no snapped the snake
in two, and then, with the iron bar
knocked off the safety valve.
Rescued From Beneath Thirty-Vivl
rect of Earth.
, John Gamble, of Montague, vii
have a thrilling story to tell to hi:
great.grandchildren of an experience
that befell him Saturday.
At 9 o'clock that forenoon Gamble
, was at the bottom of Mr.. Clapp's vel
cleaning it out, when, without warn
/ ing, the walls caved in. A force o
| men at once rushed to the spot ant
, began digging. No one ever expected
, to see Gamble alive again, yet eacl
, man worked as if his own life de
) pended upon his efforts. Alons
|, through the darkness of the night they
, toiled, and one by one the rocks ant
. spadefuls OF earth were lifted from
/. above CANDLES resting place.
!, At o'clock q. m. they were dowI
! thirty-fve feet with the digging whel
: the man at the bottom of the excava
l ton was astonished to hear groaninl
{ from beneath his feet. With shou
| the men renewed their efforts and tor
( tho stones away. Gamble was foun,
{ in q crouching position against tn
t lower stones OF the well. The falfin
walls had formed low arch just abov
him.. thus saving him from bein
crushed and furnishing him space 70
= breathing. He was alive and consciou
J. but very weak. and was taken tenderl
' up and restoratiyes applied. In
9 short time he recovered and wa
{ placed in bed. The bruises on hi
s body viii disable him for a.few weeks
Q The village was never SO awful
r worked up, and many wept with 10
when Gamble was found to be living
r Lewiston Me- Journal.
4 Deed OF a Brave Mother.
q The almost miraculous escape frol
S horrible death of Mrs. I'll. Kirk
Q White. editor OF the Owozso mich
/ Press, and her three-ye son, hs
|. been matter of general conyersatio
p at that place. In company with Mr..
s. G. w. Loring and her little boy, the
s. went to Burton to spend the alternoo
D with friend. Returning to the depc
alter dusk, they were obliged to eros