The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-12-26

than that Iof the men who build
bridges and rear the great iron skele-
tons of tie ;skysssssspsTs. There have
been several bad falls latoly from the
East river bridge structure. Two
things go TO show the perilous nature
Of the work. The first is the nxtrecss-
dinary number Of fatalities-propor-
tionately much greater than in any
other calling. The second is the re-
luctance Of the insurance companies
amounting. in some nasee, &c PEST
tive refusal-to take the risks on the
lives of the workers. It may be add
ed that, though the work does rot re-
ouire any particular skill or expert
ence, the pay is comparatively high;
and, further, that there are no old
men in the business. This latter fact
is particularly significant. I. was
said to-day; the man who remarked it
could recall but one old man, and that
one had his foot cut of one day, when
the gang was dragging buckle plates
up an incline. He was not quick
enough to get out Of the way.
"I don't mean to say | that the
no7hmen are killed off," continued
the reporters informant. 'sThe work
requires both strength. and nerve. If
one or the other is lost, it units the
workman utterly. Il is common
knowledge that sudden, perhcps ar
accountable, loss Of nervo iD to oe
feared. It is the great danger Of the
men when they are sloft; and when g
man is once shaken, even il he saves
himself from falling, his name, in the
language Of theIbridge builder, lis
Dennis He has to quit. It is often
sudden; and it may be altogether the
fault Of the mans liver. Seriously, q
steady, sound liver is an exceedingly
important matter to man who works
on 12inch girder 80 feet above the
ground. I recall one man who was an
exception to the rule I have just LAID
down. He had been up late possibly
drinking-and he lost his nerve, of
sudden, when he was more than 100
feet up. The foreman saw him lie
down fat and hug the girder with
arms and legs. The foreman paid no
attention for some little time; he
knew just what the matter was Then
he walked up to the man and said, in
matter of fact way, Say, Bill, go
and tell Bob to hurry them rivets up
Bill got right up end did as he was
told. Well, he continued on the
work.
Most of the workmen came from the
Southern States. They have splendid
health and strength; they are active,
sure, and courageous, to the point Of
recklessness. The contractors say
tha. they are above the average in
intelligence; that -ssihiey are, in every
quality, above the unskilled laborer.
Not many Of them are married; for
their calling takes them here, there,
aud everywhere-it may be to the
ends of the earth--and, in any case,
it would be bad lookout for the wife
aud children Their work calls for
clear head and steady eye; but they
carouse just as other laborers do-no
more, no less-and take their chances
in the morning. When.they are disa-
Oled, they go to the hospital for
time, and then get along as best they
can. The contractor usually has
blanket insurance" and, at any
rate, it is not hard for him to prove
negligence on the part Of the injured
man. 1t requires no experience to
get job; there is no apprenticeship;
the experienced men, Of c6urse, are
the more valuable. and. therefore, the
more in demand. The demand, by the
4 way mas Increased enormously In the
past few years--not 80 much for work
On bridges as on the framework Of
skyscrapers.
q As in all perilous callings, accidents
can usually be put down to overconfi.
! esnce. A msn risks Ills life virtually
4 lot eight hours every working day..
o0nstquently, itsis not long before he
,cquires certain contempt for the
aaoger. He thinks himself superior
,.o't; SO he runs over, the girders, 100
,eet in the air, as thoughi it were 10
leet. The inexperienced man can.
walk four inch plank On the ground
3. !, with no difficulty stall; six feet from
y .oe ground he trembles and has hard
sofk to balance himaelf; 60 feet up.
ii 10 . would sink down in terror, grip
.ae slender beam desperately, aud