Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08

porter went through the motions. and could
feel the air passing through his lips, but
| under the pressure II could not be ex-
PEELED with sufficient force to cause even Q
semblance OF a whistle.
You understand" said Mr. Cahill. ''that
when this rock has been thoroughly
full OF concrete, as will also the inner shaft
through which we have just come down.
making a solid column right up to the sur
face"
The climb up the rope ladder into the
lock took but few moments, and the pro-
cess of getting from the compressed air
into the outer atmosphere began. To do
this the several steps of the going-in-opera-
ton are just reversed. The lower door of
the lock Is drawn up tight and a valve
opening into the outer air is released, re-
lieving the pressure of the air In the lock
and allowing the upper door to open. The
sensation caused by coming into the outer
air after having been under pressure in the
caisson is almost as trying to a beginner
as that experienced upon going into the
heavy air."
We'll. how did that trip strike you?"
asked Mr.. Cahill. "You seem to be oil
right except for that little nose bleed
you've got. How would you like to earn
your living down in one Of those things?'
Dangers Surround Workmen.
Not receiving a very enthusiastic reply
he went on: why, that Is easy. Remem-
Der that there is only about twenty pounds
river gas tunnel 1 worked under a pressure
of sixty pounds to the square inch. Here
on this work, with moderate pressures, the
men work in eight-hour shifts, and there is
comparatively little danger. Under the heavy
pressures, say sixty pounds to the square
Inch, men cannot work over three-quarters
OF an hour at time, and a man Is taking
his life in his hands at that.
Where work Is carried on under a heavy
pressure" he continued, "the men must be
naturally robust and Furthermore in per-
feet physical condition. A doctor is always
on hand and each man is thoroughly looked
over every time he goes to work, in order
to detect any weakness of the heart or
lungs or any other irregularity. Men who
use liquor or tobacco, even in modera ton
are under great disadvantage in caisson
work. and under no consideration is man
allowed to go into heavy air who Is in the
slightest degree intoxicated or even one who
has been drinking recently.
Recollectfons In this business are not
pleasant for have seen several men
brought to the surface dead, and others al
most completely paralyzed and bleeding pro-
fusely from the mouth, ears and nose The
aff1lction most common among caisson la
bcrers is one which is, 1 think, developed
only In our line of work. The name of
the trouble, l do not think. appears In any
dictionary. 1t Is known as the benns. The
most hazardous stage of caisson work. you
know, Is In coming out from under pres
sure into the ordinary air. Its effect is to
cause the blood to rush to certain spots
II this spot is the brain or the heart, death
usually results. More frequently however
the trouble centers in the joints especially
the knees causing what we call the benns
and man who is thus afflicted will fall
down In heap and collapse completely
upon coming into the outer air. The out
come of the trouble is varying. Recovery
from light attack Is probable but a Sc
we're attack is liable to leave a man stiff
jointed and even crippled for life
Yes" he added. we are well paid. and
II anybody thinks we don't earn it. I'd lust
like to take him down in a sixty-pound
pressure for about five minutes, and l
think he would change his mind'