Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-01
FURNACE ROOM HERO
He Was Only Boiler Maker
HuntIey, of Norfolk.
He Saved tho Gunboat Castino md Her
Crew From Paying n Permanent visit
to Dnyy Jones Lockcr-How He Did
1t,
trhe Toledo fohiol Blade,

The duty OF the boilermakcrS on war
ships is Cd tho most dangerous nature. In
action, between actions, and out OF action,
the repairs that they are called upon at
moments notice to effect are sufficient to
send a chill OF fear through the hearts of
most men. They will creep right inside
boiler or furnace which has but n few
moments before been full OF boiling liquid
or rcd-hot Goals. They will screw up nuts
and fastcn bolts. or repair leaking pipes
or joints i'll places that other men would
consider impossible to approach. While
tho ships big guns are making tho vessel
trcmblc, and the cnemy'S shells are burst
ing in every direction. these men. with
positively fearless recklessness will ven
ture down into the bowels of the fighting
ship. amid roaring machinery. kissing
steam and flaming fires, to rectify an ac-
cident which. unrepaired, might send the
ship and ali her human freight to the
than shell or shot from the best guns OF
the enemy. These men are heroes.
Most people in the United States will
remember that. when the Bancroft went
to work 10 batter the walls of San Juan,
for some reason she had to slip out of ac-
ton; and her place was taken by the little
Sunboat CaStine, which, without delay,
opened her batteries upon the fort
a CLOSE SHAVE.
Very few people. even on the vessel her
SELF. know what Il close shave she and her
crew had of paying permanent visit to
the dreaded haven of Davy Jones.
The Castine carried on board three of
these boilermakers already referred 10,
Fish, another, and one Iiuntley, OF Nor
folk. Va. The Castine went into action
under full steam. her triple screws rcvolv-
ing at the fullest speed her 2100-horse
power could make them spin, and her bat
terry of eight guns started her Guivering
with excitement and tho fierce delight of
battle. The furnaces were heated almost
TO white heat and tho forced draught was
urging the flames TO greater heat, the
boiling water TO the higher production of
steam, tho engines to increasing rcvolu-
lions. Suddenly, without expectation,
without warning, far down in the furnace
hole. unheard by officer or man amid the
din of battle. tho laundering revcrbcra
tons of exploding Eunpowder, there aroSa
II fierce Kissing noise right inside ono OF
tho furnaces-and those who heard 1t
tremblcd as no guns or shot or shell had
power 10 make them tremble
a socket bolt in the back connection Mt
tho very farthest interior extremity of the
furnace had become loose. a leak had
been sprung; the steam was pouring in
upon the fire, threatening in n few mo-
montS TO put IL out and stop the progreSS
OF tho ship IL 1t did not have tho moro
awful effect of causing u terrible cXplo-
sion ana humiliation.
~ MOMENT OF SUSPENSE.
Tho faces of tho mon below, in that
meath tho grime that covered them. None
know what TO do save walt tho awful
coming OF tho shock they knew must
come!
Mono? Nay, but there was one! Tho
first to pull himself together the first to
whom returned tho fear-driven senses
was Boilermaker Huntley. Ills name