The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1901-06-15
L denly shouted.
J denly shouted:
run, boys, she's going to fow!"
So. 40 PER YEAR.

denly shouted: - =
run, boys, she's going to fow!'
And They Ran.
That simply meant death to all con-
cerned who stood there, as natural flow
of oil was coming, and it would throw
the shell out and explode it beyond
doubt. The shell had been lowered only
about sixty feet3 and it could be heard
plainly coming up, banging against the
sides of the iron casing, pushed by a
strong flow of oil and gas unexpectedly
fl eed from the pay sand. .; 'f-.a>- ,.-53.p =
There was a dash for the exit of the
boarded-in derrick, but there wasn't one
chance in a thousand that the men who
ran could get away. Anyway, the dec
pairing owner was half inclined to st13i
and go up with his hopes, for when tho
shell exploded on the derrick floor his
well was ruined. Somehow Hank was not
in the scramble for the door, nor was he
in the race for life, and somehow that
shell didn't go off as soon as expected.
though the well was flowing, as the
splash! splash of the golden fluid could
be heard for some distance.
Hank! Hank!' the men called. But
there was no answer, except the splash
ing Of oil and the deep soughing Of the
gas forcing 1t upward. p. go -.
Hank, the Hero.
Hank, fearless as ever, had determined
instantly that he either would go up with
the swhole shooting match or save it all.
There simply was little use running, as!
chain lightning is slow compared with
nitro-glycerine. Anyway, there was, a.
faint hope that he might save his conn
panions by holding the shell in the well
,pfi 1,So ~ o.
would be asphyxiated by the great flow Of
gas that already was making his head
swim, and then he would disappear with
everything else around him.
Gripping one hand firmly on each Ell
bow, he encircled the top Of the well
casing with his arms, leaning back his
head SO that he might not strange too
soen Braced thus the powerful fellow
calmly awaited the coming of that she'll
and death. 49, =. -,
The shell came swiftly, it's tin sides
changing against the casing, despite the
cushion of oil and gas between them.
Then there came a great flow of gas and
the swish of OIL Deluged though he was,
he was not blinded too soon to see what
he was looking fora streak Of white
dimly seen in the moonlight. Closing his
81 OIS ARMS, lie Crushed TO MS breast the
prize of life for himself and all-the shell.
The strong flow of oil almost took him
from his feet; but nothing could wrest
that shell from Hank then. inch byYinch
he permitted it to come up after the first
fierce jolt that raised him two, feet from
the derrick floor, and finally, with the last
ounce Of his strength gone, almost fell
blindly out of the roar Of oil and gas into;
the bright Moonlight. elasping to b his
bosom the fifty quarts of concentrated
hell as if it were the dearest object on
earth. Ss@&fhA ia S3k&
Drenched twithSpil and almost overcome
with the fumes of gas, Hank could not
walk far. and was seen to totter The
men who had just escaped death didn't
fear it then, and ran to him and nelped
him to lay his dangerous burden softly
down. Then they patted the breath back
into Hank and told him what brave old
fellow he was, which was entirely tu1i-
necessary, as he was more keenly aware
of what he just had passed through thas
they. " J@F7 e