The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-10-18
Fighting Fire Against Tlme.

tn studying up the dangers OF dyna-
mite working Cleveland Moffett
extracted from the superintendent
= OF the works he visited an admis-
sion that n certain worker had once
shown considerable bravery. though
he didn't think the manufacture OF
explosives was an extra hazardous en-
ployment.
He did not care TO talk about dyna-
mite-they never do. He did not think
there was much to say, anyhow. ex-
eept that people have silly notions
about the danger He had been work
ing with dynamite now for twenty-five
years. and never had an accident
that is. himself. oh. yes; some men
had been killed in his time. but not so
many as In other occupations not
nearly so many as in railroadlng. or
course there was danger In dealing
with any great force; the thing would
run away with you now and then. but
on the whole he regarded dynamite as
a very well behaved commodity and
much slandered.
"rhen you think dynamite-wo workers
have no great need OF courageT l sug-
gested.
"No more than others. Why should
they? They work along for years and
nothing happens. They might as well
be shovelIng coal And II anything
does happen. it's over so quick that
courage isn't much use"
Having said this he hesitated a mo-
ment, and then, as in a spirit OF fair
ness. told OF n certain man at the head
OF n nitro-glycerine mill who on one
occasion did do little thing that some
people called brave.
He wouldn't give the name OF this
-certain man." but I fancled l could
guess II.
This ntro-glycerine mill. II seems.
was on the Pacific coast, whence they
used 10 ship the dynamite on vessels
that loaded right alongside the yards.
One day mixing-house exploded. and
hurled burning timbers over a vessel
lying near that had just received
fresh cargo. Her decks were piled
with boxes OF explosives wooden
boxes which at once took fire. When
this certain man" rushed down 10 the
dock the situation was as bad as could
be. There were tons OF dynamite
ready to explode. and there was a hot
fire eating deeper into the wood with
every second. And all the men hal
run for their lives.
Well" said the superintendent.
what this man did was to grab n
bucket and line and jump on the deck.
Yes. II was burning. everything was
burning. But he went to work lower
ing the bucket oterside and throwin.
water on the flaming boxes. After a
while he put 'em out, and the dynamite
didn't explode at all. but I guess II
would have exploded In n very short
time II he had kept away. for the wood
was about burned through In several
places. know that's a true story, be-
ause. well-because l know H."
Don't you call that man braveT
asked.
The superintendent shook his head.
He was brave In that particular in
stance. but he might not have been
brave at another time. You never can
tell what a man will do In danger. II
depends on how he feels or on how
thing happens TO strike him. A man
might act like hero one day and like
coward another day. with exactly
the same danger in both cases. There's
lot OF chance in 1t. II that man /
was telling you about had been up late
the night before or had eaten tough
piece Of steak for breakfast. the
chances are he would have run like
The rest" s--.