The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-11-14
element. This was to be the most
thrilling spectacle of all.

| c1tement. Ibis was to be the most
thrilling spectacle of all.
The electric traveller overhead slow
ed and stopped. The enormous ladle
was almost directly above the mold,
the top of which was practically level
with the surface of the floor. The
great chains clanked as the huge re-
ceptacle was lowered to within few
inches of the ground.
At that moment something happen
ed. There was a clanking as if a
crossed link in the chain had sudden
ly Strengthened out. The ladle tilted
more to one side. An instant it hung
there, and then with rattle as of a
ratchet, it sank suddenly to the
ground and turned on its side.
A great glowing pool of molten
metal poured out on the earthen floor
and spread in every direction. A
cloud of steam from the damp sand
ascended to the rafters. The men
knew the danger all to we'll. They
had started back at the premonitory
sounds, and now they fed instantly,
blindly, from the horrible food.
The little boy stood with his back
tight against the stone wall, wonder
ing and thrilled, clasping and un-
clasping his hands. He was not
frightened, but he was fairly sobbing
with the excitement of this terrific
climax to the wonderful sights he had
seen. His eyes were confused by the
sudden glare of light, and a great
wave of awful heat swept over him.
The first irresistible rush of the
fiery wave was checked, but still it
spread out slowly in rivulets and
branches on every side, like the ten
tacles of some hideous monster. Sew
eral of these horrid, glowing arms
were stealing toward him, silently,
mercilessly. He turned to fly, first
one way, then another. He was sur
rounded on every side. The little fell
low gave one awful cry of terror and
despair, and stood there, trembling
and sobbing.
The men, who had fled instructive
ly at the first warnings, had turned
now and were gazing in horror at the
terrible spectacle.
What could they do? Whatever
was done must be done in an instant,
for, second by second, the octupus-
like arms of fire were creeping toward
the boy. There was no time to wait
aud think out plan of rescue, and
Big George Smith had not waited.
Without word he had rushed to-
ward the boy. Men called to him to
stop, but he did not hear them, or if
he did, he gave no heed.
Leaping the arms of molten metal,
he sprang nearer and nearer the boy.
Once he fell short few inches. The
heel of his boot barely touched the
edge of one of the streams, and was
cut off as with knife.
With one last, mighty bound, he
reached the boy, and, gathering him
in his arms without moments hesi-
tation, he turned to retrace his steps.
1t was harder now. New streams
and branches had formed, and inter
laced and made pools of fire.
Keeping close to the wall, he hur-
ried on desperately. The heat was
sitting. Measuring with his eye, he
leaped from spot to spot of floor yet
uncovered, where sometimes only the
half of his foot could rest, holding
the lad high snd close to his arms.
Once he staggered and almost fell
into the seething mass. The distance
was less than 80 feet altogether that
he had to go, but SO erratically had
the liquid spread itself that his course
was zigzag, here and there, wherever
he could gain an instant's footing.
To fall, he knew, meant death in its
most horrible form for himself, and
probably for the boy.
Out at the edge Of the little lake of
fire the men were working like mad
with shovels, building dam of sand
and throwing great shovelfuls on the
outer edge of the pool to make last
footing, for the iron had filled in for
several feet from the edge all of the
bare spots which had served for step.
ping places when Smith ran to the
rescue but a moment before.
He was within II feet of the edge
now, standing on little hill of sand
where there was only room for one
foot to rest, and all around, on every
side, was sea of death. There was
but one way, and he did not hesitate.
Without pausing an instant, he sprang
as far as he could, splashed for sim
gle step into the awful, burning food,
and staggered into the arms of the
men waiting to receive him.
The father gathered his boy un-
harmed into his arms, while the men,
trained to such emergencies, knelt
over Big George Smith, tearing away
what had once been shoes from what
had once been feet, and applying the
''irst aid' remedies, always at hand.
An hour later the surgeon came
into the Office, where the general
manager and the chairman of the
board of directors sat figuring out the
details of the ten per cent. increase in
wages.
"We'll save his feet" said the sur
geon, cheerily. "a little crippled,
but still pretty good feet. There's a
man for you p he continued, with
professional enthusiasm. "Wonder-
full vitality magnificent physique p
"Strong as a horse p remarked
the general manager.
"Please don't /" said the chairman
of the board of directors, gently, and
there were tears in his eyes. Don't
rub it in. The question now is:
"What can we do with Big George
Smith,"
"Well, I'll tell you what I'm going
to do" said the general manager.
ftXHo r1ood ao0k1,e~ fOroff1oT1