Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-02-23

inclined 10 cOnSIdJuidtS ulAnSell Judt ln'
rock in the kiln was no lower, for haC
the distance to fall been greater h
might have broken some bone, the hea
would have been more intense. and TIT
depth would have made it impossible fol
him to get his hands over the top of tbs
granite
He was on the point of lifting his toe
10 thrust 1t into some crevice in the
wall when beneath his feet there came q
rumbling. a sinking. The drivers heart
almost stood still with terror, for he
knew too well the meaning of the sound
The kiln was settling! Down slumped
the rock with a suddenness that almos:
threw him off his balance. The heated
mass inside the furnace sank barely two
feet. but when the motion ceased the
tips of Sanders fingers rested on the
Joint between the first and second layers
of granite. He could no longer touch the
top Of the upper blocks.
1t was death to stay, but how could he
get out? The wall in front was now
too high for him to scale. Beneath his
feet dull red, dusky glow showed dim
" between the rough pieces Of rock.
Through every crevice the smoke oozed
up from the burning coal just thrown
! into the arches 20 feet below. The soles
of his boots were scorching. He was
SICK blind, dizzy. In minute or two,
at the utmost, he would be overcome L.
smoke and heat.
Round him curved the rugged, SCOT
blackcned layers of granite, barely Wis
IDLE through the murky clouds. Above
he caught glimpse of blue sky darkeDcd
by whirling vapOr. His eyes smarted
intolerably. From the burning coal and
heated rock a nauseous, penetrating
odor rolled up to him. 1t was eating
the lining out of bis lungs. His strength
grew less with every breath he was
forced to take.
Dazed by his peril, Sanders stood mo-
tionless. Then from a crevice almost
under his feet thin, writhing tongue
of flame, forked and lurid, darted sud-
denly up, wrested for moment with
the smoke wreaths, and flickered out as
quickly as it had come. The apparition
brought the driver to his senses. Pre-
ci0us seconds were passing, and instant
action was necessary.
Leaping up as high as he could, he
threw his hands over the edge of the
hot granite, and tried to lift himself TO
the top, but he slipped back almost i'm
mediately. The two feet that the rock
had settled meant death to him unless
he could devise some way to regain it,
All at once it flashed over him that
he might throw the rocks he was stand
ing on into loose pile against the front
wall, and thus make heap high enough
to help him Chamber out. Could he have
done this before the kiln settled, his
safety would have been assured. Was
there time to do it now?
STOPPING he grasped a three-cornered
fragment and threw it against the wall.
Another and then another followed.
They were burning hot, except those he
had just flung in from the top of his
load. With bent head, facing the fumes
that poured exhaustlessly up, and draw
ing them into his lungs with every chok;
ing breath, he fumbled madly over the
hard black Jumps.
In this fashion he heaped 13 or IA
pieces against the granite, and then
stopped, feeling that to work longer
would destroy his only hope of getting
out. His eyes were bloodshot, his brain
Keeling. His temples throbbed asif they
would burst He could see nothing,
could hear nothing but confused roar
ing. Strengthening up, he staggered for
ward. Two steps brought him again to
the wall.
To his horror, he found that the pile
he had built was not high enough. There
was not time to add to it further What
should ne do?
Fortunately, at that moment the wind
veered. For a little while the smoke
drew away to the westward, and left
him standing clear in the heat. Only
few feet above him beyond the kiln edge
he could see the wagon body and the
backs and heads of his horses, their out
lines wavering in the heated atmosphere
that enveloped him. Then, as he dropped
his eyes, he caught sight of something
that gave him sudden hope of escape. |
Over the granite hung the end of his !
reins, where they had fallen when he /
grasped unavailingly at the whip-stock.
Might he not take firm hold of these, |
start his horses, and thus be hoisted out !
of that fiery pit?
Barely had, the idea suggested itself to
him when fe wind changed again, the J
smoke blew back, and once more |
shrouded him in its pitchy clouds.
Sanders brain was swimming.
Strength and consciousness could not |
endure more than 20 seconds longer. !
His shoes were burning on his feet. His |
skin was shriveling and cracking.
With closed eyes he swayed forward,
felt about until he found the loop of the
reins, and hooked his fingers round
them. 1t would not do for him to bear !,
his whole weight upon them, for they |
might break and let him fall back, thus
destroying his only chance. Even in his
extremity he thought Of that.
There was no time to waste. How
should he start his horses? He tried to !
shout to them. but SO cracked and feeble