The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-03-24

The Monterey foundry was new, its
outfit new, even many Of its men we're
rev, for fOundrymen were not so plen-
tiful that a new concern could fully
supply itself With experienced men
at the start
Bud Ellis, however, in spite Of the
fact that he was the youngest and
held the most subordinate position in
the foundry, was not new. His faith
er had been killed in an explosion, and
soon after he had commenced to add
the pittance Of his own labor 70 the
family income Later he had been al
lowed to help with the sand beds, and
with the polishing Of the completed
work. But through all the five years
Of his foundry experience he had had
a horror Of everything connected with
the casting mOlds, for it was in the
explosion OF a too wet mold that his
father had been killed Whenever he
approached :. mold into which the
liquid iron was kissing. his face whit
ened and he shivered as though with
a strong impulse to turn and fee, and
when he was obliged TO remain near
the workers to hand them things, so
near that the glare OF the hot iron
burned his face and hands, it required
all his fOTtitude and determination to
stand his ground, with white face and
cIincned teeth
He had fought the weakness, stub
bOrnly, fercely, and in a measure had
overcome twas overcoming it still
The first time he had approached a
L. -
had experienced a faintness and nau-
sea which had obliged him 10 rush
into the open air; now he could re-
main, steady and quiet, helping the
wOrkmen, and only from the look in
his eyes and the tremOr in his voice
when he spoke could il be known that
the terror was still upon him. But it
had taken five years OF constant and
determined self-watching to accom-
plish it.
AS he grew older another terror had
taken possession Of him, the terror Of
proving a coward, of turning and rush
ing away, ignOminiOusly, at some crit
icaI moment There had been no acct
dent in the foundry since his fathers
death, but he was always thinking OF
one, watching for it, expecting it, and
he believed that should he come upon
signs of an accident, OF an explosion,
Unexpectedly, his terror would SontrOl
him before his reason.
This dread made him extra careful
and vigiIant-sO much so that It be-
came noticeable, and he was given
oversight Of the mOlds that were being
made ready for the castings. The dan
ger of explosion came from excessive
moisture Of the clay into which the
hot iron was run, and too much care
could not be exercised in watching the
almost only source Of danger.
In making the molds, the models Of
the iron to be cast are pressed into
moist clay, making perfect impress
siCns Of One-half the model, then the
two impressions which form the whole
are clamped firmly together in a
strong frame, with a small opening
through which the liquid iron is to
be poured. It is necessary for the clay
TO be slightly moist, but if il is too
wet the hot iron creates a sudden
steam which has no means Of escape.
This may cause q terrific explosion,
with disastrous consequences, especial
" if the casting is a large one
Bud Ellis had been watching for and
dreading another Of these explosions
for five years, and then, as often hap
pens, during a monetary relaxation
Of vigilance, it came Bud, however,
was not TO blame
He had examined the mOlds careful