The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-07
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Nal 1Gtl Ne morning In OctoDeI
tF~S Harry Sanders, for seven
months a reporter on the
HOe1 Daily Enterprise, was sent
SU to write up the new city
water works for the next
days edition, so that the subscribers,
enjoying the first glasses of the fresh
supply at their breakfast tables, might
at the same time read how that supply
had been brought to them.
A letter from the managing editor
admitted him inside the grille at the
water company's Office, and secured
him an introduction to George After
bury, the supervising engineer.
Although barely forty, Atterbury was
n of the leading water works experts
in the country. He was we'll built and
athletic. His duties, being largely out
of-doors, kept him strong and healthy.
When the reporter asked him for 4
h%alf-hour, he consulted his notebook.
81 haven't time to talk now" said
he, "but perhaps a little later I can do
better still. The first part of the even
ing I'm going to inspect a piece of the
main line above Waterford station.
How would you like to tramp with me
through a half-mile of pipe? The gate
at the lake will be lifted at I, but
we'll have a full hour before the water
is due at the station. After we. get
back I'll be at your service until $50;
then I have IN engagement"
Sanders welcomed the novelty of an
underground interview with Atterbury.
1t would make good copy"
Accordingly, at half past ) that after
noon, just as the first drops of a south
east storm were falling, the newspaper
man Joined the engineer on an out
ward-bound electric car. After riding
thirty minutes, they got off, and took
a wood-path for the Waterford station,
two miles away across country.
AS they passed through a thick
growth Of young birches, n projecting
branch caught in Atterbury's watch
chain, %wrenching his watch violently
from his pocket. He rescued it, and
held it up to his ear.
Hasn't Jared it a Bit said he.
"It's going all right. Ticking away as
steady as q clock. You couldn't hurt
that watch if you threw it from the
top Of the Washington Monument. l
dropped it face down once. and
smashed the crystal to flinders; but it
went on keeping time without varying
a second"
The path now brought them to n
deep, swollen brook. AS the crossing
plank had been washed away, they
spent some time in finding q place shall
low enough to ford. Once IN the other
side, they made quick progress, and
soon the light from the station window
appeared ahead. By this time the rain
was coming down in good earnest; and
Sanders rejoiced that shelter was near.
Before opening the door. A%tterbury
pulled out his watch, drew an electric
lantern from his inner pocket and
flashed the light upon the dial. The
hands were together; at twenty-seven
minutes to &.
eve t%elephoned the lake to turn the
water on at Z sharp. unless they hear
from me to the contrary" said he. 'I'm
sure everything is all right, for Con-
nors told me it was, and I've found
every inch of the other eighteen miles
just as he said it would be-"
The two entered the station. After
exchanging a few words with the
Swedish Waterman, Atterbury in
formed him that he was going down
into the pipe on a short tour of inspec-
ton.
water turned on at Z, sir" said the
Station man.
Il know it," replied the engineer.
SWELL be out by that time"
The Swede lifted the round Iron
cover of a manhole in the centre of the
floor and dropped a short rope ladder
through the opening. Atterbury de-
scended first, disappearing into the
gloom. Almost instantly, however,
the bright light of his electric lantern
shone below. Sanders climbed down
after him, and found himself in a cir
cular brick tunnel, about six feet high.
Atterbury tramped off to the west,
talking as he went.
1t was cool and damp in the gigantic
conduit. Water hung in drops upon
the bricks overhead and trickled down
the walls. Outside. Sanders knew it
must be raining heavily, yet no sound
Of the downpour reached them. Ex-
cept for their voices and the scuffiing
of their feet, everything was deathly
still. 1t was a novel experience for the
reporter; and he tried to memorize the
descriptive phrases suggested by his
surroupndings.
Atterbury shot back abrupt sentences
as he walked briskly on, flashing his
electric lantern on the nicely fitted
joints.
Yes" exclaimed he, sit is an Al
job! Six feet in diameter. lined with
best red brick, set in a backing OF
concrete REINFORCED with metal. Con.
nors' men have been in our employ
good many years, but I eve saw them
do a prettier piece of work than this
That's what it means to have experts
Every man a specialist in his line.
that's my motto. No matter if it's only