Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-28
CHAPTER VII.

THE FORGING OF THE BIO GUN.
NTH, the foreman In charge Of
% the sommers gun, was raging
~ drunk.
lie lurched up and down In
front Of the furnaces. cursing the men,
driving them here and there. making
all manner Of confusion. apparently
without reason. O'Leary. his assistant.
had done his best to quiet the half
crazed foreman. O'Lenry and every
man on the job knew that the Som
mers gun was in grave danger OF be-
ing ruined. 1t had been scheduled to
go into the furnace at o'clock. but
Smith shortly after noon had lurched
In, called his men together and showed
the gun into the furnace three hours
ahead Of time. Now 1t was nearly
midnight. and unless the gun came out
shortly every man knew that 1t would
be completely ruined II must come
out be brought to the proper tempera-
ture and then thrust into the tempering
bath-a thousand gallons Of oil.
The last time Smith had been in
into the bath at too high temperature
and it had burst at the proving ground.
Smith on that occasion had been laid
off and had not been brought back to
work until the casting of the Sommers
gun. Then Pinckney had sent for him
and, after long talk in his private
Office. had placed the dlsgraced fore
man in complete charge of this new
and very important piece OF work.
At the casting Of the Rhinestrom gun
Plnckney himself had taken complete
charge. staying In the furnace room
until all the work was finished, and
the marked difference In the handling
Of the two jobs had not escaped some
or the shrewder workmen.
Looks like they don't care hang
whether this one goes or not" O'Leary,
the assistant foreman. had complained.
IT'S plain foollshness, putting Smith
on the Job. It'll just get him in tror-
BILE and won't do any good. That guns
bound to be failure II we amt care
full"
The men had taken O'Leary's view
or the matter and were doing all they
could to make this job success.
Sommers during his stay about the
works had become tremendously popu-
lar. They wanted to do their best
for him; also O'Lenry expected In
the fall to marry Lucy Smith, the fore
mans daughter. and therefore he had
an interest in putting the job through
right.
Sommers was to come down about
l:3o In the morning, when the gun was
expected to go into the tempering bath.
That was the important work. and he
was determined to superintend It.
However with Smith putting the gun
IN three hours ahead Of time there
seemed every chance that unless Som.
mers should be warned Of the change
the gun would be In the bath and ev.
erythinS OF importance over before the
navy man should arrive.
In vain O'Leary pleaded with Smith
TO 90 something about the gun.
ITS been In too long already,
smith," he urged. do you want to
ruin this Job? Who'll take care OF
you when you ruin another run
You'll be down and out for good"
The foreman. swaying from side to
side. looked at his assistant With a
drunken leer.
who'll take care Of mer' he sheer.
ed Don't you worry about who'll
take care OF me- I'm the best IMAM
about these works drunk or sober, ana
don't you forget It,"
O'Leary could not be put OF.
Then II you're the best man show
st." he shouted SHOW II by tending
10 business. That gun II be ruined In
no time"