Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-07-07
WORK WITH DEATH
Powder Makers Toll In Constant
1 Peril of Their Lives.
THEY DON'T WANT VISITORS

Men Callers Arc Permitted In the
j Plant Only With Extreme Reluctance
and After Drastic Precautions, and
Women Are Absolutely Barred.
! In all the vocations in which a man
can make living in the United States
there is none more perilous than the
manufacture Of gunpowder and none
In which the public, which usually
suffers severely in case of accident,
takes so small an interest. The word
gunpowder itself carries a suggestion
of peril which is reflected In all the
superstitions of the men who work In
the trade.
The men who work in powder plants
are a study in themselves. Probably
in no other business do the human
agents take more precautions against
disaster with such pitiful results.
Men who work in powder plants are
in constant fear of death. They are
face to face with peril every second.
Instead of growing hardened to it, as
do the laborers in many other fields of
danger, they appear to be the most
superstitious class of men on earth.
They are well paid. A man who has
nerve enough to work at this trade is
worthy of his hire. He can command
$40 day, sometimes 500. He prac-
tically makes his own rules, since he
is the one to, suffer from an infraction
of them. His every suspicion is re-
spected by his employer. He cannot
dictate the hours of labor, since that
is matter eternally in dispute, as in
other kinds Of labor, but he can die
tate the conditions under which he
works from the moment he enters the
factory until he leaves.
These superstitions seem absurd
sometimes, but they are the law Of
the gunpowder factory. If you are an
employer you break the law at the
risk of financial loss; If you are fell
low employee you violate it at the risk
of your life.
One of the first laws among the en-
ployees is that of self preservation.
They have a deep rooted fear Of the
casual visitor. Few men have gone
through a gunpowder plant out of
mere curiosity. They are not wanted
and are told so frankly. If they sue
coed in obtaining the permission OF
the superintendent or possibly Of some
one higher in authority they are sub
jected to an extraordinary ordeal be-
fore they are admitted to the sncred
precincts.
First they are searched, and no po-
lice official Is more adept in the art OF
'.frisking" than is the outer guardian
of the average gunpowder plant.
Every piece Of metal, from pocket
knife to garter clasp-every coin,
match, suspender buckle, everything
that could possibly strike a spark, Is
removed. The hatband Of the most
fashionable derby is examined with
Care to see that 1t carries no metal
initials And this examination is not
carried on alone by the official whose
favor you have gained. A representa-
tive OF the employees takes an active
part in the examination, and If he has
any doubts he will politely request
you to strip to the skin.
Once inside the powder factory you
are under even more careful scrutiny.
Your shoes are taken away, and you
are provided with felt slippers. Con-
WINGED that on your person there is no
piece of metal which under any provo
cation could strike spark, you may
feel at liberty to roam around, but
you are not. Your every movement is
watched carefully, and should you
make a gesture calculated to inspire
distrust you would be hustled out OF
the building and told to leave the
neighborheod within given time.
l had a graphic Illustration of the
extreme care taken by these men to
prevent an accident and to save their
own lives. After having been care
fully searched and after having sur
rendered everything which might come
under the classification of metal 1 was
admitted to the plant. Secure in the
knowledge that was thoroughly dis
infected" I assumed a nonchalance
which I was far from feeling as /
watched the various processes of max
ing gunpowder. I was so well at ease
that drew toothpick from my pock-
ct and calmly picked my teeth.
Instantly l was thrown to the floor
and while two husky men held me
third searched my clothing. When
finally was released it was explain
ed to me that they feared the tooth
pick might be match.
! Laboring under the constant fear of
death, the employees grow extraordi-
narily superstitious. Once allow wo-
man to set foot within a powder fac
tory and the entire force will quit. 1t
is one of the axioms Of the trade that
a woman brings misfortune, and it Is
useless to argue the question. A wo-
man photographer for newspaper on
a Sunday assignment" once was adj
m1tted into an Illinois powder factory
by an inexperienced official, and the
next day the plant was shut down.
The employees struck. The plant re-
manned idle until an entire new force
was recruited.-Chicago News.
Natural Longing.
However old, humble, plain, desolate,