Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-02-22


man waiting for me at the station
with carriage. IN which we drove
AT gallop to the reservoir ON the
way he told rne that Granger had been
sent down 10 examine tile outflow "
water from beneath aud while doing
so had got caught in the powerful sue
ton nj the oriiicc through which the
food was escaping Air was being
pumped To him. but II bad not been
possible to draw him up. Two differ
cnt men had been sent down to tix
about him a rope strong enough to
bear his weight and overcome the sue
ton but neither Of them had dared go
near him for fear of being sucked
into the same position a he. IL was
upon this information that realized
fully that Mabel had called upon me
10 probably sacrifice my life in at.
tempting Ia save that OF her husband.
ON reaching the scene OF the trou-
bic the group there all turned toward
me Mabel was present. and when
my eyes met hers was at loss to
understand the expression there was
in them had expected to see a pa
thetic appeal Whether she realized
that such an appeal would be asking
me to risk my own life. perhaps give
Il. for her husband. | did not know.
nor do know now. She simply looked
at me Perhaps she considered her
telegram an appeal which should not
be repeated
put on divers outfit, and two
inch cable was looped under my arms.
was lowered some distance from the
hole through which the water was flow
ing and walked toward IL till | began
10 slightly feel the suction. stopped
and saw Granger lying partly across
the hole After a few moments
thought | sigualcd TO be brought 10
the surface. ON reaching 1t called
for another two inch rope-besides the
one under my arms-looped ut the end
would have preferred wire rope. but
It was not at hand
What are you going to dor' was
asked
There's no way 10 save him but TO
go into the suction myself. place the
rope under his arm and signal you to
draw u~ both up"
You'll both perish" was the re-
sponse
Mabel was looking at me. and my
eyes met hers We understood each
other. though no, 4 word was spoken.
But what passed between us? All.
that only We and the Lord know.
Hanging the loop OF the duplicate rope
ON my shoulder | went down again
had advanced but q few inches nearer
TO Granger than before when ! was
caught Ia HE suction, and II seemed
that mountain was on me. was
pulled down on TO him. and 50 strong
was tie current that | could not move
the rome from my shoulder 10 put IL
around him The only motion ! could
make was u lateral one with the cur
rent Placing my hands and knees
against HIM ! managed TO move my
body 80 that my shoulder. on which the
rope rested. was near the top of Gran
gers head moved 50 that IL slipped
of. and 10y great effort guided II so
that Il went down over his head He
lying on his back aud it would 20 no
farther. lu, | managed TO insert my
knee between him and the masonry
beneath him aud this enabled me TO
slip the rope down nearly to his waist.
BY succession OF efforts | got IL be-
low both hands So that when moved
back again toward his armpits ii left
the arms free
had now done All | could do The
question rcmancd would the rope
stand the strain OF hosting him--woud
he liyc tin this question was decided:
As r. myself. only the first OF these
questions lerlaiucd was in my fun
strength Granger Just before my Sec
oud descent had made Il feeble pull on
the cord
gave the signal aud waited for the
final act In the play for two lives.
Eel, Il strain on the rope under my
arms which soon grew 10 be terrific.
sienaied on Changers cord. The strain
on ne ceased. aud the rope under him
ii-Ntfttfl VI Il Atfitt ~dM ilibNt e
ment IN him; then | could discern one
similar 10 the minute hand of clock.
He was slowly sliding away from over
the hole II he were removed and re.
manned I would be sucked into his
position.
\ machne on the capstan principle
had been provided which would enable
those above 10 null us both up IL the
ropes would stand the strain pulled
my own rope aud Changers at the
same time. There was halt. and IN
few minutes the strain on both OF W.
RECOMMENDED. The ropes slanted. and
we very slowly began 10 move horizon
tally knew from the strain. which
was intensely painful. that only the
stoutest rope could stand II. We
moved so slowly that ! would not have
known We moved at all had not noted
our positions in relation 10 the mason.
ry. suddenly the upper part OF our
bodies passed beyond the suction col