Meade County news., 1915-02-04
CLOSE TO AWFUL END
AGoNIZING DEATH VERY NEAR TO
THIS MAN.
On Bale Of Silk In Vat of scaIdlng
Water the Sufferines Of a Life
time Were Compressed Into
a Few Minutes.

one of the largest establishments for
dyeing silks in this country tells a
story o: strange and thrilling adven-
ture that he, passed through when
he was still only the superintendent
of the boiling ROOM"
silk, he says, in telling the story,
has been the means of my living,
and once 1t saved my life. Have you
ever been in room where they boil
the raw silk? It's hot, steaming
place, with great bubbling vats that
are sunk to level with the floor.
The raw silk, in bales, all fluffy and
sticky, comes in ON rolling trucks and
is dumped into the vats. The mass
has to be stirred about good deal
before 1t goes under.
Just before the noon hour one day
a truck came in with two bales on it.
Dump it into number six vat, l
told the men. I'll stir it If you fell
lows want to go to dinner
when they had gone + began to
look round for the stirring fork. /
couldn't find 1t anywhere 'Confound
Bill" said to myself. He loses ev-
erything.'
Il mad hardly got the words out of
my mouth when my foot went off the
edge of the vat. l felt myself falling
ana l was seized with the full con-
viction of death.
II had time to think over just how
terribly hot the boiling water would
feel and to wonder how much of me
would be left when the men came
back from dinner Then felt myself
land fiat on my back on the mass Of
floating silk.
"To this day can see the very
look of the old smoky roof as lay
on the island Of silk with the boiling
water on all sides. 1t was horribly
hot there; the perspiration started out
all over me, and / felt that l must
move.
First, however, I shouted as loudly
as l could. When no one answered /
cautiously tried to turn on my side.
The bale of fiber began slowly to roll
over. Nearly paralyzed with terror,
l threw out one arm. 1t was just
enough change in balance; 1 felt the
rolling motion stop. Then l knew it
wouldn't do to move. l lay on my
back, poised on the middle Of the bale,
and walled for help. After minute
or two began to realize that the silk
wRs slowly sinking into the vat.
You could hardly notice the motion.
At first could look out of the corner
OF my eye and see the edge of vat mum.
Der eight A little later, when looked
again, it was out Of my line of vision.
l couldn't move without having the
bale roll over, and If l remained still
l would go down inch by inch into the
scalding water below.
II can remember that became q
little hysterical. It's funny, what
tricks the mind plays.
"'This is dyeing with vengeance,
/ said aloud, and l even laughed as
said it.
1T was growing hotter. Steam had
begun to percolate through the silk
and was wet through with the sitting
clouds that rose from the surface OF
the water. had no idea of time. BY
and by, however, some one answered
my shouts. The door opened and two
men came rushing across the room.
"'Get a pole!' shouted one.
II knew that would be fatal; the
slightest push and would roll over in
to the steaming stew.
Boys cried /, don't touch me ol
it will be all over! One Of you turr
off the feed pipe Let the other maj
go down the ladder. The pipe thai
empties this vat is on the left. Turf
1t on-full. Do it quick!
Il could hear the chug! chug! Of th'
steam being cut off from the vat;
moment later could see the wet rim
that broadened round the edges, and
knew the water was falling. 1t tool
half an hour to empty number six. Fo
while the two men ran round lik'
excited June bugs. Then they got
rope and sat on the edge Of the va
watching me with great staring eyes
"As the water ran out, the silk sanl
now on one side, now on the Other
Once it started to roll Both the mel
grunted and sat up very straight. Sud
denly one of them cried out:
"There's the bottom!
81 felt the mass of silk settle agains
something. heard the last water gul
as it ran out. Then tainted away