The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-02-09
A CURIOUS ORDEAL
Plight of a Man Who Almost Felt
Death Touch Him.
IN A VAT OF BOILING WATER.
His Vivid Story Of His Sensations as
He TumbIed Helpless on His Back
on a Bale Of Raw Silk In the Seeth.
ing Liquid and His Tardy Rescue.

ing Liquid ano His Tardy Rescue.
A man who Is now at the head Of one
of the largest establishments for dye
ing silks in this country tells story Of
a strange and thpiling adventure 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
hales. all fluffy and sticky, comes in OH
rolling trucks and is dumped into the
watts. The mass has to be stirred about
good deal before 1t gets soaked
though and goes under.
Just before the noon hour one day
truck came in with two bales on 1t.
dump them into No. 6 vat l told
the men. III stir them if you fellows
want to go to dinner
when they had gone began to look
around for the stirring fork. couldn't
find 1t anywhere. 'Confound Billp
said to myself. He loses everything
81 had hardly got the words out Of
my mouth when my foot went Off the
edge of the vat. | felt myself falling.
and was seized with the full cOnvlc-
tion of death
Il 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
fat on my back on the mass Of floating
silk
ITO 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 l felt that must move.
First. however, | shouted as loudly
as ] 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. felt the rolling
motion stop Then knew 1t wouldn't
do to move. lay on my back. poised
on the middle of the bale, and walled
for help, After minute or two be-
gan to realize that the silk was 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 No
8. A little later, when | looked again,
1t was out Of my line of vision.
couldn't move without having the bale
roll over. and II remained still
would 60 down inch by inch into the
scalding water below.
II can remember that became
little hysterical. It's funny what tricks
the mind plays.
"'This Is dyeing with vengeance
l said aloud, and l even laughed as
said 1t.
1T was growing hotter. Steam had
begun to percolate through the silk.
end ! was wet through with the sti.
fling clouds that rose from the sur.
face of the water. had no idea Of
time. BY and by. however. some one
answered my shouts. The door opened
and two men came running across the
room.
"'Get pole! shouted one.
II knew that would be fatal; the
slightest push and ] would roll over
into the steaming stew.
"'Roys,' cried |, don't touch me or
It will be all over! One Of you turn
Off the feed pipe. Let the other man
go down the ladder. The pipe that
empties this va. is on the left Turn
It On-full. DO 1t quick"
II could hear the cbug. chug Of the
steam being cut of from the vat. A
moment later ] could see the wet rim
that brOadened round the edges. and
knew the water was falling. 1t took
half an hour to empty No. 6. For
awhile the two men ran round like ex.
cited June bugs. Then they got rope
and sat on the edge of the vat watch.
ing me with great staring eyes.
"As the water ran out the silk sank
now on one side. now on the other.
Once II started to roll. Both the men
grunted aud sat up very straight Sud
denly one of chem cried out:
There's the bottom!
Il felt the mass of silk settle against
something. heard the last water
gulp as it ran out. Then tainted
away Youths Companion.