The Meeker herald., 1915-08-28
A CURIOUS ORDEAL
PLIGHT of a Man Who Almost Felt
Death Touch Him.
IN A VAT OF BOILING WATER.
Hi. Vivid Story Of His Sensations a.
He TunnbIed Helpless on His Back
on a Bale Of Raw Silk In the Seeth-
ing Liquid and His Tardy Rescue.

He Tunnbied Helpless on His Back
on a Bale of Raw Silk In the Seeth-
ing Liquid and His Tardy Rescue.
A man who Is now Mt the head of one
Of the largest establishments for dye
ing silks In this country tells story Of
q strange and thrilling 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 it saved my life. Have you ever
been in room where they boil the raw
silk? It's n hot, steaming place. with
great bubbling watts that are sunk to n
level with the floor. The raw silk. In
bales. all fluffy and sticky. comes In on
rolling trucks and is dumped into the
WITS. 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 it /.
dump them into No. 6 vat toldI
the men. I'll stir them II you fellows
want to 20 to dinner
when they Ind gone began to look
around for the stirring fork. couldn't
find 1t anywhere. 'COnfound Bill"
said to myself. He loses everything
81 had hardly got the words out Of
my mouth when my foot went OF the
edge of the vat. felt myself falling.
and | was seized with the full convlc-
tiOn of death.
81 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 I felt myself land
fiat on my back on the mass OF floating
silk
''".'o this day can see the very look
Of the old smoky roof rs 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 must move.
First. however. ! shouted as loudly
us could. When no one answered |
cautiously tried to turn on my side.
The bale of fiber began slowly to roll
over Nearly parnlyzcd with terror.
threw out one arm. 1t was just enough
change in balance. l 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 n minute or two he
gan to realize that the silk WIS slowly
sinking into the vat.
"You could hardly notice the motion.
At first I could look out of the corner
OF my eye and see the edge of vat No
g. A little later. when l looked again,
1t was out Of my line of vision. l
couldn't move without having the bale
roll over. and II remained still |
would go down inch by inch into the
scalding water below.
II can remember that | became II
little hysterical. It's funny what tricks
the mind plays.
..This Is dyeing with vengeance
| said aloud. and | even laughed as
said it.
at was growing hotter. Steam had
begun to percOlate through the silk.
and was wet through with the sti-
fling clouds that rose from the sur
face of the water. had no idea Of
answered my shouts. The door opened
and two men came running across the
room.
".Get n pole" shouted one.
~ knew that would be fatal: the
slightest push and | would roll over
into the steaming stew.
Boys cried |. don't touch me or
II will he all over, One of you turn
OF the feed pipe. Let the other man
20 down the ladder. The pipe that
empties this vat Is on the left. Turn
It on-full. DO 1t quick"
II could hear the chug. chuS OF the
steam being cut of from the vat.
moment later | could see the wet rim
that broadentN round the edges. and
knew the water was falling. 1t took
half an hour to empty No. q. For
awhile the two men ran round Tx ex-
cited June bugs. Then they 60. a 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 it started to roll. Both the men
grunted and sat up very straight. Sud
denly one Of them cried out:
There's the bottom
II felt the mass OF silk settle against
something. | heard the last water
gulp as it ran out. Then tainted
away.''-Youth's Companion.
Her Royal Nibs.
ATTY nn