The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1915-03-26
MOST or THE VICTIMS
woMEN AND CHILDREN
inferior Construction Charged ard
Rigid inquiry BY Both State ard
Federal Autheritiss 10 beoln
ct Once.

4
Al he tinished the last OF the scream.
Ing headlines Reynolds stood almost
rigid with tsrror. Neither be nor Jana
spoke . word. Dick. watching hia
TREND for sign Of physical relapse be
dreaded, noted tho look OF terror -
Bobs eyes LETT the papsr and glanced
At his. He construed the dread alarm
that glance conveyed ~ one Of per
sonal concern and fastened to otfsr
such meager assurances ss he could.
there's no real report aboat the
cause yet. Bob As said. They mere
~ say the work was not up to standard
and By the time they nnd out whore
the real weakness was--ths cement
you and JAns win DO well away. You
must be-" he added quickly. 10 Rey.
nolds raised q hand OF dissent. You
can't think OF anything else for quick
and sufficient protection Of"
But Reynolds cut him OF with an.
other wave OF hts hand--this time 3
gesture for silence. imperative and i'm
perious.
How many are really deadr be
asked almost inaudibly and sank down
on the diyan with face buried In bis
hands.
Probably hundred OF less, by the
time the truth 10 sifted out" Dick an
swered- you know reports OF these
things are, always exaggerated in the
newspapers. Not Intentionally" he
continued. In quick defense Of his call
Ing. but the suddenness and horror Of
any catastrophe always impresses the
man who ID sending the report with
the idea Of . greatsr calamity than
actually occurs. And there 10 always
q propensity for overestimating ratheI
than Understanding. Especially In
foods. There are q hundred ways for
escape that are never thought Of"
Again Reynolds interrupted him
Men women and children
dead" he cried hoarssly. Dead. and
killed theml"
He repeated the accusation over and
over. There was no thought OF thu
personal penalty he faced. Truly Dlcl
had Misunderstood the appeal OF thai
pitiful look. one that wcaid rsnd the
heart Of the coolest man. For Rey
nolds was not entirely unpreparst fol
this terrible elimination OF his sin
Twice In his dreams the terribls phan
tasm Of such scene bad come and
then. a. now, II had brought NJ
thought OF salt peril. bat realization q
the awful effect Of his trar,ssrsssion.
To Jane the announcement OF tn,
I disaster brought not oufy shock. bu'
sicksning fear, and womanlike. hsl
frst thought was sslfprsssrsation
She staggered up from the divar
where she had sunk beside her hus
band and stood wringing her hands II
a hysterical way while from lips tha
were dry and parched, she whispered
an pack the things. Bob. We shoult
get away--away--now. Every mo
ment Is precious"
She looked appealingly at the re
porter a. II urging confirmation o
her fears. and he was not slow In sec
onding them.
she's right, Bob he warned brisk
ly. The telephone may ring or some
one may come any minute Come, oil
man, brace up for your own sake ans
for James What's done can't be un
done now and the thing for you to d,
Is to act quickly for the protection o
all Come" hs repeated and pulle1
gently at his friends coat sleeve Blu
Reynolds sat immovabls with face still
pressed between his hands and througl
them, raven like. he moaned:
Men women and -- children
Dead. Oh. my God!--And l kilis'
them"
The stupor and apparent helpless
: ness OF her husband aroused Jane no,
to acute realization OF their psril N
the need OF Immediate action In whicI
! she must take the lead. She stol
softly behind the divan and bendin,
! over. drew Hobs hands away from hi
: face. With infinite tenderness sh