The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-02-15

MS VlVid story OF tbs S0hSa''oHs as
rie Tumbied Helpless on His Back
on a Bale of Raw Silk In the Seeth-
ing Liquid and Ills 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
strange and thrilling adventure that
| be passed through when he was still
only the superintendent of the boiling
ronni."
silk" he says in telling the story.
mas been the means of my living, and
once it saved my life Have you ever
iean in room where they boil the raw
SIX? It's a hot, steaming place, with
great bubbling watts 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
Yats. The mass has to be stirred about
good deal before it gets soaked
though and goes under.
"Just before the noon hour one day
4 truck came in with two bales on it.
DuUU tutHl lilO ANOs " NhLf 4 iOih
the men, I'll stir them If you fellows
want to so to dinner.
when they had gone began TO look
around for the stirring fork. | couldn't
find it anywhere. 'Confound Bill! |
said to myself lie loses everything
Il 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 convic-
ton 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
Hat on my back on the mass of floating
silk.
ITO 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 persplration started out all over
me, and felt that must move.
'Irirst. however. | shouted as loudly
rs | could. When no one answered !
cautiously tried TO turn on my side
Tbe bale OF fiber began slowly to roll
over. Nearly paralyzed with terror. |
threw out one arm. 1t was just enough
change I'm balance. | felt the rolling
motion stop. Then / knew it wouldn't
DO 10 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. \ little later, when looked again.
it was out OF my line Of vision. !
couldn't move without having the bale
roll over and If l remained still |
would 20 down inch by inch into The
scalding water below.
Il can remember that / became a
little hysterical. It's funny what tricks
the mind plays.
This is dyeing with a vengeance
said aloud, and l even laughed as
said 1t.
ut was growing hotter. Steam had |
begun to percolate through the silk. |
auS ! was wet through with the sti- |
fling clouds that rose from the sur
face OF the water. ! had no idea of |
time BY and hy, however. some one |
answered my shouts. The door opened |
and two men came running across the |
room.
"'Get a poler shouted one.
II knew that would be fatal; the
slightest push and would roll over
into the steaining stew.
Boys cried /. don't touch me or
1t 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 vat is on the left Turn
it on-full DO It quick"
II could hear the chug. chug of the
steam being cut OF from the vat. A
moment later could see the wet rim
that broadened round the edges. and l
knew the water was falling. II took
half an hour TO empty No. 6. For
awhile the two men ran round Ike ex-
cited June bugs Then they got a rope
md sat on the edge Of the vat watch
ng me with great staring eyes
AS the water ran out the silk sank
low on one side. now on the other.
Once it started to roll. Both the men
srunted and sat up very straight Sud
lenly one of them cried out:
There's the bottom!
II felt the mass of silk settle against
heard the last water
;ulp as 1t ran out Then | tainted
Iway."-Youth's Companion.
Her ROYAL Nibs.