The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-03-29


to do for my wife and children?
Bolivar's face worked for a mo-
ment, and every man ON the scow
found himself leaning forward intent,
with clenched hands and rigid mus
Giles strung up like bows, listening to
these sharp, quick words. in which
one brave man gave his life and the
other accepted trust.
You can depend on me, john"
broke out Bolivar. 1.-THE bonus Is
$4,000. One-foruth of it goes to
Bevins' family and another fourth
comes to you. will do this, win or
lose. Is that right?"
Good enough" laconically replied
Dakus; screw her on, boys. Good-by!
Good luck!"
Now that the die was cast, the
divers manhood ruled peremptorily.
Those around knew, from his tone,
that he would stop that hole or the
watchers below the dam would need
to look for two bodies instead of
one.
God, this is awful" exclaimed
Gould in Bollivar's ear, as the round
copper helmet disappeared below the
surface of the water. Il don't see
how you bear It," he said in low
tone.
Its a battle, man." replied Bolli-
var, land sometimes, as now, sud
den death. These men enlisted for
the fight. l know what it is; was
brldge-worker when | was 25.-Steady,
everybody" he shouted, springing to
the front, ignoring the foreman.
Watch that air-pump, boys! Keep
your hand on the signal-line like you'd
count mans pulse!" He leaned over
the side of the scow staring down as
though he would pierce the depths
with his glance.
There was whirl in the water and
the mattress moved downward lit
tie under the blow Of the divers AK
Following close on the muffied sound
the air-tube parted with a snap, the
two men holding line fastened to
the diver were dragged across the
deck, and the rope twisted and turned
paying out its full length as 1t was
snatched from their hands, until it
brought up with sharp twang-held
by one of the beams of the boat
where it had been fastened as an add
ed precaution. Everyone knew what
had happened. They dared not pull,
as 1t would certainly break and Dakus
body go down on the rocks. Even as
they looked, the line twisted raw
elled, and parted, where it passed
over the scow. This meant the end.
The work went on with feverish ar
dor, the mems faces white, as they
cursed softly. The heavy mattress,
released by the blows from Dakus' ak
from where it had damned, had
slipped down few inches; but it be-
came evident now that it must be ham
mered or weighted still more before
it would slip along against the face of
the dam, under the surface Of the wa
Iater, and 'tioWifwaFti 80 as To cover the
hole. A pile-driver reared it's tall
head from one end of the scow, and
the boat was quickly shifted so that it
would bear directly over the mattress.
The end of timber was placed
against the edge of the massive plug
and the blow of the driver shortened,
in order that by this means it might
be jolted down into place without tear
ing 1t to pieces.
Down under the water, unsupported
by the eager workers above, poor
Dakus battled valiantly for his life.
When his foot slipped he made the
last blow with his ak, events followed
so quickly that he hardly realized be-
ing sucked through the hole in the
dam. When he regained conscious
thought, he was hanging against the
face of the wall, one knee on the ledge
which has been described, the broken
air-pipe projecting from the helmet
and extending ten feet below, the rope
fastened to his suit passed up through
the hole, jammed hard and fast in
some way, while the stream of water
shot over his head far out into the
gorge. The weight of the heavy lead
en- shoes Of the diver made 1t difficult
for him to move when out of the wa
ter, and now they bound him down
like ball and chain.
He hung inert until his breath came
back, eagerly sucking the air through
the broken pipe, realization of his aw-
full situation coming slowly. To move
would precipitate immediate death
should the rope fail. His eyes tray
eled along the face of the rock as far
as the glasses of his helmet would
permit, and he fastened desperately
with one hand on heavy ringbolt,
which had been used to lift one of the
stones by the crane as 1t had been
placed in position, and afterwards for
gotten, instead of being removed as
was the custom. AS he slowly raised
himself to his feet, one hand slipped
down to the sharp Ratchet in his belt:
his eyes glued to the rope where 1t
disappeared upward in the stream of
water. He feared they might pull
again, hoping to recover his body,
when 1t would be sure to break, or If
not that, drag him off his feet against
the edge of the opening, which was