The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-09-04
EPISODE 10
THE FLAMING SACRIFICE

!. THE FLAMING SACRIFICE
John Davis, lured into the diving
bell by the hireling superintendent Of
Morgan, found the contrivance in
which he was confined being lowered
to the depths Of the bay. Soon be-
coming aware Of the fact that he was
rapidly being asphyxiated in the small
iron chamber, and with no way Of es-
cape possible, he seized hammer and
knocking off a valve leading to a tube
which communicated with the dock
above, shouted several times for help.
Receiving no response he sank ex-
hausted upon the floor Of the upper
chamber.
Ethel Carr, reaching the rock above
the bell and realizing that something
wrong was going on, drew revolver
and compelled a nearby workman to
raise the bell by means Of it's hosting
machinery. AS the ponderous affair
came up, it's lip struck submerged
pile, tipping it violently and causing
Johns half unconscious form to slip
through the trap which was in the
floor Of the upper chamber in which
he was confined. When the bell reach
ed the top, Ethel, mounting ladder,
opened the entrance door and looked
down into the bells interior. No one
was there. Believing that her lover
had met his death, she swooned and
fell back into the arms Of a workman
who eased her to the wharf. At that
moment Morgan and Bellas came rum
ming up.
"We had better 60 back to the ho-
tel" said the Hawk as the girl revived.
'sThat is, all Of US except the Spider,
who will stay here and report to us
II he learns anything" Not knowing
any better mode of procedure, the girl
assented.
/ AS soon as the three were out Of
sight, the Spider got in the Seabird
and started across the bay for the
Waterside saloon where he was sure
he would find the superintendent,
Simpkins.
That John was not dead was due
to series Of condolences. When the
bell tilted he had slipped into the low
er chamber of the machine, and there
fore into the water. Another second
or two and the bell had risen above
him, leaving him at the mercy Of a
strong inflowing tide which bore his
body under the wharf and out Of
sight Of those above. Struggling feebly
and half unconscious, he drifted along
until he came in contact with one Of
the crosspieces which bound together
the great wooden piles which support
ed the wharf. Throwing his arm over
this piece he hung there gasping for
air, and in no condition to call for help
or make further effort to save himself.
As the minutes passed, however, his
strength gradually returned. Present
" his attention was attracted to a
small-painted "bob" such as fishermen
use to keep their bait afioat, and which
now came drifting past him, borne
under the wharf by the tide as he
had been. Seeing that fishing line
was attached to the bob, and that
the line ran up over the edge of the
wharf, he seized it, gave it series
Of jerks as he feebly called for help.
On the wharf above the youth who
was holding the other end Of the line,
felt the tugs and responded vigorously
as he cried out that he had an old
whopper Of a fish. Then as he heard
the cry from below his eyes nearly
popped from his head in his astonish-
ment.
'Holy mackerel! The fish is talk
In" he screamed. Dropping his line
he went scampering across the foot
bridge, not stopping until he reached
home and mother. he threw himself
into her arms.
81 caught whopper Of fish and it
yelled for help" he painted. Becom-
ing worried at the persistence with
which the boy repeated his assertions,
she finally called her husband
'Mebby the kid did hear something.
There might be someone under the
wharf, so / guess we'd hest 60 and
take a look" was the mans response
Under the wharf, John, minute by
minute, had been regaining his
strength. Hearing the approach of
the man and woman who had teen
brought here by the story Of the boy,
he raised his voice in shout.
'The kid was right after all" cried
the man, and bending over the edge
caught sight of the wet, upturned face
below.
''Ge+ a rope in a hurry. I'm most all
tn," gasped the one in the water, and
with Sord of encouragement the
man hurried away. Almost instantly
he came back with q boats painter,