center of a large and curious crowd that included, in addition to members and guests of the Gas Club, a large number of beach picnickers. The trouble was localized and the street main crew, having obtained bars, hammers, picks and shovels, drove bar holes along a section in front of the Ashworth Hotel, where the main was thought to be. As hole after hole was dug the odor became more intense, until finally the pipe was struck by the bar and the search for the exact spot was unquestionably successful. While digging furiously to uncover the main, Peter James was affected with the gas and it was necessary to replace him. Two men after half-carrying, half-walking him about the beach succeeded in reviving him beyond danger. Then Dennis Wrenn, the man who relieved James, collapsed utterly into the half-dug ditch, and but for the quick work of LeBlanc, street main foreman, might have become a casualty. LeBlanc dropped into the ditch, and cleverly rolled Wrenn out and away from the escaping gas. Wrenn was completely unconscious and a very difficult subject from his size and helplessness. LeBlanc, however, secure in his training on the handling of such cases, tried all the preliminary measures for resuscitation, and finding them fruitless, carefully prepared his patient for the application of the Prone Pressure Method of Resuscitation. Interest in the measures being taken, of course, ran high; and soon the large crowd which gathered seriously hampered the work of the repair crew. Then when excitement seemed at its height Frank Rizzolo dropped unconscious and it was necessary to immediately apply the Prone Pressure Method to him. Billie Bell watched all these developments with increasing concern for he had seen his men drop off one by one in other days and realized that he was up against one of those snags that give to distribution work its zest and savour. Some person in the crowd suggested that he send to Haverhill, twenty-two miles away, for an ambulance to rush the men to the hospital. Bell quietly declined. "These men" he said, "can do all that is necessary for the present. I have summoned a doctor, and until he comes all that is possible is being done. You see we make a specialty of that sort of training and I know I can trust my men with it. Meanwhile Paul Maltese had been sent for the gas mask. Adjusting it as he ran, he arrived breathless, prepared to enter the ditch in safety and make short work of soaping the dangerous leak, thereby stopping the escape of gas and giving an opportunity to make permanent repairs in safety. If one could but leave out the tragedy of the whole affair, the picture presented would prove most instructive. Three men in a foolhardy spirit have defied a danger, and now two of them lie on the beach being brought to life through the patient efforts of their fellow workmen. How long it will take no one can even surmise—perhaps ten minutes, perhaps a hundred-the men will work on and on until life returns, or else it is certain that no hope remains. Then there steps in a fourth man, who comes prepared with a simple device that insures him against all danger, and who quietly and safely performs the task at hand. Because the whole subject may be so instructive, let us proceed immediately to pluck out the last vestige of tragedy. Yes, the men were completely revived, and all of them had a good swim before leaving the beach that afternoon. Their families enjoyed it too; and while the crowd did grow alarmingly and hampered the men, most of the hampering was from small boys—and the ready jokes of the lookers-on. The demonstration was a complete success. The actors were perfect, and the stage setting consisted of a piece of four-inch pipe buried in the sand and soaked with drip oil; very realistically Mr. Bell had trained his crew down to the last wasting breath of a man overcome, and there is no question that the Prone Pressure Method made a lasting impression on all who witnessed the efforts to repair that leak. Those who participated in the demonstration were Joseph Cook, Samuel Coskery, Lawson Yeo, Benjamin Tibbets and Carl Stultz of the fitters crew, and Wilbur LeBlanc, Dennis Wrenn, Paul Maltese, Frank Rizzolo and Peter James of the Street Department. Following the resuscitation demonstration, Mr. Bell showed the method of tapping a main for service, and also how the gas is stopped while repairs are made. Many were interested in this, others bathed, some danced, and all had a good time until seven, when the cars left for Haverhill. Among those who enjoyed the day along with members of the Haverhill Gas Club were Mr. E. L. Milliken from the Blackstone Valley Gas and Electric Company, Woonsocket, R. I., Mr. Rollin Buckminster from Pawtucket Gas Company, Pawtucket R. I., and Mrs. H. A. Lemmon, and her son Alfred, of Boston. TOM P. WALKER. In Stone & Webster Localities The managers of the companies operated by Stone & Webster, Inc., write to the Management Division of Stone & Webster about the first of each month with reference to business conditions in their respective localities during the preceding month. A digest of these letters is published each month in the Stone & Webster Journal. BEAUMONT and PORT ARTHUR, TEX., JULY 13 Bank clearings at Beaumont for June, 1921, were $4,052,696 against $6,564,143 last year. During June, 1921, 112 building permits were issued at Beaumont valued at $112,313 against 75 last year valued at $75,954; at Port Arthur there were 124 permits valued at $74,176 against 64 last year valued at $79,002. Imports of the Sabine District for June, 1921, were $999,865 against $329,943 last year. Exports of the Sabine District for June, 1921, were $7,312,476 against $8,480,449 last year. The report of the Sabine District for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1921, shows phenomenal growth for the district. The total imports and exports for the year amounted to $135,044,575, which is a growth of 62 per cent over the previous year. General business conditions still display the quietness of recent months. No great change is looked for until the last part of the year, as the crops materialize and the liquidation of last season's price drop progresses. The lifting of the embargo in Cuba on rice should be helpful in the latter connection. It is thought that the refinery business will continue quiet. The large refineries in Jefferson County are using all available storage space. In a number of cases they have put into use earthern storage tanks, which have not been employed for a number of years. They are also constructing additional earthern storage tanks. Large refineries with available cash are buying spot oil and storing it for a revival of demand. The Gulf Company reduced wages 10 per cent on July 1st. This followed a cut of 10 per cent at the Texas Company on June 1st. BELLINGHAM, WASH., JULY 11 Bank clearings at Bellingham for June, 1921, were $2,324,875 against $3,321,827 last year. Building permits for June, 1921, were valued at $41,970 against $15,894 last year. There was no important change in the general business situation. the last month. The general business depression is still being felt throughout the city and surrounding country. |