DRENCHED IN VITRIOL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 7 January 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

DRENCHED IN VITRIOL.

A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT,

' Joseph Schroppler, an employee of the Philadelphia Watch-case Factory at Riverside. New Jersey, was terribly injured on November 23 in a vat of vitriol in which watch-cases are dipped in the pio;e'ss of manufacture. Schroppler is only 17, a mischievous, skylarking youth. So ihe older men chaff him. When, on the day in question, work was nearly finished, George Miller began teasing Schroppler about his sweetheart,, and the boy became furious. . He waited outside for Miller and struck him twice in the side with a stone. Then the boy fled, for Miller is a big man and wanted to pay off scores promptly and with interest. Schroppler ran back into the factory and Miller pursued. 'If I get hold of you I'll throw you into t'y.at vat,' Miller cried. 'You better catch me first,' retorted Schroppler. A SHRIEK OF HORROR.

As he ran the boy turned to see how near the man was. He tripped on something. He turned his head swiftly. The scream that came from him made those ■svho heard it shudder. He stretched out his hands to save himself, and partly succeeded, in that" he did not plunge in face foremost. But in order to do this he had to place both feet in the acid.

Those who heard the cries ran towards

the vat. They knew how the vitriol eats away metals. They were r.ot sure what it would do to human flesh. They feared that the boy might be dissolved into nothingness before their very eyes. Thoy were surprised to see him climbing out of •he vat. Miller sprang to his side.

'Are you hurt?' he asked. •No, not at all; only a little wet,' returned Schroppler.

He had thought, when he found, himself falling into the vat, that his end had come, and he felt a certain superiority when he found that the liquid seemed to have no more effect than so much water. His trousers were saturated only up. to his knees. THE EFFECT. The boy picked up his dinner pail, and with a parting joke about the fear in which the vitriol is held stbrted for his home, three-quarters of a mile distant. He felt no anxiety, because he thought that if there was danger in the vitriol it would manifest itself at once. . He, had ■made nearly a third of the distance when he was aw are of a warmth about his legs and feet—a warmth that was succeeded by a burning like that resulting from the application of a mustard plaster. Fear entered the heart of the boy. The burning increased With each step.. He nad started to run and thought the extra exertion caused it. He dropped to a walk. The pain increased. It seemed as if a million needles were being driven into his flesh. ''-.-•' '•' ''"

The acid was beginning its work,

He was alone in the darkness. Rain pelted against his face. There was not water enough in the seas to quench the fire that was consuming his hesh.. He shrieked with all his might. _-*-> prayed for mercy. The acid burned and burned, going deeper and deeper with deadly persistency.

Many times the boy sank on the ground, but 'Ills will "would not yield. He crossed Rancocas Creek. His home was only a few yards away. He reached the door oh his hands and knees. With his last remaining strength he pushed open the door and fell fainting on the threshold.

If he recovers his pluck will have saved his life. His fate is not certain, but if he lives his legs will have to be amputated.