STORY OF A CRANE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1848, 28 May 1885, Page 2

STORY OF A CRANE

Cbanes, when built by ignorant op inexperienced engineers, are somewhat apt to fail at critical moments. Some years ago a large crane of a novel design had been built to run along a wharf and discharge a ship's cargo into the railroad cars. The crane was an enormously lofty structure, spanning a line o£ track, and the hoisting and swinging, machinery wai situated some 20ft above the rail level. The chief draughtsman ,knew something of mechanical: engineering, but very little about cranesl The manager of the works knew very little about mechanical engineering and nothing about cranes. Consequently the first crane of the kind was tried with a full test load on the edge of a wharf where the water was full 25ft. i deep. The manager, who was deaf, and a fitter were up in the crane controlling its movements. As the last load rose in the air, the fitter heard a suspicious cracking, and ran for dear life and solid] ground. The manager, being deaf, continued to smile blandly, and consequently was hurled, crane, load, chains, crabs, and all mixed up together in the water, and only brought up in the mud at the bottom, where he stuck fast. The water seethed and boiled, the bubbles rose, and then all ' was silence. Nothing but the dead man's hat floated oh the surface. This was serious, so ft diver went down, and catching hold* of a stray boot leg, succeded in inducing a battered manager, to follow it. Nine months in hospital were required to mend two broken legs, a broken arm, some cracked ribs, and other minor injuries. This gentleman still builds cranes for use on wharves, but makes the axles on which they travel over 2in. in diameter, and watches the test from a prudent distance. As the Irish editor of an esteemed contemporary says when he commences to relate another anecdote, "Thisis true." ~We may add that it did not happen in the United States. — American Railway Gazette.

The recent bazaar at Chrintohuroh in aid of the Catholic Coarent Building Fund - I realized ;J6109* net. .. v -.■:-.. i <^h '*?■■'«