As it needed but two lads on
the two lines of chemical hose, the others could turn their attention
to saving property. They managed to get out a large quantity of the
finished boxes, some of which were for holding jewelry, and were very
expensive. Two members of the firm had arrived by this time, and
helped in saving some valuable papers from the office, which was
almost destroyed.
The chemical streams were beginning to have an effect on the fire,
which seemed to be dying down. The three streams of water from the
hand-engine were also of good service.
Suddenly there was a sound of a loud explosion.
"That's in the varnish department!" exclaimed Mr. Needham. "Look out,
everybody! There are barrels of alcohol and turpentine in there!
They'll blow the whole place up! Better get back, boys," he added.
"You can't save the factory!"
"We're not going to give up!" answered Bert. "There is plenty of the
solution left in the tanks, and we can charge them again in five
minutes. We've got plenty of acid and soda."
At that moment there was another explosion, louder than the first.
"That's a barrel of turpentine!" cried Mr. Needham. "Get back, boys!"
But the young firemen pluckily stuck to their task.
Pages:
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180