Thud GMohsL.
ADVENTURERS* CLUB
HEADLINES FROM THE LIVES
OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF!
“Breath of Doom”
Hello everybody:
John A. Kollins of Decatur, 111., is a refrigerator re* i
pairman, and he knows the ins and outs of mechanical re
frigerating systems and can tell you just what makes them
g0- , • u
John learned that business with an eye to making ms
bread and butter out of it. But there came a time when
he had to use every doggone bit of the knowledge he had
acquired—to save his life.
But, in the end, it was a penknife that saved the day.
Without it, all of John’s technical skill would have been
of little use in the battle against the icy breath of doom
which he and his helper found themselves fighting. John’s
knowledge told him what not to do, but knowing what not
to do isn’t enough when death is clamping down and slowly
wringing the life out of you.
It all happened in Springfield, 111. On March 31, 1936,
John Kollins was called over there to make some repairs
in the refrigerating plant of the Morris Fish Market. He got
there early in the morning with his helper, and they worked hard all
day on the job.
The market had several cooler rooms carrying below-freezing tem
peratures and one room, called a sharp fish freezer, that went down
to 10 or 15 degrees below zero when the machinery was working.
Evening was coming on, and still their job wasn’t finished.
The market had closed and every one had gone home before John
finally got the machinery working properly. He still had to test
it, though, and he turned the controls on full and he and his
helper climbed out of the basement and went up through the big,
empty market to the sharp freezer room to see how rapidly the
machine was bringing the temperature down.
Find Catch Broken on Freezer Door.
When they got to the freezer door, John noticed again that the
catch was broken. There was an old pair of ice tongs hanging
1 nearby, to open it in case it stuck. He had seen that before, and
* _____
<5.//aAfAr*/L* .
Then, suddenly, the big blade of the knife broke!
)' made a mental note of it. He had even told his helper to be careful
in closing that door behind him. But now, as John walked in, his
helper, following behind him, gave the door a thoughtless bang.
Locked in! And in a small, cramped room whose temper
ature was rapidly going down! Going to 15 below zero!
Not even an Eskimo could live through a night in the open
at such a temperature, and John and his helper, dressed in
ordinary working clothes, knew that they’d be frozen to death
long before morning.
“My heart almost failed me right then and there,” says John, “but
if it hadn’t been for my knowledge of the structure of this freezer, we
might have died before we even had half a chance to try to get out.
My helper was all for taking a big block of ice and trying to ram
the door down, but I knew better than to try it. The door was too
strong, and, if we failed to get out on the first try, it would be the end.
“I had built this plant eight years before. I knew the am
monia coils would not stand much jarring without springing a
leak. And once the ammonia got in, we’d have choked to
death before we had a chance to freeze.”
No—that was out. The only thing those two lads could do was cling
to straws. They MIGHT just possibly be alive in the morning.
Only Tool Is Two-Bladed Penknife.
John asked his helper if he had any tools in his pocket. The only
thing the helper had was a small penknife with two blades.
John told him they’d have to try digging their way out with that
knife.
Anything to keep their minds off the death that was clutching
at them—one degree at a time. They started hacking away at the plaster
tfiat coated the walls, cutting a hole about eight inches in diameter. It
cflidn’t take long to cut through the plaster. It was only half an inch
thick. But back of that was eight inches of cork.
“We took turns digging,” says John, "and made progress
little by little. But, all this time, the machine was running in
the basement and the temperature was going down. It went from
five—to ten—to fifteen below, and our hands became numb as
we worked. Then, suddenly, the big blade of the knife broke.
John Feels He Is Nearing End.
“I sat down and wrote a few words to my wife on the back of one
of my cards. I was feeling mighty sleepy, and I knew I was nearing
the end. And then out of a clear sky, my helper shook me and said
he had a small hole through to the outside."
It was just a tiny hole. The one they originally started had
narrowed down almost to a point. It did them mighty little
good, but John’s helper thought they might try shouting for help.
To please his helper, John agreed to try—but he knew there was
no one in the building, and knew that the chances of any
one hearing them from the outside was mighty slim.
For an hour they kept up their intermittent shouting. John was
yelling “Police,” and his helper was Just crying “Help!” It was almost
10 o’clock by that time, and John had lost all hope. And then, suddenly,
they got an answer.
“Where are you?” A man, parking his car in the alley beside the
market, had heard them.
The fellow broke in a window, found the freezer, and used the old ice
tongs to pry open the door.
“He didn't know what to do about us,” says John, “until 1,
in my delirium, began yelling ‘Police!* again. He thought that
was a good idea and called the cops.”
The police arrived and gave the two men stimulants. Before it was
over, the newspaper photographers had arrived and they had to go
back into that freezer again to pose for pictures. But that time they
made darned certain that the door wouldn’t slam shut on them.
(Released by Western Newspaper Union.)
Ancient Totem Pole
The totem pole in Seattle’s Pio
neer Square was carved from a sin
gle cedar tree by a tribe of Indians
inhabiting Tongass island, south
eastern Alaska. It is 60 feet high
and 8 feet in circumference and was
intended as a monument to a dis
tinguished family. The pole stood
for nearly a century on Tongass is
land and was discovered by a party
of Seattle businessmen in August.
1899, and removed to that city.
♦
French Clairvoyante
On January 1. 1899, Madame
Thebes, a French clairvoyante, pre
dicted the death of the president of
France. He died the following
month. A few years later she pre
dicted that Belgium “would set Eu
rope aflame," Germany would be at
war, the kaiser would be dethroned,
“after which great changes would
follow in Germany.” The World
war and succeeding years fulfilled
her augury to the letter.
-OP° SEW
ii^~ Ruth Wyeth Spears
Two interesting designs for cushions.
««P)EAR MRS SPEARS: i like
*-j'to make interesting cushions
—in summer bright cotton cov
ered ones and silk covers in the
winter. The cost is nothing as 1
find that after the waists of
dresses are worn out, there are
still parts of the skirts that are
good enough to give long wear
when made into these covers.
J. B.”
Thanks, Mrs. J. B., for that sug
gestion, and here are two covers
that you might like to try. To
make the contrasting edge for the
round one, stitch two-inch strips
together in points as at A, trim as
at B clipping between the points
then turn right side out. Pull out
smoothly and press, then gather
as at C. Stitch to one section of
the cover as at D, then stitch the
two sections together leaving an
opening for the cushion.
To make a pattern for a mod
ernistic patchwork cover, cut a
rectangle of paper, then divide it
into sections as shown. Use these
sections as patterns to cut the
fabric adding a seam allowance as
at F.
NOTICE: Two books for the
price of one. Readers who have
Flying Is Risky Business,
As Viewed by Pedestrian
A pedestrian crossed a traffic
filled street while looking up at an
airplane overhead. Three buses
shaved him so closely that his
beard didn’t appear again for a
week, the wind from six passing
cars raised the nap on his last
year’s suit, one five-passenger car
removed the shine from the back
of his left shoe, and the drivers of
seven other assorted makes, while
stripping their gears in an effort
to avoid him, stripped their vocab
ularies of high-powered adjectives.
After stumbling over the curb
stone on the farther side of the
road, the pedestrian was heard to
murmur, “My gracious, those air
men lead dangerous lives.”
not secured their copies of my
two books, SEWING, for the Home
Decorator; and Gifts, Novelties
and Embroideries; should send in
their orders at once, before the
supply is entirely disposed of.
You may also have your choice of
the Patchwork Quilt Leaflet or the
Rag Rug Leaflet FREE with or
ders for two books; enclose 25
cents with name and address; di
recting your order to Mrs. Spears.
210 S. Desplaines St., Chicago, 111.
_
ASK ME A Quiz With Answers
n XTT-NrnT TTTT-» Ottering Information
H Pi li on Various Subjects
- A MM.. . .... --
1. What does the nautical term
“anchors aweigh” mean?
2. Are any tin mines operated in
the United States?
3. What is meant by bio
genesis?
4. What is the world’s annual
income?
5. How many states were repre
sented when the Constitution was
adopted?
6. Which releases more mois
ture into the air, an acre of a
lake or an acre of forest?
7. Can you translate the follow
ing into a familiar proverb: “A
pebble in a state of circumvolu
tion acquires no lichens”?
8. Where does light go when you
put it out?
9. Through what locks do the
most ships travel, Panama, Suez,
or Sault Ste. Marie?
10. How much wire and cable is
used in Rockefeller Center?
The Answers
1. Lifting the anchor so the ship
may proceed.
2. The only tin mine now op
erating in the United States is lo
cated at Lincolnton, N. C.
3. Natural generation of life
from life.
4. Estimated at $300,000,000,000.
5. Twelve. Rhode Island did
not send a delegate.
AROUND
the HOUSE;
Items of Interest
t
to the Housewife
Care of Bread Box.—Summer Position of Trellises.—Trellises
calls for diligent cleaning and air- should be a foot to 18 inches away
ing of bread and cooky boxes, pan- from a wall. This gives air a
try and cupboard shelves and re- chance to circulate and gives you
frigerators. Since bread molds a chance to spray the back of the
easily in the summer, it is best to vine,
buy just enough for each day’s * * *
needs. To Inform You.—Read the labels
* * * on canned foods. Many tell the
Stains on Ash Trays.—To re- number of slices contained in the
move cigarette stains from brass can. Others give additional use
ash trays, rub the trays with a fuj information about the contents,
paste of salt and vinegar. Then * * «
wash them well in hot water and
soap suds. Keep Oils Cool.—Store oils, such
* • * as olive or vegetable, in the re
use for Leftovers.—Leftover Liberator, they are likely to be
rice or macaroni mixed with f°me raacid when opened unless
cooked meat makes a good filling t*iey are kept chilled,
for green peppers or tomatoes. * * *
The latter need to be cooked only Cleaning Suede.—Clean soiled
20 minutes in a moderate oven. suede shoes and belts with saw
* * * dust slightly warmed in the oven.
Quick Baking.—Fruit and berry Rub it over the surface with a
pies with lattice-style tops require clean, soft rag, and to raise the
less baking time than the regular pile rub gently afterwards with a
two-crust pies. piece of fine emery paper.
Strange Facts
I Expensive Stop
Ri'ached for Sky
* Bars That Don't *
When a heavy passenger train
makes a sudden emergency stop,
the full application of the brakes
to every wheel may wear away
as much steel as a normal year’s
service and may result in as much
as $1,500 worth of damage.
Few plants equal a species of
British toothwort, Lathraea squa
maria, in its efforts to reach
daylight. One, which happened to
germinate at the bottom of an
abandoned mine shaft, extended
itself to the top, a distance of 120
feet, although the normal height of
this plant is only six inches.
When Hodja, a famous jester of
Turkey, died in the Fourteenth
century, he was buried in the little
town of Akehir, and a large,
chained gate was placed in front
of the tomb. No wall or fence
was ever attached to it and visi
tors still smile at this “jest for
the jester” as they step around
this heavily padlocked gate to see
tfce grave.
Although about 35,000 sizable
ships have been wrecked and sunk
in the seas during the past cen
tury, fewer than 35 have vanished
without a trace.—Collier’s.
‘Clothed in Gold'
A gold-plated silk fabric is de
scribed in Industrial and En
gineering Chemistry. A silk dress
is impregnated with a solution of
a gold salt, which is then de
composed chemically, leaving a
coating of pure gold upon the fiber,
at a cost of about $3 per yard.
When the dress is worn out, the
gold can be recovered and used
again. The garment was recently
exhibited in England.
w
6. Because of the heavy trans
piration that takes place in trees,
an acre of forest releases more
moisture than an acre of lake.
7. A rolling stone gathers no
moss.
8. You do not put it out, you
extinguish it.
9. In 1938 11,201 ships passed
through Sault Ste. Marie, 6,171
through the Suez and 5,626 through
the Panama.
10. On August 17, 1931, the
world’s largest contract for wire
and cable was signed. The con
tract bound Rockefeller Center to
purchase 7,800,000 feet of wire and
cable. If the total individual
strands of this cable, now in
stalled, were placed end to end,
they would extend more than
15,000 miles.
mu
/our
eWorld
Out in the Open
Helen—Does Mrs. Gabber talk
much?
Janet—Does she? You should
have seen how sunburned her
tongue was when she came back
from her vacation last week.
A Raid
Dad—I wonder where that step
ladder is?
Mother—Junior had it the last I
knew.
Dad—Then it must be in the
pantry.
AN ABOUT FACE
“Lenora was in a very embar
rassing position this morning.”
“How was that?”
“She had to rescue a man from
drowning when he was teaching
her to swim.”
Apprehensive
Cook—Did the company say
anything about the cooking?
Maid—No, but I noticed them
praying before they started eat
ing.
kTTERN IW
Uepartmlnt
~PHE afternoon dress with v
*• neckline, slim skirt and shirred
bodice (1779) is unusually pretty
for those of you who take women’s
sizes. Make it for hot days with
short, full sleeves; repeat it later
on, with the narrow roll collar and
long, snug sleeves. Voile, chiffon,
georgette, silk print and thin wool
are pretty materials for it.
Dress With Jacket-Blouse.
A classic two-piecer that will
give you loads of wear on your
vacation travels as well as sum
mer days in town, is 1783. It
brings you a sleeveless tennis
frock with sunback, that becomes
a smart little summer suit when
you add the fitted jacket-blouse.
Thus you can solve two important
clothes problems with this one
easy pattern. It will be charming
in linen, gingham, pique or shark
skin.
The Patterns.
No. 1779 is designed for sizes 34,
36, 38. 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48. Size
36 requires 4Mi yards of 39 inch
material with short sleeves and
No Rain for 85 Years
The desert city of Gadames,
North Africa, reached by lavish
tourist motorbus from Tripoli,
hasn’t seen rain in 85 years. All
houses are made of mud and if
it rained the houses would be
washed away.
The entire population of 2,000
souls cools off in a subterranean
city when the weather gets hot.
Women never come out on the
streets—when they want to visit
each other, they pass through a
mass of underground tunnels nev
er seen by white man.
Complete
June Bride—But isn’t 25 cents a
pound a little high for chickens?
The store across the street adver
tises them for 21 cents.
Butcher—Do his chickens have
the feet on?
June Bride—No-o-o.
Butcher—Well, that explains it.
When we sell chickens we give you
the whole thing.
Would Fix Him
Sally (eloping)—Daddy is going
to be completely unstrung.
John—That's all right, dearest;
we’ll wire him at once.
“No, sir,” said the angry fa
ther, “you can’t have her, I won’t
have a son-in-law who has no more
brains than to want to marry a
girl with no more sense than my
daughter has shown in allowing
you to think you could have her.”
Experienced
Wimpus—If you lost me you’d
have to beg for money.
Mrs. Wimpus—Well, dear, it
would come naturally.
no collar; 4% yards with collar,
and long or short sleeves.
No. 1783 is designed for sizes 12,
14. 16, 18 and 20. Size 14 requires
4% yards of 35 inch material, with
out nap, for frock; 1% yards for
jacket. 4 yards of trimming.
Send your order to The Sewing
Circle Pattern Dept., Room 1324,
211 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, 111.
Price of patterns, 15 cents (ia
coins) each.
By burning 25% slower than
the average of the 15 other
of the largest-selling brands
tested—slower than any of
them—CAMELS give smok
ers the equivalent of
fEItllCK
MORE smoking -better smoking—
thriftier smoking...Which cig
arette offers all of them? Read 3 im
portant cigarette facts revealed by
scientific tests on 16 of the largest;
selling brands:
1 CAMELS were found to contain
MORE TOBACCO BY WEIGHT
than the average for the 15 other of
the largest-selling brands.
2 CAMELS BURNED SLOWER
THAN ANY OTHER BRAND
TESTED - 25% SLOWER THAN
THE AVERAGE TIME OF THE 15
OTHER OF THE LARGEST-SELL
ING BRANDS! By burning 25%
slower, on the average, Camels give
smokers the equivalent of 5 EXTRA
SMOKES PER PACK!
3 In the same tests, CAMELS HELD
THEIR ASH FAR LONGER than
the average for the other brands.
Thanks to Camel’s economy, everyone
can enjoy the real thrills in smoking—
the coolness, mildness, delicate taste.~
the added bonus of Camel’s costlier to
baccos. Don’t miss the smoking Amer
ica rates No. 1.
CAMEL
PENNY FOR PENNY YOUR
BEST CIGARETTE BUY!
Jerry on the Job! Speed Demon! By HOBAN
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