Salt Lake Telegram | 1932-06-03 | Page 6 | Painter Keeps Step Ahead of Death in Climb from Big Fume-Filled Tank

Painter Keeps Deeps Step Ahead of Death In Climb From Big Fume-Filled Fume Tank By my United Press Pru WILMINGTON Del June 3 3 Ed Ed Edward ward Newton 38 was just a step ahead o of death during a nine nine hour hour foot foot climb from the bottom of a tank filled with deadly fumes he said today And all aU that time the body of or his fellow worker Ernest Howard 36 lay where it had fallen when Howard fell victim to the fumes and death that Newton escaped Newton was overcome frequently during the nine hours he said today and realized that during most of the time tune he was only partly conscious conscio The men contracted to paint a gallon water tank at Newport near here They decided to begin their task at an early hour yesterday bec because use they knew the sun would release release re re- lease the asphalt fumes in the paint But before they had been work working ng long the deadly fumes began to rise Howard started for the ladder but toppled over Newton already aheady partly overcome saw his comrade fall started toward him realized his mistake and rushed toward the la ladder der He dashed up a afew afew few steps before the fumes began t tc to o choke him He clung to the ladder as to 10 his life Then in another moment he move moved d up a few more steps racing with th the e rising sun The heat released th the fumes in constantly increasing vol ume Newton weakened almost to unconsciousness unconsciousness by his struggle rested on the level at the termination of the first ladder in the series and then began to crawl upward once more He moved little by little all aU morn morn- ning until he was at a point where the fumes could have but little effect on him It was 3 o'clock in the a afternoon before be fore ore Newton emerged emerge from the tank and climbed down on the other side