yard. Our illustration affords a realistic idea of this section of the South Metropolitan Works on a busy day.
But to return to the retorts at Beckton. In a few minutes the greater portion of the charge has been withdrawn, and one can look—always at a respectful distance—along the retort. The men's work has grown hotter and hotter the farther the rake has been shoved into the retort, and great streams of perspiration run down their faces and backs. In the midst of it all comes along our artist. He is armed with the camera, and suggests that the men should stand still for a while in the act of withdrawing, in order to let him take a shot at them. The proposal strikes one as cool even in this hot house, but the men seem perfectly willing to be roasted alive in order to give him an opportunity of conveying to the British public a truthful impression of the way "it is done." They would make capital martyrs these men, and our artist would make a very daring army general. Fire has no terror for him when he is safely out of its way, and he stands, for what seems to his less exacting colleague an interminable time, counting by his watch the seconds necessary to obtain the negative he wants. But at last he says, "Thank you; that will do!" and the men finish drawing the coke from the retorts.
Charging retorts by machinery.
Then, without the loss of a minute, they prepare to recharge them. On the ground is a heap of coal running the length of the house, deposited by one of the trains running above, and from this two scoops ten feet in length, containing one hundredweight each, have been filled. One man takes the handle, hoists it slightly, the other two place a bent bar, called a bridle, underneath and about the middle of the scoop, it is lifted to the height required, the nose is thrust into the mouth of the retort with a dexterity which comes of daily practice, the two men with the bridle find themselves perilously near the flame which bursts forth from the retort, the man at the handle rams the scoop well home, turns it upside down and rushes back with it; the next scoop is treated in the same manner, both scoops are refilled and emptied, and a few shovelfuls of coal thrown in complete the charge.
The door of the retort is closed and fastened, the process of gas making has begun, and for the next six hours the coal will undergo distillation. The men have been about forty minutes over their work, and some twenty minutes will elapse before the time to clear another set of retorts is up. They retire to a room, where are many lockers containing their clothes and belongings, and the interval is spent in rest, in gossip, or in snatching refreshment.
The men work in eight-hour shifts, earn good money (the average being £2 a week), and, wearing as their occupation seems to be, enjoy excellent health and opportunities of improving their position. It will generally be found that the foremen in immediate responsibility over the men have risen from the ranks. Two instances of success may be cited. The first is that of a head
