The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-06-25


Of course, / durst not get on my feet
but working myself Oh By my hands, |
got to bin, and putting NY arm round
his waist, and telling hiuf us chcerfully
as could to keep cool: | got him with
his arm round the rod. 1t had, how
ever, sprung the stapling for five yards
down, and was SO loose that it swayed
with him, and | expected any minute to
sec him falling head and heels down, and
the rod tearing away with him.
There was great hustle down below
people were running round the yard and
pushing to get in, but as yet there were
but some score of men al the foot of the
chimney, and, by close locking, saw
them put somebody on board, and
carry him gently away towards the
engine-houses. One of the men walked
after with hat in his hand then knew
that somebody bad been hurt by the
falling cradle, and that it must be poor
Mr.. Staining, as none Of our men wore
hats. Not a face was turned up.to us.
| learned afterwards that our men were
so taken up with sorrow that so good a
man and SO kind master should be
killed, that for while they had never a
thought about us; and the people out
side imagined that we had come down with
the cradle, so thus we were left in total
isolation for full twenty minutes.
While l was watching them below,
feeling very sorry for my poor master, |
was startled by a wild laugh from Colly,
who began making cat-calls, and yelling
as if he were possessed. Then | knew,
of course, that he was gone mad.
Even now | tremble when | think OF
that time it was horrible to peer down
the shaft, black and sooty, and yawning,
and scarcely less so to look outside and
see flight Of pigeons sweeping round at
considerably less height than we we're.
Then Colly-thank God, he was so
dazed that he could not see me called
my name three times, as | sat fairly
cringlng in dread that his sight might
clear, and with CHASTITY grin, and
chewing with his mouth, he began work
ing himself towards nc. | worked away
from him as noiselessly as could, with
every hair Of my bead standing on end.
lie followed ne twice round that horrid
coping, making most hideous noises,
and then being come a second time to
the rod, he got an idea in his muddled
head that | Was fallen over, for he never
lost a sense Of where he was all through
this trying time. Then he tried to get
| ON his feet; but, at the risk of nay own
life, could not let the poor fellow rush
on certain death without one more effort;
and | cried out for him to sit down, and
he covered down like Il whipped dog, all
trembling. | suppose it had been put
into his head that l was dead man
speaking to him.
That morning my wife had letter
from her sister in Canada, and as there
were parts we could not make out, had
put it in my pocket, intending to get our
timc-keeper to read it for me. 1t had a
scrap of uncovered paper at the bottom
and by another good providence, | hap
pened to have bit of rcd lead-pencil IL
my pocket. | wrote on the paper, s'Go,
us down-Colly's gone mad :" this / shu,
in my tobacco-boX, and was fortunate
enough to drop just at the feet Of q
couple Of men who were standing by the
engino-housc door.
Directly all was hustle to rescue u.s.
They got the kite up again, and l watched
it mounting slowly-->lowly and When
the slack Irvine fell between Colly anc
myself, l took it in my hand and coulc
have kissed it. Poor Colly, with lii,
teeth chattcring, still fancied l was t
spirit, and | did all could to favor thai
idea until they got another cradle up to
us. Then having got him in, Iscrambct
in myself; and clutching him fast,
shouted for them to lower; and so W,
were got down, he wrestling and fighting
with me all the way.
He was in q mad house for some
months, and then went to scavcngering
for he never could face any height again
and | have never had the same clear heaC
since that adventure.