Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-05-11
Fearful Accidental Man Thrown 26 fcot
in the air and Escapes alive.

Some time ago snys the Wheeling Times Of Sat
urday, a bell cnst in pittsburg WIS placed upon
tho stceple of the Catholic Cathedral in this city.
which was found to be worthless, aud few days
ngo il was taken dawn to be replaced by new
bell east in Cincinnati. Yesterday morning tho
now bell arrived tho steamer Liberty, and was
hauled up to the Cathedral ON Fifth street, where
measures were Immediately taken to hoisi 1t to the
position it was intended to occupy in the stseple.
For this purpose n machine such rs Ia generally
used hy builders for hoistng material was placed
on Fifth street. about ton feet from the curb, and
u heavy piece of timber was projected from the
stccple nj n height of about l25 feet from the
ground, and twenty feet above whore tho bell was
to enter the slocplc by nn open window. An inch
and hnf rope was bent into the bell nnd through
II double block Mt the top ar projecting timber.
nnd single block ut tho bottom To the hosting una
chine Tho proccss of hoi~tng WAS then CON-
mcncci and had progressed successfully till the
bell was nhnut 100 feet from tho ground, and
within six inches ol going IN NJ the aperture in
tended for it. when tho rope slipped ON tho drum
OF tho hoistng machine causing lnr which broke
the wheels Of the machine aud let tho bell TALL to
the ground. Thomas Newman who Ind hold OF
the end of the rope attached to the machine, gui-
ding the coils properly into the drum, was instan-
tuncolsly icrkrd into the mir and up l25 feet u
the projecting piece which supported the upper
block whence he slid down to the window and was
taken in.
How in the numc of all that - wonderful Now
man ever lived 10 tell The tale of his sudden elevn
ton is beyond con TEXTURE. The bell weighs $3.50
lhs und when its supp'rts gave way came to tho
ground with fearful rnpidity. yet Newman was tn
ken up at three times tho speed with which the
bell came down, and waS taken Oh tho ground
NJ suddenly that he hnl time 10 let 20 his hold
of the rope. which carried him up to the block Mt
tho top by the time the hell wns third of the
way to tho ground mud while tho hcll was falling
tho other two thirds of the wny, his hands were
inmmod against the block ut tho top mud the rope
running through them Mt II ratio which their hor-
riblr condition fully attests. When the bell reach
cd tho pavement. Newman slid down til he came
opposite the window, where he called for some ono
for Gods snke Ia tnke him in. At tho window
was Bishop Whcelnn and two other gentlemen. -
The Bishop with presence oi mind almost un-
patallcled stepped upon the window sill and
reaching out caught tho unfortunate man by tho
whist aud drew him in. Had tho Bishop caught
the rope, which he could have done with perfect
safety to himself the man would have most prob
ably let 20 aud fell loo feet To the ground below.
" hen Newman was rescued from his porilous
position it was found tlnt all tho inside OF both
his hands had been burnt out To tho bone, and the
rope had made slight >trntch IN his hond. That
this man who WAS jrrked to the immense height
in the mir with the yelncity oGlightning should es-
cape with his life seems little less than miracle.
He was taken to tho office OF Dr. llupp who at
tended to his wounds and in IN hour he was able
to walk away.