Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-05-29

was stalhln2 my eyes IN hopes OF sec
ing some effort made to help us, when
was startled to hear a horrid veil. and
was brought 10 a sense Of new danger.
for, on looking around, I saw Ben champ,
ing his teeth and foaming al the mouth,
and gesticulating IN all unearthly wav.
Fear had not ouly blinded him, but
crazed his brain.
Scarcely had ] time TO comprehend
this, when he began cdgiDg his way to-
ward me, and every hair on my head
seemed TO stand on end, rs / moved
away, keeping MS far off as / could, and
scarcely daring TO breathe lest he should
hear me, for see me lie could not--that
was my only consolation. Once--twice
-thrice--hc followed me around the
mouth Of that horrible chimney; then.
no doubt, thinking that had fallen over,
he gave up the search and began to try 10
get on his feet.
What could do TO save his life? To
touch him was certain death TO myself as
we'll as to him, for he would inevitably
seize me; and we would both go over
together; to let him stand was to wit
ness equally certain destruction.
] thought Of poor Mary, and thought
that if he fell she might get TO care for
me. The devil ut it into my mind,
suppose, but ] thank God there as a
stronger power than Satan near, and at
the risk OF my life roared ont:
"Sit still, or you will iall, Ben Lloyd -
He crouchcd down and held on with
clenched teeth, shivering and shaking.
In off Il l,a tol, l,,t L.. sLa l..
it was my spirit sent TO ward and save
him.
"Sit STILL" / repeated from time to
time, watching with aching eyes aud
brain for some sign of aid Each min
ute seemed to be an hour My lips grew
dry, my tongue literally Glove TO the
roof of my mouth, and the perspiration
running down blinded me- At last-at
last-hope came.
The crowd began to gather in the
yard, people were running from distant
lanes, and q sea of faces were turned up-
ward; then some one who had got n
speaking-trumpet shouted, "Keep heart,
boys, we'll save your' A few minutes
more and the kite began to fly: higher
and higher it comes; on and on. How
| watched the white-winged messenger,
comparing il in my heart to an angel
and surely, rs an angel was it permitted
to come TO us poor sinners hanging on the
verge of eternity.
Up it came, nearer and nearer, guided
by skillful flyer. The slack rope
crossed the chimney, and we were saved.
| could not shout hurrah, even had /
dared; but in every beat of my heart
was thanksgiving to God had never
truly known till that hour, and whose
merciful providence l can never doubt
again.
The block was fixed, AID the cradle
came up again, and Ben, obeying my
order, got in. l followed; but no sooner
did l touch him than he began trying to
get out l got hold of him, and taking
it into his head that | was attempting to
throw him over, he struggled and fought
like the mad man he was-grap7ling
with his teeth, shouting and shrieking,
aud praying all the way down, while the
cradle strained and cracked, swaying 70
and fro like the pendulum of 4 clock. As
we came near the ground, could hear
the roar OF voices and an occasional
cheer; then suddenly all was silent, for
they heard Ben's cries, and when the
cradle touched the ground, scarcely a
man dare look in. The first who did, saw
a horrible sight, for, exhausted by the
struggle and excitement, as soon MS the
cradle stopped, had tainted, and the
men tell back with banched faces; they
saw that Ben was crazed; but they
thought that he had killed me, for, MS
they said, he was actually worrying me
like dog.
soon came round, but it was long
time before he got well, poor fellow.
When he did come out of the asylum,
he was never fit for the old trade again.
gave up the trade, too, soon after, find
ing that | got queer in the head when ]
tried to face height. So you see, that
mornings work changed two mems
lives.