Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-11-10

Az USsUCCEssFUL SrEUGGLE FOR LIFE-AF-
FsCrSG lsCIDENr AT CHgCAGO.-Whie Madison
street, west Of Dearborn. and the west aide Of
Dearborn we're all sblsze, the spectators saw the
lurit light appear in the windows Of Speeds
block Presently man, who had apparently
taken time 10 dress himself leisurely, appeared
On the extension built up TO the second tiory of
tSo Of the stores. lie oo0lly looked down the
thirty feet between him and the g1ourd, while
the excited crowd first cried jump, and then
some Of them more considerably looked for
iatder A long plank was soon found. and an
sTerel the same as ladder, AMI WAS plscsd az
once against the window, down which the man
soon after tlid But while these preparations
were going on there suddenly appeared another
man at q fourth story window ofithe building be-
lev, which had 10 projection, but flush from the
top 20 the grouud-four stories and a basement.
His escape by stairway was evidently cut off,
ani he looked dssPairingy dcwu the fifty feet
between him sud the ground. The crowd grew
almost frantic al the sight, tor il was only
choice Of death before hIm-by FIRE o. by ieing
crushed to death by the fall Seu5eless cries Of
jump jump went up from the cr0Wi-sense-
less, but full Of sympathy, for the sight was al
s0luteiy ag0niz.ng. Then for minute or two
he disappeared, perhaps even less, but II seemed
SO lcug line the supposti5u was that be hal
fallen, sufocate1 by smoke and heat.
But no; be appears again. FIrs. he throws a
bed, then some bel-s.othes apparently why,
probably even he does Tot know. Again he
looks down the dead, sheer wall Of iiJy feet be-
l0S him. lie hcsitates sui vel be may. a be
turns again and ooks behind him Then ae
mounts TO the wirl0w sill. II lis whole form Az
peArs, naked 70 the shirt, snl h.s white limbs
CLEAN against the dark wall ia the bright light
AZ be ssin-s himself below the window some
h0w-h0w none can teil-he drops ami catches
upon the Jop of the windows below him Of the
third story. lie st1ops aaI drops sgsia, and
se.zes the frame with his hands, sui bis glelm-
ing body once more strsiEhteas and hangs prone
downward, sui then drops instantly snd accu-
rsieiy upon the window sill Of the third story.
A shout, more Of Joy thSn applause, gocs up
from the br5athless crowd, and those who had
turuei away their heads, not bearing 10 lcok
upon him ss he seemed about 70 drop TO sudden
and certain death, glanced up at him ouce more
with ray Of hope, At this dsring sni sSiilful
feat Ioto this window lie crept, 20 look posi-
by, for & stairway, but appeared sgain pref-
emily, for here was the only avenue Of escape,
desperate aui hopeless as il WAS Once more be
dropped bic body, hanging by his hand The
crowd screamed, and waved 70 him 20 swing
himself over the projection from which the other
usu hEi just been rescued. He tfiei % 10 this
snd yiorsted like pendulum from side % side,
but could not reach far enough 70 throS himself
upon i-s roof Then he hung by one hand and
lookei down raising the other hsni. be took a
fresh h0il, snd sEIng from side 10 siie s-sin TO
resch the root. In vain, again he swung mo-
ti0nless by one hand, and slowly turned his head
over his shoulder, and cszal in the abyss below
him. Then, gathering himself IN. he le. 90 his
hold, aud for A second a CLEAN Of white shot
down full forty feet TO the foundation Of the
basement OF course, it kiliel him lie Wss
taken to drug store ueSr By and died in ten
minutes