The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-16

1PtSuuLHb Nuo HhnluB passengers tnr and
wide from thia great height over parts
Of the city as yet untouched by the rain
OIL nre. s
The fear was well-ioanded. n was not
long before flying brand caught and
fastened itself upon the topmost height
OF the spire, Tho spectators watched II
anxionsly in the vain hope that it would
drop before its blaze caught upon the
surrounding woodwork but, held to
Its place, perhaps by the wind, II kindled
brighton and brighter till 1t was plain
that unless some human hand could pluck
II down, the spire and all that would be
involved in its destruction were doomed.
The helpless crowd looked up and watch.
ed the burning brand, but among them
all there was not one man fearless
enough or active enough to attempt to
scale the giddy height. The Mayor and
Council stood in the square below pow.
erless and lespairing like the rest, but
Offering q lnrge reward to any one who
would attempt the daring feat OF dislodg.
Ing TINT speck OF flame that flickered in
the gale at the very summit Of the
steeple, aud grew each moment brighter
and would not fall
But presently mon appeared in the
belfry OF tho church, aud leaning over
the railing looked upgartl, as II measur.
ing with his eyes the distance OF the
many feet Of almost perpendicular as.
cent that still lay between him and the
spot OF fame above him. Then he
mounted upon tho railing aud stretched
his hands above him upon the steeple
From the crowd OF thousands below
went up ono single mighty shout that
almost shook the air about him then q
great silence fell upon the multitude Us
they held their brentlls, and their upturn.
ed faces grew white in the ruddy light rs
they watched his progress! Slowly,
painfully, carefully and steadily ile
crept up and up. raising himself from
one slight projection 10 another, invisible
to those below, but which served him
for foothold and Which his hands could
grasp. All around for many squares
the fire raged uuheeded, and men forgot
their blazing homes as by the light Of
their burning they watched this solitary
figure creeping hundreds OF feet above
them up ST. Michnel's steeple. AT
length tho brand was within lis reach,
and holding on with ono hnnd only he
seized the blazing mass with the other
and hurled itclear into the square below,
and the spire stood ont black once more
against the sky with no light upon II
except the reelection Of the burning
houses.
But not yet did tile crowd dare to
shout out their exultation that st. Mi.
cliael's was saved, for It's savior still
clung, moving speck beneath tue gol-
den ball, the sight which tho sailors
greeted so far out to sea. Slowly, pain.
fully, carefully, steadily he began the
moro difficult descent, and not till he
had stepped safely an1 firmly over tho
railing and into tho belfry OF lhe church
did the mighty shout Of men WHO hailed
q great deliyefance, and recognized M
act Of dating heroism, rise above the
rpar Of the surrounding FIRE. ST Mi
cAael's was saved aud the manwas savcd.
At the church door, the Mayor and
corporation and surging crowd Of
people met lin. Who he was that had
performed that fearful feat none knew /;
they could ouly see that IL was a. man
who climbed the spirc, but in the lurid
light so many feet above them in the air
they had not seen that he was black.
he stood at the church door, and they
saw not only that he was black lie was
o slave.
But none tlie-less had he saved ST.
Nfichael's !; and, rs the burgesses Of
Ak ordered their last measures Of wine
to be given 10 the good horse Roland,
who brought the good news from Ghent,
| so tue Mayor Of Charleston gave on the
spot, lis freedom 10 the negro slave who
had plucked the burning brand from
the very summit Of ST Michael's Epirc
and saved the city aud church. N 7
Pos. e '''af