Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-01-01

AS it fell, the boys screamed and lied
in different directions, and turning again
and looking up in awful dread, they saw
Tom clinging to the iron vane. Has
hands clutched this firmly, and he had
seated himself upon the bail, c.asping II
with his legs.
For some time not word was said.
Nothing, indeed, could be said. The
bows stood paralyzed, looking and expect
ing to see Tom fall. But he held on firm
ly, and at last his voice came down to
them from his lofty perch and reused
them to action.
"Boys," he called, "are you therey"
His back was turned to them where he
sat, so that he could not see them.
"Yesl' they shouted, in answer.
$50 and get help, quick!" was his cry,
At this, the boys all started on the full
run for the village, and spread the news
in all directions. Soon crowd had
gathered, full of excitement and terror
As they looked up and saw the boy on his
giddy perch, feeling Of horror took
possession of them. But after the first
shock was over they called to him, and
found that he was not exhausted and that
he was not dizzy. These two facts in
spired some hope among the spectators,
and at once every one began to make
proposals as to the best way of rescuing
him.
Some of the widest talked of re-erecting
the staging, but that was soon decided to
be impossible.
Others suggested chain of ladders;
but little discussion brought out the
fact that there were no ladders in the viii
lage long enough or strong enough for the
purpose.
One man proposed shooting an arrow,
with a string attached, which should fall
over the weathercock; but this plan was
dismissed, as no one in town was expert
archer enough to send an arrow exactly
over the spire.
This brought out q shrewd old man who
had thus far been silently considering the
situation.
"Have any of you boys kite3" he
asked.
EYES," said one.
'eThen hurry and bring it here as soon
as you can. I'll 60 home and bring some
things. Quick, noww
Away went the boy for his kite, while
the old man, who was retired sea cap
tain, hurried 10 his house in wagon
which had just come up. In less than a
quarter of an hour the boy was back with
his kite, and the captain made his appear
ance with some ropes and block.
In the block was long rope with a
canvas band at the end. Another rope
| was attached to the head of the block.
On questioning Tom, the reply cams
that he was still free from either weak.
ness or giddiness; and treasured by this,
the captain began to carry cat his plan
1 90 nf uh
watched with intense interest by the
crowd.
A fresh breeze was blowing, and the
captain, going away at some distance
| from the church, let fly the kite. Soon it
rose in the air. 1t was not difficult to
| guide the kite so that it rose over the
spire and brought its string within Toms
reach.
The captain now fastened the string to
! the rope, and called on Tom to pull up.
| Toms position enabled him to hook his
| elbows round the iron rod, and thus have
the use of both hands. 1t cost him some
trouble, but the rope was at length pulled
up, and by it he pulled up the block.
! In accordance with the captains order,
| he now bound the block to the iron rod
so strongly that it could support his
weight.
After this he passed the sling over his
shoulders and under him, so that he was
sitting on it. The sling was attached to
rope reeved through the block, and ex
tending down to the hands Of half-dozen
men below.
| The hardest task of all remained, and
this was to let himself down so that he
might hang below the block. If he had
been in the slightest degree dizzy, this
could not have been done but his head
was steady yet, and there were ropes 70
cling to now, as he lowered himself. Al
last he hung below the block, with the
sling under him, and his hands grasping
the line.
In this way he was lowered to the roof
There men waited for him, ard he went
through into the attic, and so down to the
ground.
AS he Joined his friends, e wild cheer
arose; scores of hands grasped his in
cordial greeting. This was because of the
relief and JOY felt at his escapefrom death
but he really deserved to be reprimanded
and punished for his foolhardy adventure
-YoUth's Companfon.