Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-01-15
village. aud spread the news IN ell directions.
ooos crowd had gathered, full Of excitement and
terror Az thsy lsoted up and saw the boy On

village, aud spread the news IN al directiohs,
eoos crowd had gathered, full cs excitement and
his glddy perch. feeling Of horrvr took possess.
Ion Of them. But attsr tie nrst shock was over,
they called to him. and found that lie was not cx.
hausted and that he was not dizzy. Those two
facts inspired hope among tho spectators, and at
once every one began to make proposals as to the
BEST way of rescuing him.
Some OF the widest talked OF rc-erecting the
staging, bnt that was soon decided 10 be impOssi-
Bile.
Others suggested q chain OF ladders; but little
discussion brought out the fact that there were no
ladders in the village long enoughtor the puopose.
One man proposed shooting arrow, with II
string attached should fall over tine wealhercock:
but this plan was dismissed, as no one in town was
expert archer enough to send an arrow exacuy
over the spre.
This brought ont n shrewd old man, who had
thus far been silent considering the situation
Iiavo any of yeu boys n kIief" he asked.
Yes" said one
"Then hurry and bring 1t here as soon IA you
can. I'll go home and bring some thing Quick
now "
Away went the boy for his kite, while the
old man who was a retired sea captain, hur-
ried to his house in wagon which had just
come up. In less than q qsarter OF an hour
the boy was back with his kite, and the cap
tain made his appearance with some ropes and
a block
In the block was long rope with canvass
band at the end. Another rope was attached
to the head of the block.
On questioning Ton, the reply came that he
was still free from either weakness or giddiness
and resssured by this. the Captain began to
carry out his plan Of rescue every incident Of
which was watched with intense interest by the
crowd.
| A fresh breeze was blowing, and the captain,
going away at somo distance from the church,
let fly the kite. Soon il rose in the air. 1t was
not difficult to guide the kite 50 that it rose
over the spre and brought its string within
Toms reach
The Captain now fastened the string to the
rope, and callad on Tom TO pull it up. Toms
position enabled him TO hook his elbows round
the iron rod and thus have the use Of both hands
| It cost HIM some trouble, but the rope was al
length pulled up, and by it he pulled up Iht
block
In accordance with theCaptans order, he now
bound the block to the iron rod 90 strongly that
it could support his weight,
After this he passed the sling over his shoul
ders and under him. 80 that he was sitting or
it. The sling was attached TO a rope reeiec
through the block, and extending down 10 thu
hands OF a half-doSen men below.
The hardest task Of all remained and hi,
was to let himself down 80 that he might hans
below the black. 1.-The had been in the Sigh,
est degree sizay, this could not haye been done
but his head was steady yet and there
were ropes to cling to now, as he lowered him
sef At last he hung below the block, will
IA, sling under him. aud his hands grasping III
line
In this way he was lowered to the roof
There men waited Tor him, and he wen
through into the attic, and so down 10 tn
ground
As lie joined his friends u wild cheer arose
scores OF hands grasped mis- in cordial greeting
This was because Of the relief and joy felt a
} his escape from death; but he really deserved t
be reprimanded and punished for his foolhard
adventure.