The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-07

Z ,
r,,a unusually qntct ne'Snoetnoou o'
!,,. =" Eun, settlement four or hHe m'ieS
!','.. ...., ,,,rhrar:on. last week proved the
'''' -, an exciting occurrence which Gre
>.f'' f.r, .eu>slion throughout the dis
~'"7' " ,,',rt Q O'Clock on Saturday morning
i'.'., ',...., ,,x Of sixtcrn years named Halle
,,h, had for some time previous cX-
-. ,,rirtpm> Of insanity, suddenly con-.
No. ,I ,Ir idea that his friends intended to
&C. l;r, snd rushed from the house
N,~f w. :, hrush at little distance. His
",...,s..,hr- and uncle Nain'y pursued
r,,~ fellow. He reached the woods,
~ 49,. ,,;rb the energy Of frel2icd despair be-
"' .", ...a.la. Il large poplar tree. In few
--.,r..r.. he reached the topmoSt branches.
rh~r.. a looked down from the dizzy height
= .NcN,y feet upon his baified pursners.
,.,.. ,,r.ihrr was bitterly cold. The fuei-
..,.. n,I .ri,hcr coat nor mlttens. his CLOTH
.rr ,-.tn. rather scanty at best. How to cN-
,,'[.., IlGl from hi> pcrilouS situation quick
~ tn-.rlr ! pTplcXins question.
!. I,n,,h his relatives determined to make
,any, ~ bring the demcnted youth safely
:. ..,,,...gnuud. and = couple OF men assembled
-, ,..,. rar.Aat purpose. But the frightened
t'., ,.4<.r,itl this scheme by climbing still
J.; .,.rard craalin out 10 the end Of frail-
i,.,, ~, limb that bent and Swayed under its
,,,.r.I,,,o.u,d burden. From this dangerous
a., y.,i.n he lrted vii further attempts at et-
f.,f;ug = rescue, threatening to throw MINI
.,lf h"qdiorc upon ,hr earth if not let alone.
w ~, lime many o. the re!chborS had ga
,r..-rt. however. none could suggest any
rl,i Of relief thai might hope for success
lul i,>Uc.
Hours lrl>.cl away without changing the
s-,ru Of terminating the agonizing suspense
,f The a>>cuhcd scores. His coat was taken
~ ,h,. nee and lett as near the unfortunate
l.,v - g->sibc. He finally descended far
enough TO clutch the garment. put it on. and
a.4lu resumed his position on the fragile
i-lr,ch. To the horrified spectators 1t seemed
4. i, the limb must break every instant, in
which case they sbudGered to think Of the
t.;al consequences. The moments appeared
Ike hours in duration. while the reckless
no,cn.ents Of the cause Of all this anxiety
continually intensified the fear of terrible
ALI and mangicd corpse, and q stricken
household. 4 human life hung Dya slender
twic. liable 10 snap without the slightest
warning.
|, became painfully evident that the boy
would perish from cold il not cXtricated, and
- The last alternative it was determined to
fell the tree. Stout ropes were fastened high
llp TO L., il come down slowly, willing hands
took firm hold. ard the say was briSkly
rii"d. The monarch of the forest succumbed
a, length amidst tue widest demonstrations Of
insane delight from its dazcd occupant. The
next minute was pregnant with supreme IN
lerc.t ~ the tree gradually inclined from
the perpendicular and lis top started to-
ward the solid earth. In spite of the cXer-
lions pt the men holding tue ropes it struck
against y huge maple, but ere the collision
took place the boy gave one frantic yell,
,prau2 upon lint OF the nlapIe, ran to the
trunk wl.h the speed and agility Of Il Sluir-
ri. AMI in 4 few brief seconds had climbed
higher than before. Here was IN unlocked
lor circumstance; night was near at hand,
and nope almost died out in each bosom.
Tie moon rose clear and bright and beau
i.iUt, Ii" air VA, crisp, and the night bitterly
>amil. Midnight came OH apace, and still
tie distracted youth remained among the
highest aGuclr> OF the leailess tree. Eainly
Tx crowd !.nplorcd him to come down aud
.'Nti'b .Dt'ta sAlit LIZ SVuiibtN"
d"ai - III" rntreaty, laughing with ali the
gcr oi ! maniac at their earnest appeals.
4 halFy thought eventually loomcd up,
wh:vn 10 time was lost in putting into
Practice. The throng dispersed, WITH the
exception "l small! number Of men who
s"rittcd themselves behind trees and logs
10 be IN readiness for whatever emergency
nj-ht demand their assistance. Then 4
young play mate Of the crazy boy, to whom
he had always been much attached, stood at
The foot Of the tree, presented dishes Of
food, and begged him to come down and
9ct something to eat. This measure
finally succeeded. The boy Yielded to
the temptation, and in q little while
once more stood upon the ground. Some
OF the men quietly stepped from their
secured and carried him home.
The poor fellows hands and face and
feet were badly frozen as the result of his
fearful exposure for over fifteen hours du-
ring the rlsors Of the coolest day and night
of the season. Tue 10y of the friends at the
denoucment may DC imagined. Every at
lrntlon was paid the poor sufferer that atfec-
lion could devise, and he is progressing ia
so!ably, though his intellect is yet as cloud
cd IL before he underwent the dreadful ex
Icricnce Of that erentful Saturday, which
hone Who participated in the exciting scene
Vii! be likely for many years to forget.