Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-07-21
Faithful unto Death.
BY ELLEN c. MowBRAY.

| upon MS Knees ana reaching uOWH
grasped firmer hold of the rope upon
which depended the lives of score,
whose bianched faces were upturned ap-
pealingly. The face that looked down
was rigid as stone, and almost as color
less; the barred arms absolutely frightful
in their tension. The sinews stood out
like whip-eords; hands, arms, head and
shoulders were as motionless, as rigid as
the iron frame which held this picture
out to the terrified crowd below.
The great iron pillar settled, and
| swayed: the eyes below expanded with
terror. The pillar dropped at least half
an inch, and those beneath it measured
their existence by hairs breadth. A
simultaneous groan arose. The face
above grew a shade paler; the teeth
were shown a trifle plainer: but no
sound issued from the lips.
4 craven spirit crouched ont of sheer
dread; the studding post suddenly re-
lieved of his pressure, snapped Ike a
pipe stem; in an instant the lower end
of the massive pillar crashed through the
frail framework beneath it, and three
human lives were blotted out utterly:
two miserable wretches were writhing
in mortal agony beneath the irresistible.
I
pinned them fast to the earth. Still five
others were held fast among the timbers,
where they wriggled helplessly rs rats
in trap.
| The cry of horror that rose upon the
calm morning air carried dismay to the
hearts of the villagers. Doors were flung
open in blind haste; men, women and
children, in response TO the cry, congre-
gated swiftly, only TO raise their weak
hands aloft, while others beat the air
helplessly and broke out i'm sobS.
Out of all this disorder and frantic
terror arose the voice oil Il single woman,
tense WIN leeiiilS'
are there no men mere 10 nelp save
tile ll'es ol tliose III Jeoparuy brIiig
posts. Ietch poards- ahytiiilS tiiat VIII
give them ciahce 10 escape from De-
leath 'iie cracAihS liiiper;
anu instantly men, anu Woliieh' 700,
prouSh. i9Sether, d II py IiiaSic' Qua
posts, girders, po'irua anu iron rous.
simultaneously, those who were help
ing and those who were looking on
weakly began TO encourage those who
We're IN the death trap, with hopeful and
comforting words. For those who were
already dead there was time only for
.''' hii'se ''i'A INV a. ''iN Foci
wretches that quivered III the long
drawn death agony were Incessantly
commended to their merciful Maker.
III any among all those present gave a
moments thought to the criminal negli-
genee which brought death to the door
OF i've families, 1t was unuttered. When
all was over, and coroner jury placed
the responsibility upon the propriefors
tHlrnrH hllrltIlIpS InnrRtl
upon the murderous greed OF money
which caused the accident were plenti-
full.
Prank said woman's voice-the
same whose words stirred up. and whose
presence sustained the workers. Bob is
held fast. II you can oaly hold on a fer
minutes or seconds lonGer. The rest are
all free-that is. all that ever will be. -
Then the eager, hopeful faces of the
workers below were upturned again ap-
pealinglv to the window. But only for
a moment. The sight that met their
gaze sent shiver throughout the group.
What with the sudden lar. and the
strain upon the single remaining rope.
which was attached 10 the INNER Dortion
of the iron window frame, the last. |
which lowered nearly half its height
above the new brick work. was slowly |
but surely pivinr way. II rcauired bur
a glance To see that the Welding brick
work around it would be torn out bv the !
Meight of the east iron pillar. The |
marvel was that one pair of arms. how
ever well braced their owner might be. !
had managed thus far to hold the pillar
in its upright position.
But the hands that crashed the block
and tackle line seemed TO be endowed |
with supernatural mower. As the awe |
stricken crowd .azed up at him. the /
voice of Frank Kennedy responded TO |
his sister in hard, level tones, his eye |
meanwhile taking iii the crowd at Il
single sweep.
''Get Bob free. | can't hold ont much !
longer. Something or other must give
soon."
Upon hearing which, the work of free
ing Bob Kennedy was resumed frantic |
ally at the risk of death to the workers. !
Men worked with the frenzy of despair, /
not to free one brother alone, but to save
the lives of both. Could Bob he freed, |
there remained a chance for Frank. Ii |
was ten chances to one, but by exerting |
powerful effort, if the worst came, he
might spring clear of the falling wall.
''Work for your lives.'' shouted
Frank, suddenly.
Such as looked up at him then saw !
the blood tricklmg from his lower lip /
down upon his beard. Several drops fell
upon his bare arm. The veins over his
temples swelled and knotted; his eyes,
like his face, took on stony expression;
the blood receded from cheek and lip,
and the features suddenly became as dis
tinct and sharp in their set expression as
though they had been cast in bronze.