The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-16
FIGHTING FOR LIFE ON A ROOF.
The Terrible Adventure Suggested by
the Words Of Sleeping Wife.
[Faom the Detroit Free Press. ]

IFaom the Detroit Free Press.
One Of the most fearful struggles ever
engaged in by two men occurred within
three blocks Of the Free Press Office on Fri
day night, about midnight One Of the
actors is an old citizen, much respected,
and is at present under the doctors care.
His wife has been dangerously i'll for sew
eral days, and the name is suppressed at the
earnest request of the physician, who has
closed the house against callers. The citi-
zen is proprietor Of a store, and though the
doors are always closed early in the even
ing, he has for the past few evenings been
busily closing up the years business, and
has sometimes remained till nine or ten
o'clock. On Friday he remained at his
desk until ten o'clock. AS be was ready
to go out he thought he smelled smoked,
and he took candle and assembled to the
second story. Here, while the smoke of
burning cigar was strongly apparent, he
failed to trace 1t in any particular direc-
tion, and at length doubted whether he
really scented smoke at all. After care
full search he descended to the office, waited
few minutes longer and then started for
home.
The merchant lives in the northern part
of the City, and at eleven o'clock he was in
his wife's sick room, slippers and dressing
gown on. She was feeling much better
that day, and was sleeping as he entered
. fhsaa hn a q Aha i
who had been called to house near by,
stepped in to see if the change was still for
the better. The two men were whispering
together when the sick lady moved uneasi-
ly and called out:
HE ought to have searched the third
story, tool"
Did the words refer to her husband's IS
search of the second story of the store, or
were they the speech of some curious
dream? No one knows yet, as she is too i'll
to talk. The nurse, doctor, and husband
heard the words plainly, and all heard
alike. They made no impression on the
first two, but the physician had no sooner
departed than the husband at once set out
for the store, nervous and fearful. He
reached il in half an hour, and finding ev.
erything all right on the outside, he hesi
tated about going in. After a moment he
saw a policeman a block and half away
and he unlocked the door, passed in ant
struck a light. The odor of cigar smoke
was strong enough now.
The merchant had no firearms, and as b,
, looked up the dark stairway he picked NJ
the coal-shaker for weapon. HI,
, heard no noise on the second floor. Hi
. wife's words forced him to ascend the mex
flight of stairs. There are but few good
on the third floor, and sometimes it is rot
visited for two days at a time. Everything
seemed TO be all right, but as the merchan
J cast his eyes aloft he saw that the scuttle
, hole in the roof was open. A ladder led t.
3 the roof az a fire escape, and one coul'
, traverse whole block on the roofs. Th
man placed his light on the floor and as
f cended the ladder, thinking perhaps som
careless hand had left the scuttle open. Fl
e had not the least fear now, and went bold
{ ly ahead. The door was thrown back o
3 the roof, so that he must go clear W
D As he stepped out on the roof and rose ul
he staggered or slipped, and this fact sav
ed his life. A powerful blow from a clu
p just missed his head, and so great had bee
= the force exerted by the striker that tn
e club flew from his hands and rolled alon
'f the graveled roof to the water-trough. Th
y
g was stranger on the roof were made at tt
IS same instant, and before the merchant ha
Il fairly Strengthened up, the assassin ha
e clutched his throat and bent him over Q
It the roof.
is The merchant threw up his hands an
If caught the fellow by the hair, and his SUI
re den jerk was followed by an exclamatic
J. of pain. The robber broke his hold ar
lie started to escape, but the other had on
of reached his feet when the fellow returne
N to the attack. They clinched each 9th
se without a word. The assassin was Il
a stronger, but the merchant the more agil
h They were below the scuttle, and natural
~ worked toward the caves. Indeed, Il
re stranger soon betrayed the fact that it W
as his plan TO throw the merchant into Il
e alley. He could pick him up, but as
ii attempted to move along, the mercha
would trip his legs. They struck each 9th
Or with their fists-they seized new holds
n they strained every nerve for an ad vantag
as and twice they rolled over and over on Il
or roof All this without a word. One d
ne not dare raise a cry, and the other kne
n that his life depended on his own despera
's- efforts.
en- At one time the two men stood on t
in very edge of the roof, straining and tn
I'd ging. If one went the other must CO. al
ed after a glimpse into the dark alley belc
a both instnctively drew back. The assass
now began TO breathe heavily, as il losi
ed his wind, and the merchant forced t
'as fight. Had he been a little stronger
ry might have captured the fellow, as he tri
is ped him twice in succession, but could n
et hold him down. As they were struggli
up from the last fall the merchant receiv
70 L. l. Al.
en- made him weak and almost helpless. I'll
nd opportunity was seized by the assassin
ty escape. He ran off over the roof, b