The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-12-19

got weaker, so that be did not turn
himself up so far in trying to reach
the loop where bis ankle was caught:
and at last be hung there, swinging
gently to and fro only moving bis
hands.
By this time Psrson, |, and two
more had got to the belfry door, and
we ran painting up the dark stair
case till we got upon the leads.
Hold on, joey" shouted. I'm
coming
Make haste" be cried back faint
", "I'm about done"
By this time | was about ten feet
up, and climbing as hard as could.
forgetting all the danger in the ex-
element: for | don't think | should
have dared to go up on another oc-
casion.
Itwas very hard work, and as |
climbed the wind seemed to blow ter
ribly; but | got up and up. painting
as | did till at last | was clinging 50,
there with one foot resting on q
crockett, wondering what | should do
now
/ Look sharp, lad" said poor Joey.
cit seems as all my blood was run.
ming into my head"
| leaned over and got hold of the
rope close to his ankle, but do any
thing more / could not. | had all
the viii in the world to help the poor
fellow, but it took all my strength tc
keep myself with one band from fal
ling, and as to raising my old com
panion, neither had the strength mol
the idea as to how it could be done
The only way out of the difficulty
seemed to take out my knife and cut
the rope, and then the poor fellow
would be killed
"Come down." criad a voice be
meath me.
And looking towards the leads
there was Psrson, stripped to his
shirt and trousers. and with coil o
rope over his shoulder-for the new
well rope had proved to be long
enough to let him cut off some five
and thirty feet.
Don't leave me-" groaned joey
who was half fsinting. II feel a
if / should fall any moment. l say
lad. this is very awful"
"Here's parson coming up"
said.
And so it was; for be went to th,
row of crockets on the other side o
Joey, who now hung, looking blu
I in the face, and with his eyes closed
"He must make haste - max
! haste," he moaned softly.
/ stopped, holding on, while Par
} son climbed up quicker than eithe
of us bad done it, drawing himsel
up by bis arms in a wonderful wa,
till he was abreast Of US two-m
holding on and joey hanging BY on
foot.
As soon as Parson reached us b
said few words of encouragement
to joey, who did not speak a wore
, and then climbing higher, tied th
, short rope be carried to the long rop
r just above the loop knot which bel
Joey's ankle. Then coming down
little, be tied bis rope tightly aroun
, joey, just under the armpits,
: THAT will bear you my lad. BU
catch fast hold of it with your hand
; while / cut your foot freen
Climbing up higher once more, b
; pulled out his knife, opened it wit
bis teeth, and then began to ss
] through the strands # the rope ths
held Joey's ankle, till there was
: snap, a jerk, and heavy swinging I
and fro, for the poor fellow had falle
e two or three feet, and was now ban.
, ling by the rope round his breas
right way upwards.
He did not make any effort for
few minutes, and as cheer after chet
!, came to Us from below, he swun
i there, with US holding on for def
g life.
I" "Can you climb down now, Rance
d said Parson. ''if l cut you free?n
"No, sir" be said, hoarsely, '1''
= no use in my arms or legs they're ;
s pins and needless
"Then We must lower you down
said Parson, calmly.
e And getting hold of the long pie
l. of rope, be climbed up once more,
r. coolly as if be was on an apple-trt
', in his orchard, and seeing the knc
le were fast; then, comingdown, he pas
ID ed his long rope through the Of
D. round Joey's breast, and tied it aga
round him.
sr Now" be said, "Fincher and
to will hold on by this rope, and "
r can let him work it over his heaG
1t and then with Parson striding frt
II, the crockets on the one angle to the
N on the other, and me holding On
D. the rope az well, we let him dov
at sliding, with bis back to the stol
k, till his feet touched the leads, wh
lit be fell down all OF heap.
or unite the rope said Parse
Ok "and get him down"
i'd He spoke very boarsely, shouts
to them below; and a cheer came !
lv Now, incher," said Parson, eve
q got to get down"
r. As be spoke, be made q runni
as moose in the rope with the end
W had 10 his hand, let it run up to
d, big moose, and pulled it tight
Is, Then be made an effort to get
H. legs together on one angle; but
lis distance be had been bending v
en too great, and be couldn't reco'
'g himself, but swung away
bis hands.
.. II can't help it, Fincber-I N
:. go first" be cried.
a. And he was already sliding do
the rope rs he spoke; but was
yn unnerved and giddy now that / da
he not look down.
70. / believe l quite lost my head Il
ip- for few moments; for l was cling
be there for life hundred and tive
ed feet above the ground, and the VI
en- seemed to be trying to push me Fl
my hold.
at Twas brought to myself, thou
'ut just as the landscape about me SCI
We ed to be spinning round, by feel