Daily globe., 1878-06-07


Effort.
(San Francisco News Letter.
If there is one genuine and noble attribute
still inhabiting poor, fallen human nature, it
is the godiike instinct of assisting ones fell
low-men in moments. of hidden distress and
unlooked-for physical danger. Upon occa-
sions when human life hangs in the balance,
nothing is more touching and creditable than
the manner in which personal comfort and
safety is at once forgotten, aud friends and
foes join with equal ardor in such vital emer-
gencies. This truth was illustrated with pe-
culiar force yesterday afternoon, as many of
our readers are already aware. A couple of
children, playing at the corner of Pine and
Kearny streets, heard proceeding from the
sewer opening faint aud evidently much
e1hausted-voice calling for help. Some one
apparently child, had evidently fallen down
the trap and was in imminent danger of
suffocation. The news was soon COM
| municated to the passers-by, and in few
| moments tools were brought and the pave
ment was being rapidly torn up. In short
time dense and excited crowd had congre-
gated, and the sand and stones few in per-
| feet shower. No one held back. Kid-gloved
dandles took their places besides sturdy dray-
men. AS fast as one man came up exhausted,
another promptly stepped into his place.
Gen. McCOmbs weil-known form could be
seen in the midst of the workers, while
Auditor Maynard desperately tore up the
compact soil with his bare fingers. At in
tervals the faint voice from the sewer could
be heard gasping: ':Help! Hurry up!' and
the like. Col. Barnes came by, shouting
some encouraging words down the hideous
opening, and, flinging aside his coat, seized
just-relinquished pick. BY his side, with
clenched teeth and dripping brow, his enemy
of the day before, Frank Pixley, worked q
heavy crowbar. At this juncture the scene
was rendered more intense by the appear
ance of poor woman from neighborine
alley. She had inst missed her little boy
and, with the unerring intuition of matern
ity, guessed it was her Johnny who wal
slowly smothering down in that frightfu
hole. With terrified shrieks, she ternately
wrung her hands and covered her face will
her apron. The sight of the poor crushed
creature brought tears into the eyes of many
a stalwart man present. "Would they be too
late?' was the whisper that passed from on.
pale by-stander to the other. Jasper Nc
Donald fell out of the ranks of the digger
| duO Ady upOA Iuc oiuoWdAh, uILcTly worn OuL
and Barton Hill, the actor, stepped into hi
place. Mayor Bryant threw his oficia
dignity to the winds, and though equipped
with nothing but piece of tln-can; di,
good service. The brokers, coming up from
the just closed board, pitched in with a will
Sandy Austin came near being submerged
by the caving earth, as the pit deepened, ant
Turnbull in few minutes looked as though
he had been resurrected by the last trump
Eren some Of the ,oorkingmen's party lent
hand. In just % minutes from the frs
alarm the sewer-level was reached. The las
spadeful of earth was thrown aside by MI
Scott of Wells Fargo, when, amid tn
deafenlng cheers of the immense crowd, th
little prisoner emerged, dripping and almos
dead, from his critical position. 1t was
parrot, that had left its perch in front of
neighboring blrd-store and had fallen dow
the trap, and-but that's all.