The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-07-16
aMr window must have been that


yonder. AT any rate, a heavy body
dropped from it would have struck
plumb in the middle of that Bravo
Stone there, and given it the zigzag
fracture which you e upon it.
l am perfectly certain of this you
will presently be aware
well, there we were all stationed,
and it was fast growing dark. All
the great ribs of the dome, as far as
l could see and all the cornices, frie-
yes, columns aud parapets surround
ing the piazza, three hundred feet be-
low, were traced out in paper lanterns
which cleaned with silvery fire that
had a most fairy-like and marvellous
effect.
Scattered among these paper lam
terms, at different intervals, all over
the roof and dome facing the plaza,
we're iron cups, filed with tallow and
turpentine. 70 light these with our
torches was the perilous task Of the
gang to which ! belonged, and then
the illumination would be complete.
"a moment of intense suspense
elapsed. The darker the evening
grew the brighter the little lanterns,
while the surging hum OF the thou
sands in the plaza and streets below
rose louder and louder to our ears.
al felt the quickening breath of
the assistant at my shoulder could
hear the beating on my own heart.
Suddenly, the first signal flew from
lip to lip. l got out instantly and
straddled the board; there came the
second signal and | seized the torch;
with the third i found myself launch
ed, and lighting every cup as l Gid
ed past, saw oil the enormous dome
above and below me spring into lines
of gorgeous, dazzling flame. The
bells began to toll, and q great, ocean
like roar arose from the multitude be-
low, seeming to shake the very roof
against which | was clinging, and
feeling like the tiniest atom in the
immensely of my danger.
"But, having dropped safely to the
full length of the rope, and lighted
nv full share of iron cups, | was real
ly at this moment sitting in C
enjoyment of the stupendous scene.
IAN at once, | felt the rope vibrate!
/ looked up-l saw q mar clinging
with one hand 20 an iron rod, and
with the other-saints of heaven!
what did | see? 1t was my fellow
convict, Pedro Valdcmar, firing the
rope above me with his torch!
II acted upon INSTINCT had nc
time for thought. Everything was
done in one fearful moment. clam
bered up like a cat--I dashed my
torch full in his felon-face and then
clutched the rope an inch or two
above the spot where it was burning.
Utterly blinded and bafied, he ut
tered an awful cry and dropped like
a stone. Then he bounded like an
India rubber ball, down the rounded
roof, and over into the abyss.
"Well that is the whole story, Sc
nor. When Pedro was picked up
from the stone tagging of the plaza,
there wasn't q whole bone in his
body, and his mother wouldn't have
recognized him.
"Yonder broken stone marks the
place where be alighted, and one Of
the holy fathers gave me permission to
scratch upon it the inscription which
it has borne ever since-'The Doom
of the Bravo as it would read in En-
gllsh."
"But how were you saved your
self" l exclaimed, almost horror
stricken with his story.
"Cardmba ! i never exactly knew
MYSELF said the muleteer, drawing
a long breath, as be rolled and light
ed my last cigarette. Scarcely had
the bravo's death shrek ceased ring
ing in my ears when l found myself
being hauled up. The assistance
came not a moment too soon, for /
was sick and giddy with horror, and
swooned dead away as soon as | was
safe inside the window.
THE next day | waited on the
general superintendent, and told him
how it all had happened. The va
cant rope by which Pedro descended,
and the burnt fragment by which /
mad been drawn up, sufficiently cor
roborated my statement, which was
afterward repeated to the archbish-
op and others high in authority.
al not only received much sympa-
thy but some pecuniary assistance;
and for a long time they gave me lu-
c~rative mental employment about the
cathedral here, which was finally
lost to me, however, through my own
folly, and-must | say it? my love of
a~guardiente, as well. Bat somehow /
was never the same man after that
horror of the dome.
what these four reals for my
simple story But you Americaaos
are always generous! MiAes gra-
cias, senior! See here comes the
padre to take charge of you again,
and | have only bored you for hall
al hour. Buenos dios, senior ~