Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-30

piled, and the white foam from the i'm
prisoned river was tossed by the wind
against the lower windows of the mills,
while the corners of the buildings were
already beginning to crumble and waste
away before the grinding ice.
"Three thou"
"I will go!"
The two voices sounded so closely to-
gether that it was not until the crowd
turned their eyes upward and saw the
one who had answered that they fairly
understood the reply.
Running from third-story window OF
the lower mill directly across the river,
above the dam, was long, endless
chain, used to convey power from the
mighty water-wheel of the mills of the
machinery of little box factory located
upon the opposite bluff. This chain was
at rest now, and there appeared at the
window near it the figure of boy, in a
blue blouse, carrying in his hands an
axe. He it was who had said, CT will
go!'
When the people saw him and realized
what he was about to attempt (for al
ready he had fastened rope around his
body and was passing the other end over
the chain, evidently with the intention
of sliding along the same until he found
a point from which he could lower him.
self within reach of the timber); when
they realized this, great murmur went
up from the crowd, and the women cried
out in terror, while many turned to Mr.
Watterson and urged him to order the
boy back. >,
a dazed manner.
cts Jerry, sir, Jerry, the bobbin-
boy" said man stepping forward.
can orphan, sir, an strivin' to care for
his sick sister,
"Jerry ! Is it Jerry?' cried Mr.. Wat
terson, turning quickly. "Then he
shall not 60" and he waved his hand
and shouted toward the window: eco
back! Go back p
| But already it was too late, for, with a
little cry, the boy dropped from his
perch and hung swinging above the roar
ing, grinding ice, the rope which cup
ported him sliding slowly downward
| along the chain toward the center of the
dam. The breathless crowd, the terror
stricken proprietor could only watch and
wait now.
Slowly and unevenly the Topped rope
from which Jerry was suspended slipped
link by link, down the sagging chain;
slowly his feet neared the great mass of
ragged ice beneath. At length, when he
was directly over the center of the dam,
and Just above the long beam which held
the jam, allowing the rope to slide quick
~ through his hands, he dropped lightly
upon the timber he had come to cut
At the sight the sympathetic crowd
broke into wild cheer, both men and
women; but Jerry wasted no time listen
! ing. A moment, half moment lost
might mean destruction to the mills, and
before the echo of the shouting had
ceased he was plying his axe with vigor-
GUS strokes, that rang sharp and clear
above the voice of crumbling ice and
gathering waters.
1t was not long task. The strain
upon the timber already was enormous,
and ere the lad had dealt half score OF
blows an ominous cracking sound warn
ed him that his errand was accomplish
ed, and that he must be gone.
Dropping the axe, he turned, seized
the dangling rope, and began to climb
toward the chain above, when, with q
shock like the report of a cannon, the
beam gave way, and in an instant, in the
twinkling of an eye, the air was filled
with a horrible roaring, as the imprison-
ed waters burst the bonds which had
confined them, and in one impetuous,
boiling food, burst over the dam, tossing
the great cakes of ice that had formed
the barrier high on the frothing waves
80 high that the hid from sight the form
of poor Jerry-and there went up from
the people single cry: ''He is lost =
But the jam was broken! The mills
were saved
X
And Jerry was saved, too! Bruised
and stunned and bleeding, hanging halt
insensible above the black waters that
swept with swift curve toward the fall,
when the ice that had buffeted him had
passed away, the watchers saw that the
boy still lived; and quicker than it can
be told, boat was procured and man
ned, long line made fast to it, and
dropping down the stream until they
were close to him, tender hands were up
raised, loving voices called out, and with
a long, sobbing cry the little hero let &C
his grasp upon the rope which held him
| c"hCt I'LL 4hCO UIC Wd4OiuS dIA1S
below.
x
To-day the great mills still stand by
the rivers brink, and the rumble of then
machinery is heard all day long as Of old
but it does not reach the ears of the
bobbin-boy,'' nor yet those of Sister
| Nellie. For the one is at college and
the other at school, both foster children
of that most pleasant of old bachelors,
the proprietor himself; and it is only al
vacation time now when his days are
frightened by the appearance of both
his loved ones, that Mr.. Watterson's
memory turns back to that spring time,
Long gone by, when Jerry, in simple,
soulful gratitude, risked his life to save
the mills.
Yards of Red Tape.
Capitalization and red tape seem tc
have reached their most perfect develop