Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1882-02-04

nv ASl'oit tiS t1uc. me Jam Wis
iaeld IL place By single timber-a
great square stick. doubtless torn by the
angry waters from some bridge far up
the country. If that could be cut, the
blockade would be broken, the ice would
no longer clog the stream, and the mills
woull be saved.
For a moment silence fell upon all;
then, suddenly, Mr. Watterson' voice,
hoarse and thin, rang ont above the
noise Of the storm and the war of the
waters.
ga thousand dollars to the man who
will cut that timber!"
The women in the little grour looked
at eaclr other and shuddercd; the lnen
fixed their eyes upon the dam; but no
one replied. The rear Of the angry
strean, increased and the waters deep
cned beneath the mill-walls.
1.-Two thousand dollars!'
The proprietor's voice was hoarser
than before; but the women closed their
lips firmly and shook their heads The
men moved littlo uneasily, and one
drew his hand across his mouth, as if
he would have spoken; but still no one
replied, and the white foam from the
imprisoned river was tossed by the wind
against the lower windows of the mills,
while the corners OF the buildings were
already beginning to crllmble and waste
away bcfore the grinding ice.
''Three thou"
81 will go.'
The two voices sounded 50 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
Kunning from third story window
Of the lower mill directly across the
river above the dam, was long end
less chain. used to convey power from
the mighty water-whcel Of the mill to
the machinery OF Ii tie box factory
located upon the opposite bank. This
chain was at rest now, and there APP
peared ut the window near it the figure
Of . boy, in a blue blouse, carrying
in his hands an ak. He it was who had
said Il will go!'
When the people saw him, and real
lied what he was about to attempt (for
already he had fastened a rope around
his body and was passing the end over
the chain, evidently with the attention
of sliding along the same until he found
point from which he could lower him
st If within reach of the TIMBER; when
| they roa1ized tins great murmur went
up from the crowd, and the women
cried out III terror, while many turned
to Mr.. Watterso and urged him to order
! the boy back
"Who is he." said the proprietor, in a
dazed manner
"It's Jerry. sir. Jerr, the bobbin-
boy SAID q man. stepping forward.
An orphan, sir, an strven to care
for lls siok sister.
Jerry! Is it Jerry?'. cried Mr. Wat
tcrson, turning quickly. Then he
shall not CO." and he waved his hand
and shouted toward the window: "Go
back. Go buck!"
But already it was too late, for, with
a little cry, the boy dropped from his
perch and hung swinging above the
roaring, grinding ice, the rope which
supported him sliding slowly downward
along the chain toward the center of the
dam. The breathlcss crowd, the terror
stricken proprietor, could only watch
and wait now.
Slowly and dunevenly the looped rope
from which Jerry was suspended slippcs
link ny link down the sa9ging chain.
slowly his feet ncarcd the great mass of
of ragged ice beneath. Atlength, when
dem. and just above the long beam
which held the jam, allowing the rope
to slide quickly through his hands, he
dropped lightly upon the timber he had
come to cut.
At the sight the sympathe tic crowd broke
into wild cheer, both men and women;
but Jerry wasted no time listening. A
..moment, half moment lost might
mean destruction to the mills. and be-
fore the echo of the shouting had ceased
he was plying his axe with vigorous
strokes, that rang sharp and clear above
the voice of crumbling ice and gather
ing waters.
twas nota long task. The train upon
the timber already was enormous, and
ere the lal had dealt half score Of blows
an cnlinous cracking sound warned him
tina: his errand was accomplished and
that he must be gone.
Dropping the axe he turned, seized
the dangling rope, and began to clint
toward the chain above, when, with. q
shock like the repor. of cannon, the
beam gave way. and III an instant, il
the twinklinS OF al eye, the air was
filled with "a horrible roaring rs the i'm.
prisoaei water burst ting bonds which
had confined them, and " one impetu.
ous boiling flood rushed over the dam,
tossing the great cake, OF ice that had
formed the barrier high on the frothinc
wa,es-so high that they hid from sigh;
the form oipoor Jerry-ald there wen,
up from all the people single cry
The boy Is lost
Bu, the jam was broken, Tie mills
:" were saved.
And jerry was saved too, Bruised
and stunned aud bleeding hanging hall
i,4-cDs:hle above the black waters tla,
swept with terribly swift curve 10.
ward the fall. when ,Ac Ice that had
hidden him had pas el away, ,l.e
watchers saw ,ha, the lsov sill lived
and. aaicke, than It can he. told, = boa,
wa. procured and manned. long line
male .a,, 40 it, and dropping down ,he