The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-09-13
A TRAMP,s REVENGE.
Erie Special to Philadelphia Press.

A thrilling scene was witnessed
last night at the burning of saw
mill on the Six>Mile creek, south of
Wesley vile, a few miles from this
city One of the owners, Dallas
Crawford, drove from his premises
gang of tramps who requested food
and lodging, but were unwilling to
work few hours 10 payment. A
vagrant who refused to go, and drew
a deadly weapon, received the con
tents of a shot gun in bis leg. He
lurked around several days, waiting
for revenge. After supper on the
evening of the I'd, he saw Mr..
Crawford's two little daughters en-
ter the mill, on the upper floor of
which a play room had been parti-
toned off for them. Following them
the wretch fastened the door, while
the children we're playing inside.
Descending to the basement he piled
heaps of inaamable material in sew
eral points and then set the whole on
fire. The fend's intention was to
burn the girls alive, in retaliation for
the shot imbedded in his flesh by
their father. 10 few moments the
lower portion of the mill was envel-
oped iu flames. IngresS or egress
alike were cut off and the girls seem>
ed doomed to die the most agoniz>
ing of deaths.
They crawled through hole upon
the roof, bot were afraid to jump, as
the distance was thirty five feet and
the ground thickly dotted with jag
ged boulders. No ladders were avail
able, nor could the flames have per-
mitted their use if at hand. The
father and spectators turned away
sickened, momentariIy expecting to
see the rafters yield and the children
disappear into the roaring flames.
The mother shrieking that if her
darliOgs could not be saved she
would perish with them, rushed to
the blazing building, but strong
arms prevented the execution of her
frenzied resolution. At this instant
deliverer appeared, young farms
er named Alfred K. Bonnoll, carry
ing coil of rope to which was fas
tened strong iron hook. Hastily
strapping climbing irons to his legs.
he assembled tall oak tree near the
mill. In a moment he stood on
limb high above the children, who
gszed at him with eager eyes. The
young man threw the rope SO pre-
cisely that the hook caught in the
smaller girls dress. Drawing the
cord hand over hand, the girl swung
clear and was lowered safely into her
fathers arm.
The crowd stood like statues as
BonneII cast his hook q second time
to snatch a human life from death
that but a few seconds before appear
ed inevitable He succeeded in get
ting the rope to the other child, who
soon hung suspended in the air, her
cIuthiug catching fire as she left the
perilous place. She was saved, how
ever, without being much burned.
When the intr epid hero regsined the
earth he sank down overpowered by
intense excitement, and was carried
away not second too soon for the
safety of himself and friends. The
boiler in the burning mill, surround
ed by mass of glariug Goals, ex>
ploded, the defamation being heard
for miles, Fragments of iron plates,
red hot farming machines, and fam
ing timbers were hurled hundreds of
feet, though, fortunately, not per
son was Injured. The incendiary
tramp fed from the scene of his
crime on stolen horse, and escaped
the vengeance of the furious farmers.