Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-19
TRAMPs SET FIRE To A SAW
MILL.
Rescue of Two Little Girls From
the Burning BuiIding-An Ex-
traOrdinary Display of Hero
ism.

Erie pa Special to Cleveland Leader.
A thrilling scene was witnessed
last night at the burning Of a saw mill
on Che Six Mile creek. south Of Wes>
leyyille, a few miles from this city.
One Of the owners, Mr.. Dallas Craw-
ford, drove a gang Of tramps, who re-
qqested food and lodging but were not
willing to work few hours in payment,
from his premises. A vagrant who
refused TO go, and drew a deadly
weapon, received the contents Of a
shotgun IN his legs. Helurked around
several days waiting for revenge.
After supper last evening he saw Mr..
Crawford's two little daughters enter
the mill, on the upper floor Of which
a play room had been parti!ioned off
Tor them. Following, be fastened the
door while they played with their toys,
then descending to the basement he
piled heaps Of inAammable material
at several points, which he set on FIRE
The fend's intention was to burn the
girls alive, in retaliation for the shot
imbedded 10 his flesh BY their father.
Soon the lower portion OF the mill was
enyeloped in flames, ingress or egress
alike were cut of aud the girls seemed
doomed TO die the most agonizlng Of
deaths They cfawled through a hole
upon the roof, but we're afraid TO jump,
as the distance was 30 feet and the
ground thiekly dotted with Jagged
powders. No ladders were available,
nor could they be used even If at
hand. The spectators turned away
s%ickened, mOmentarily expecting to
see the rAfters yield and
the ohil-re disappear into the roar
ing flames, while the mother, shrek
ing hat if her darlings could not be
saved she would perish with them,
rushed toward the blazing building.
Strong arms thwsTted her f1enzied
resolve. A deliverer appeared, a
young farmer, Alfred X. Bonnell,
carrying a coil Of rope to which was
fastened a strong iron hook, Hastily
strapping climbing irons to his legs,he
ascended a tall oak tree near the mill,
and in a moment stood on q limb high
above the children, who gazed up at
him as upon a saving angel. The
young man threw the.rope so precisely
that the hook caught in the smaller
girls dress. Drawing the cord hand
over hand she swung clear, and was
lowered safely into her fathers arms.
The crowd stood like statues Of stone
as Mr.. Bonnell cast his hook a second
time to snatch a human life from a
death that but a few seconds ago sp
peared inevitable. He succeeded 10
getting the rope to the other child,
who soon swung suspended in the air,
her clothing catching FIRE as she left
the perilous place, but she was saved
without being much burned When
the intrepid hero regained the earth
he sank down overpowered by intense
excitement, and was carried away not
q second too soon for the safety Of
himself and his friends. The boiler,
surrounded bya mass Of glowing Goals,
exploded, and the defamation was
heard for miles. Fragments Of iron
red hot machines and flaming
were hurled hundreds of feet,
though, fortunately, not a person was
The incendiary tramp fed
from the seem Of his devilish deed on
a stolen horse, and escaped the ven
geance Of the furious farmers.