Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-09-03
A TRAMP'S REVENGE.
ATTEMPTS ro BUnS 'rwo CHILDREN.
shot by n M,iier some days Boiorc, ne sets
fire Ia tho Miii-A Noble Rescue IN
the NICK of Time


Shot by M,iier some days Boiorc, he sets
fire to tho Miii.--A Noble Rescue IN
the Nick OF Time
A thrilling scene was witnessed Satur-
day night ut the burning of saw mill on
the Six mile creek, south of Wesley, u fow
miles from Erie. Ono Of tho owners,
Dallas Crawford, drove from his promises
a gang OF tramps who requested food and
lodging, but were unwilling TO work few
hours in payment. A vagrant who refused
to 20, and drew deadly weapon, received
the contents Of shot gun In his leg. lie
lurkcd around several days, waiting for
revenge. After supper Friday evening he
saw Mr.. Crawford's two little daughters
entor the MILL on the upper floor Of which
play room had been partitioned off for
them. Following them the wretch fast
ened tho door, while tho children wero
playing inside. Descending to tho base
ment he piled heaps of inlimmablo ma.
terial in several points and then set the
whole on fire. The iicnd's intention was
to burn the girls alive, in retaliation for
the shot imbedded in his flesh by their
father. In q few moments the lower por.
tion of the mill was enveloved in flames.
lngrcss or egress alike were cut off and
the girls seemed doomed to die the most
agouizlng deaths.
They crawled through a hole upon the
roof, but were afraid to jump. as the dis.
tance was thirty five feet and tho ground
thickly dotted with Jagged boulders. No
ladders were available, nor could the
flames have permitted their use oven il at
hand. Tho father and spectators turned
away siCkened, momcntarily expecting to
see the rafters yield and the children dis
appear into the roaring flames. The
mother, shrieking that if her darlings
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 a
| dclivcror appeared, young farmer named
| Alfred X. BJnnell, carrying a coil OF rope
to which was fastened a strong iron hook.
| Hastily strapping climbing irons to his
legs, he assembled a tall oak tree near the
| mill. In a moment he stood on limb
high above the children. who gazed at
him with eager eyes. The young man
threw the rope so precisely tha. the hook
caught in the smaller girls dress. Draw
ing the cord hand over hand, the girl
swung clear and was lowered safely into
her fathers arms.
The crowd stood like statues as BOnncl
cast bis hook second time 20 snatch {
human life from a death that but few
seconds before appeared inevitable. HC
succeeded in getting the rope TO the othe
child, who soon hung suspended in thu
air, her clothing catching fire as she lei
the porlous place. She was saved, how
ever, without being much burned. Whei
the intrepid hero regained the earth h,
sank down overpowered by intense excite
meut, and was carried away not secon,
too soon for the safety Of himself auC
friends. The boiler in the burning mill
surrounded by mass of glaring Goals
exploded, the detonation being heard 10
miles. Fragments of iron plates, red ho
farming machines, and flaming timber
were hurled hundreds OF feet, thougl
fortunately, not person was Injured
The iucendiary tramp fed from tho seen
of his crime on a stolen horse, and escape,
the vengeance of the furious farmers.