Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-01-02
A Terrible Scene.

Mrs. Staver and her two daughters,
both grown and one an invalid, occupy
an upper suit of apartments in the six
story fiat house No. 12l West Eleventh
street. Early on Monday morning the
mother and daughters were in their
rooms awaiting the arrival of softie
friends who were to take tho invalid
girl to hospital for treatment. Sud-
denly the girl got up from her chair,
and, saying: Mamma, dear, can not
stay in this room; it is so close-let mo
60 for little air." ran lightly up the
stairs and disappeared through the attic
door. The younger sister followed some
time after. apparently not fearing any
danger. As she reached the roof she
was Mortified. to see the girl sitting on
the coping. She called her mother,
and, as the latter reached the roof, the
girl, bending down and catching hold
of the cornice with her two hands,
swung herself over. The paved yard
was six stories below. Tie mother,
with shrek, rushed forward and caught
the girl by the arm just as she was re-
laxing her grasp on the cornice.
The daughter struggled violently.
"Let me go" she cried again and
again. ~ want to die! Iwant TO diet"
The mother, with a strength that
seemed supernatural, still held the girl,
although her whole weight now de-
pended upon the mothers grasp. But
the sister came to her assistance and
both called Historically for aid. Their
cries" Save her! Help, helpr' rang
through all the neighborhood. Some
children in the yard below shrieked
Men came to the windows, and, after a
brief look, rushed for the stairs and to
the street. Everybody shouted for help
A lady in the apartment below, with
a gentleman beside her, leaned far out
from window directly under the strug-
Cling girl. But she could barely reach
unon oSn,s could secure slight hold
this hold she Sks kssp pStaver's ankles, and
danger, somewhat che great personal
girls efforts to get frtg tne napiess
mothers frantic grasp. Pun M nei
evident to the shuddering s, was
tors that in moment mors
the strength Of the women above must
give out and that the crazed girl must
plunge down to death. carrying with
her, by her weight, the brave lady be.
low her, and perhaps the mother and
sister. In this supreme moment Of sus.
pense, above the cries of mother and
daughter and onlookers, the girl
shrieked loudly: "Let me drop! twill
be better for me! Iwant to go!' Then
a young girl rushed on the roof and
gave her feeble aid to the two ladies,
and then head and shoulders ap-
peared through the trap-door and the
first of the rescuers swung himself on
10 the roof. There was glad shout
and then profound silence. except for
the cries Of the maniac. In an instant
he was at the edge of the roof, and,
leaning far over, had his arms about
the girls shoulders. A second stalwart
man came TO his assistance. The
mother and sister fell back fainting.
The two men slowly drew the still
struggling girl over the parapet and to
safety.
A 1OpOItvf Ui c..v Herald was anon!
the helpless spectators In Sae buildin
across the yard. 1t had been terrib
sght the scene now was q thrilliI
one. On the dizzy height, silhouett
against the blue sky, the group of three
stood motionless for n moment. Then
the mother and sister arose and were
embracing the rescued girl, who, dazed
and now silent, seemed to have recov-
cred her senses. The two men wiped
the perspiration from their faces. In
hundreds of windows up and down the
block men and women were weeping
and laughing at once. In an almost in
credible brief time the roof was crowd
ed, the mother and daughters were
helped to their rooms, congratulations
were showered upon the two rescuers,
and It seemed as il their shoulders
would be shaken out of their sockets.
Every one wanted to take them by the
hand. Then the crowd dispersed.-N
Y. Herald.