The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-02-02

the torpedoes, after he had placed
them i'm position in the tower. He Wa
now already for the attack, but the
fine days and nights of spring and
early summer brought refreshing
showers in the day time, while the
nights were clear and starlit. Still the
man waited with the patient cunning
of q distempered brain, never swerving
from his purpose. The bells clsshed
in noisy tumult day after day, but he
would stand quietly at the window
with his gaze fixed on the tower.
At length in midsummer, at the
close of a sultry day, the horizon grew
dark with heavy masses of storm,
clouds, and lightning CLEANS could be
seen shooting across their growing
darkness. The distant but heavy roll
of thunder seemed almost continuous.
Carefully, the man made his prepare
tions that he might be ready to seize
the opportunity that the coming storm
promised to give. His face grew paler.
as he arranged the arrows and their
cords, and carefully laid the torpedoes
on the table, and then prepared the
batteries. The air became more sultry
and oppressive during the evening, and
towards midnight. the flash of light
ming followed almost immediately by
the peal of thunder, announced
that the storm had reached the city.
Taking up the crossbow and resting
it on the sill of the window, he sent
the arrow with its double silk cord out
into the darkness. His former prac-
tice bore good fruit, for as he straight
ened the cord and pulled On it, it
showed that the arrow was firmly fast
ened in the beam of the tower. Sia
times ne sent a silent arrow on its mis-
sion. and in this way formed, in a few
moments, six lines of communication
with the fortress of his enemies. TAX
ing up one of the torpedoes from the
table, he fastened il to the cord of one
of the arrows, and with a steady pull,
carefully measuring the length of the
cord that he drew through his hands,
he continued pulling, until the esti-
mated length Of the cord and the re-
sistance told him that the torpedo had
reached the shaft of the arrow. As he
fastened the cord To- the window frame,
a grim smile played over his features.
He sent three more OF the torpedoes.in
the same manner over into the tower.
Hay ing fastened to the remaining
two the coils of copper wire and with
increase &c sent them, also, over to
the arrows, he then prepared ana
tested the batteries, and finding then.
in good condition he placed them OF
the window sill. Fastening the ends OF
the wires to the keyboard be had made,
ne stood at the window with his hands
resting by the keys, ready TO give the
fatal touch. He could hear the roar of
the oncoming wind and rain, and. as
he leaned forward TO listen, there came
a binding flash and deafening peal. in
stinctively his hands simultaneously
pressed on the keys. In the glare of
the continued lightning he saw, a. it
seemed to him, the tower leap up int
the overhanging darkness. A shout q:
triumph burst from his lips and thr
next instant the building reeled beneath
him. and he sank unconscious into it,
ruins. Out into the city came q roar
ing crash, as though an earthquake
shock had rent its foundations.
A moments pause Of silence fol-
lowed, and then came on the stormy
night the cries of thousands, as they
rushed out of their homes into the
streets. Then came the fire-alarm call
repeated again and again. mingling with
the roll of the thunder and the dashinc
wind and rain. AS they gathered TO the
place they found the cathedral-tower
and building-in ruined heap, and the
tenements on either side shattered and
fallen. The firemen were at first para
lyzed at the sight, but discipline and
skill and bravery soon led them into
work. The kindling fires were
extinguished and well-directed efforts
put forth to rescue those who were
buried in the ruins. The next day had
come to eventide before the last one
had been rescued-the dead laid aside
sor burial, and the wounded gathered
into the hospitals. Unwearily the doc
tors labored, and after few hours the
different cries of the suffering had sub
sided into the low moaningof slumber-
ing pain.
In one Of the wards group of ply
sicians were gathered around bed in
The patient was appar-
emily uninjured, save from the shock.
While they were working over the un-
man another doctor Joined
The group, and, as he saw the face of the
patient, Immediately uttered an ex-
and, stepping to the bed
side, tool 40 hand from the assistant,
saying: '-1his gentleman was patient
Of mine" As he joined in the efforts
TO revive him, he told to the others the
story of the sickness and death of the
wife of his friend. After continued ef-
lorts there were signs of returning con-
seriousness. A more full and critical
was made, but no exter-
nal sign of any injury could be found.
Somewhat puzzled the physicians
made various suggestions, and one
said:
''Do you suppose that it was only the
ightningp"
A movement Of the patient caused |
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