Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-08-21

was now astride them, gazing below
him with every appearance of the wild
est fear.
The imminent peril Of his position
may be appreciated when it is remem
bered that there is no scatl'olding o
any description around the stceple--
the only means of reaching the poin
to which he had climbed being tn,
cross pieces nailed to the tall upright
How was he to be brought down il
safctyP That was the question every
anxious watcher asked himself a
dozen men gathered about the Superin
tcndcnt, some making suggestions
Others predicting the certain failure o
any plan that might be adopted ii,
abruptly silcnced them by word, ant
went on with his preparations in way
that inspired confidence, in his men al
| least.
Hundreds of people were now in the
streets. all looking mp to the dizzy
height where the poor madman clung
to the frail-looking timbers forming
the cross. None doubted that his hor.
rble death was inevitable Men
l''hNh WI W itu blAHtith NlltfhN anu
beating hearts. Women and children
and there were many Of these
wrung their hands and uttered low
cries of distress. 1t was n moment TO
try the heart Of the hravcSt. But the
superintendent was now ready to begin
his desperate task the rescue of a
mailman who clung TO the top of a
stecple, hundred feet in the air.
Throwing over his arm long, stout
rope, he called two of his men and dis
appeared in the door of the church.
Five minutes later he appeared on
the top of the tower. where the wooden
structure began. but his men were not
with him. The madman was still
forty-livc feet above him, and the dan
gerous part of the rescue was now to
begin When the brave superintend-
cnt started up the cross-pieces the peo-
pie in the street below were horror
struck. and many cried out to him;
Come back come back" But he
stopped them with a quick motion OF
his hand and continued his perlous
course They could see that he had
tied one end of the rope around his
waist and the rest of il trailed after
him as he went mp. still his men did
not appear, and many persons in the
crowd cursed their stupidity that they
allowed their companion to attempt
such n foolhardy task. The madman
did not see him until he was about
halfway up. but when he did he
showed so many evidences OF alarm
. I'll, Al
minute to see HIM loosen his hold and
fall hcadlong to the ground. The res
cuer now stopped and appeared to be
talking to the mailman, but nothing
could be heard by those below. Ten
minutes passed thus ten minutes of
the most terrible suspense and then
the spectators were amazed to see the
lunatic. with astonishing agility, aban-
don his position on the arms Of the
cross and Slide rapidly down the stem.
He now stood on the top of the up
rights. but there he hcsitated and
looked down at the man who was there
to save him.
The superintendent must have
spoken few encouraging words, for
the mailman at once began to come
down the cross pieces. As he APP
preached the point where the super
intcndcnt awaited him, the latter came
down step by step ahead o! him, and
in few minutes they stood together
ON the platform on top of the tower.
And then there went up from the hearts
of hundreds of people below great
shout of relief followed by warm
words of praise for the brave George
Simpson, the stout-heartcd supcrin-
tcndent, who had so heroically riskcd
his own life to save that of another.
Fifteen minutes later Simpson came out
of the church door alone. In few
words he explained how he had in
duced the madman to descend from his
perilous position and follow him into
the tower. 'Of course, said he, "I
expected TO have some sort of struggle
with the man on the spire and | tied the
rope around my waist in the hope that
if we should lose our hold | should be
able to take n turn with the rope
around the cross-piece and thus stop
my fall. d"
"Bat ! thought ! wonld Try rnse
first. spoke to him quietly when |
got near enough, and told him was
there to save him from the people below;
that they intended to climb up and take
him, and would prevent it if he would
follow me into the tower, where |
would hide him in safety. Fortunately
] hit upon the very thing, for he fancicd
himself pursued by the people, who
would do him harm, and when ! got
him into the tower my men, who were
left there for the purpose, seized him
and securely tied him. He is now in
the church, where | shall keep him
until can send him where he be-
longs =
1t was afterward learned that the
man had a terrible attack Of mania
a potu. and escaped from his home. BY
the time his friends arrived he was
quiet and tract8ble, and made no re-
sistance when they took him away
Cor. Cincinnati Enquirer.
When Ethalinda DeWiggs visited
her cousins in the country last week,
one of them said Linda, don't YOU
want to help me pick peas this morn
ing?" I'D like to. dear replied
Ethalipda ssbut | am mt nrnnprlV