The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-09-10
iozen men gathered about the superin-

dozen men gathered about the superin-
tendent, some making suggestions,
others predicting the certain failure of |
any plan that might be adopted. He
abruptly silenced them by a word, and
went on with his preparations in way
that inspired confidence, in his men at
least.
Hundreds of people were now in the
streets, all looking up to the dizzy |
height where the poor madman chung |
to the frail-looking timbers forming
the cross. None doubted that his hor-
rible death was inevitable. Men
looked up with blanched cheeks and
beating hearts. Women and children
and there were many of these
wrung their hands and uttered low
cries of DISTRESS 1t was moment to
try the heart of the bravest. But the
superintendent was now ready to begin
his desperate task-the rescue of a
mailman who clung to the top of
steeple, hundred feet in the air.
Throwing over his arm a 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-fve feet above him, and the dan
gerous part of the rescue was now to
begin. When the brave superintend-
ent 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 quick motion of
his hand and continued his perilous
course. They could see that he had
tied one end of the rope around his
waist, and the rest of it trailed after
him as he went up. Still his men did
not appear, and many persons in the
crowd cursed their stupidity that they
allowed their companion to attempt
such a foolhardy task. The madman
| did not see him until he was about
halfway up, but when he did be
that the watchers expected every
minute to see him loosen his hold and
a, fall headlong 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 hesitated and
! looked down at the man who was there
to save him.
= = The superintendent must have
spoken few encouraging words, for
I the madman at once began to come
s down. the cross pieces. AS he ap-
n preached the point where the super
II intendent awaited him, the latter came
S down step by step ahead of him, and
s in few minutes they stood together
b on the platform on top of the tower.
d And then there went up from the hearts
g of hundreds of people below great
II shout of relief, followed by warn
n words of praise for the brave George
n Simpson, the stout-hearted superin
Il tendent, who had so heroically riskct
,f his own life to save that of another
Fifteen minutes later Simpson came ou
q of the church door alone. In few
n words he explained how he had in
" duced the madman to descend from hi
r perilous position and follow him init
n the tower. s'Of course" said he, g
i expected to have some sort of struggle
IS with the man on the spire and / tied th
n rope around my waist in the hope tha
le if we should lose our hold | should b
N able to take turn with the rop
% around the cross-piece and thus sto]
y my fall"
o ''But / thought would try a rus
le first. l spoke to him quietly when
le got near enough, and told him wa
ir there to save him from the people below
" that they intended to climb up and tax
~ him, and | would prevent it if he woul
le follow me into the tower, where
le would hide him in safety. Fortunatel
Id l hit upon the very thing, for he fancie
a himself pursued by the people, VIII
as would do him harm, and when / gc
ds him into the tower my men, who wer
left there for the purpose, seized hiI
e. and securely tied him. He is now
in the church, where shall keep hil
he until can send him where he b.
th longs"
IS. 1t was afterward learned that tt
he man had terrible attack of man
atpotu, and escaped from his home. b
of the time his friends arrived he W;
he quiet and tractable, and made no r
lis sistance when they took him away
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