The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-02-26
ATTACKED BY A MANIAC.
A photographers Narrow Escape
From Death.

was shining brightly, and the air was
laden with that balmy fragrance that
lends the special charm to spring days.
j was standing upon the roof of one of
the leading hotels III t.;c city.
i had been examining the telephone
wires ON The roof. On which we had
lately placed ID new patent arrange
ment for the purpose OF overcoming
induction from the Heighboring tele-
graph wires. stood holding on with
one hand TO standard for telephone
wires for several minutes, lost in
thought. | had stood thus for per-
haps five minutes. when | was brought
back to the realization of my senses by
sound which, coming upon me so
suddenly, seemed 90 freeze the blood
In my veins, send a chill down my
back, and "a nervous -t-emOr through
my entire system; If was the unmis-
taxable cry of maniaci
Turning quickly towards the direc-
ton from which the sound came, / saw
the author of it with his head just
above the opening OF the trap-door,
through which | had gained access to
the roof. and the door of which had
left swung back upon its hinges.
! recognized ut once that the man was
mad. His wild expression showed it
quite plainly. For an instant | stood
motionless, not knowing what to do,
when again that laugh rang out upon
the air, and | noticed that he was
ascending TO the roof. Quick as light
ming my mind took in the situation,
and rushed desperately towards the
man, intending 10 strike him with all
my force and knock him backward
down the flight of stairs TO the floor
below. He saw my intention, and
tried TO gain the roof before | could
reach him: but the distance between
us was only few feet. and he had not
risen above the roof higher than his
waist when forced him back. / stood
upon the door short time, expecting
every minute that he would renew the
attack. when suddenly heard the re-
port OF pistol from below, and was
conscious of a whizzing noise in the
air.
Looking down, noticed a small
hole in the trap-dOOr, and that the bull
let had passed uncomfortable near my
leg in IFS upward flight. did not rel
ish the idea of being shot at in this
manner. and stepped Immediately of
the door. had scarcely done so when
there was another report, and another
hole in the door. directly upon the
spot where had been standing.
What was TO be done?
All at once noticed that the ends of
the staple used for fastening the door
on the inside projected through the
thin boards for some distance. Quickly
passing rope had around the knob
and under the sharp ends of the sta
pie. / took two turns round them,
which was all there was room for. and
drawing the rope tightly, fastened the
ends as securely as possible.
This whole performance lasted but
few seconds, but the pistol shots con-
tinued in rapid succession. and L
judged that by this time he had emp
tied the seven chambers of his re-
volver. The firing had ceased, and /
noticed the door moving slightly, as
though force was being brought TO
bear upon il from below. | took hold
of the door with my hands, and held
It down as hard as j could. The mad
man seemed TO be pushing against it
with tremendous force. What was
to be done? The rope was a weak
thing at the best. and / felt that 1T
could not long hold out against the ef-
forts OF a strong man.
All at once the thought of calling
help by telegraph came into my mind.
Ihad heard of cases OF kilograms being
sent without instruments from the
scene of railway accidents. and | de-
termined to try for myself if the mad
man could only be kept within bounds
long enough to allow me the oppor-
tunity. / was an expert telegraph
list, having spent a number OF years
in the business before entering the tel
ephonic field. Although / was an old
telegraphist had never attempted the
feat of telegraphing without an instru-
ment. But the situation called for a
desperate act, and after looking at the
fastenings on the door to see that they
were as secure Is possible. | went
quickly to the edge of the building,
where number OF wires were strung