Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-06-13
A MYSTERIOUS FALL.

mission having now been given, I hasten
to tell of a most peculiar occurrence that
has been known to only a few.
Chicago is city where they build their
structures after the style of the Tower of
Babel-or, in other words, they seem to try
to reach the sky or heavens. Some of their
buildings rise seventeen and eighteen
stories in the air.
Last June l first came to Chicago, and,
with friend, went to see a mutual friend
who was engaged in the construction of a
large building.
We found him in the seventh story.
He was young man, bright, energetic,
and great athlete. He also was in the
habit of playing practical jokes.
When we reached the room he was in
he had just leaped upon the window sill
in order to lower the sash, on account of q
storm coming up, and he told us that he
would be with us in a minute.
AS he reached the sash he turned and
begged us, for Gods sake, to catch him
and pull him down or he would pitch out
We simply laughed, thinking he was try
ing to fool us.
He pleaded and pleaded, and the more he
pleaded the more we enjoyed it.
He seemed as if he could not move, and
looked as if he was irving with ali his
power to resist falling out.
NV friend turned to me and said:
"Jim's playing his part well, He ought
to go on the stage"
HE is, indeed replied: "but he won't
get the laugh on us this time"
1 had no sooner said this than-great
heavens!-w one unearthlv veil Jim
dashed out of the window to certain death:
for we could see no way he could escape it
after such frightful fall.
For over minute we stood, looking hor-
rified at each other. not knowing what to
do, and not being able to speak or move.
With simultaneous loud cry Of dis
tressed horror, we made rush down stairs
for the street, to find our poor, mangled
dead friend
Down we ran, almost falling at every
step we took, until we reached the street:
but there, to our utter amazement, we saw
nothing of our friend, and there was no
commotion.
The pedestrians were walking as usual,
as if nothing had happened.
Near by was a policeman. and we hur-
ried up to him and asked him if be had
seen man fall out of the window a few
minutes ago, and what had been done with
him.
He looked at our frightened and death
like countenances and said:
"What are you giving me? Are you
crazy, or trying to impose on me?"
sour friend has fallen from the seventh
story of that building, and we want to find
his body" we persisted.
Better go home and go to bed and get
UP SOber!'' Sneered the officer, who would
noI pelieVe our sUa'eilen'. 49,,
more or less questioning o11erent persons
the patrolman eylng US susplciously when
ever ne SAW US.
we scarcely slept that night, but talked
anu wondered over tie mystery:
tne neA' uay W iooat noo w zig ou11olas
and maze more inquiries, put TO no pur-
pose.
The last time Jim had been seen was
when he was going up stairs to that fatal
room.
We then went to his boarding house, but
ehey nau no lnlorlnaClon W give us. ne
seen nor heard from him since the day be-
fore.
ben, what does IL mean?" salo my
friend, addressing me-
II don't know" replied. Let US go to
police headquarters and try to find out. !"
When we reached there ana tolo our ous,
mess they looked at us in amazement and
suspicion, and assured us no such accident
had ever happened, or they would have
heard Of it long ago.
We did not know what to 90. for no one
believed our story. So we left, sad and
sick at heart.
"Ben," said my friend, we both saw Jim
fall out of the window, did we notS"
Most assuredly we DID, for II could not
have been halluclnat1on, replied.
Days passed, but no tidings OF jim could
we find.
At last we again presented ourselves at
police headquarters, and stated that Jim
had been missing for more than two weeks,
and that tbiDp ShOul0 ba done