Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-04-09

could help The ground was his only
hope Of escape
1 could now see exactly how he hoped
to make this anchorage
Upon this plank then depended our
hope of escape
Had it been missing we should be capt
ured beyond a doubt
The reader can imagine that had no
slight task before me.
A slip on my part would send me down
to death.
To man Of ordinary nerve it would
not have been much OF a job to have
crossed over In the daytime. Two short
steps would have accomplished It.
In the night time, however, the plank
was all but invisible. I dared not put
my foot down without first feeling that
il was in the center of the plank.
Shutting my teeth hard, made the
forward movement
There was a period Of suspense that
appeared longer TO me than it really must
have been.
Then my Outstretched hands came in
contact with an iron railing.
Eagerly 1 clutched it, and feeling of
relief went through my frame as I real
lied that was safe
The Colonel was there and helped me
TO Chamber over the railing. Then as he
bent down did likewise.
found that he had the plank securely
wedged between two scrolls in the iron
work OF the porch, so there could not
have been much chance Of its working
loose while one was crossing.
He was desperately engaged now in
working this end of the plank loose
l saw the idea at once. 1t would cut
of immediate pursuit by isolating the
fire escape from the adjoining roof.
By our united efforts we managed to
get the plank free from its fastenings.
"DOWn with it, Joslyn."
The officers were investigating the de-
scent from the upper TO the lower roof.
/ could see a dark lantern in use. If
they should turn it upon Us they might
discover something to their advantage.
We released our hold on the plank.
1t went surging downward at once,
but being heavy, fell like a rock, so that
no sound was made until il reached the
bottom, when there came q sudden crash,
and all was still again.
One OF the officers was now hanging
over the gutter above, and the man with
the lantern dared not turn it away, as
the light was needed right there.
This assisted us. We had no sooner
allowed the plank to drop than the Col
oneHs arm was placed on my shoulder,
and he drew me back.
Here's the way down, cOmrade. We
haven't a second to lose. They'll open
fire on us if they throw the light this
way"
There was a small opening at the
other end of the iron porch. Below this
depended an iron ladder, which in turn
reached down 10 the next landing.
In this way the descent could be made
to the bottom. These fire escapes are
daily TFDgVinn in a N
portions OF the great city. Their utility
is unquestioned, If they can be only kept
clear, but the inmates of tenements
seem to look upon the pOrches as dePOsi-
tories of truck and sleeping places dur
ing the hot nights of summer.
The way we went through that open
ing was a caution. No danger now of
the ladder giving way.
On the porch below We landed in the
midst Of a family enjoying u sound sleep
upon their open couch.
Our advent among them was the cause
OF much CONSERVATION. But one idea
prevailed, and this was that the house
must be on fire, and the people above
were taking advantage of them.
So they followed us as well as possible,
but in the jam the opening was filled,
and there they stuck, screaming and
cursing at a rate to awaken the dead.
cradle amusement to that scene, but just
then had no time 10 enjoy it.
OF course the attention Of the officers
would be directed toward this point now,
and We could hardly hope TO escape dis
cOYery, unless we were exceeding spry
about getting down.
Other difficulties met us.
More people were upon the fire escape,
and We had TO push through or over
them.
~Firel firei" rang out on the night air.
A bedlam ensued. the like of which it
has never been my fortune to hear since.
Men swOre in seven languages, while
women and children ran the scale back
ward and forward with their shrill
cries.
One would have thought a menagerie
had broken loose in the neighborhood.
In the midst of this racket we hung
from the lower porch and dropped, reach
ing the ground in safety.
Then my companion led the way to an
arched passage, opening the door as he
went with what seemed magic slight-of-
hand.
From this we emerged and found our
selves walking hastily down the street.
Colonel Cain had eluded his crackers to
fall victim to one more keen