Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-10-06

Aud ne Was Cooling while death Was
Very Close.


For nearly ten minutes yesterday
afternoon, says the Chicago News
Record, a wee bit of a child arrested
traffic on Clark street and blanched
many face with horror. A crowd
numbering thousands appeared to be
paralyzed for the moment
High above their heads. on a mar
row cornice that runs around the
fourth floor OF the County building.
stood 3-Year-old boy. The breeze
that came up from the lake tossed
his yellow curls about his laughing
face as he playfuIly swung his arms
about and looked at the ever-increas-
ing mass of people that watched him
from below. His little dress was
waited about by the wind, while the
spectators expected every minute to
see the daring explorer pitch head
long from the dizzy perch. No one
dared to cry out. for fear of frighten-
ing the child. who calmly looked
about, up and down the street, leaned
over to get better view of the side
walk, ana gaZed at the towering Ash
land block on the opposite corner.
Below was a scene of intense ex-
element. A hackman rushed to his
hack and snatched a heavy blanket
from the seat. Several men grasped
the edges and stood close up to the
building, directly below where the
child was standing. Officer Frank
@. Snyder, of the Central Station,
stood on the corner in front of the
Sherman House. A small boy ran
up and called his attention to the
child, and he made wild rush for
the elevator of the county building.
Officer Timmons also witnessed the
scene at the same time. About
score of men had now recovered
their senses. and through every en-
trance of the building they raced for
the elevators. Of1cer Timmons made
mistake, and was carried up to the
top floor. Officer Snyder, however,
made better calculation. Running
down the hall and into Judge Adams
cause of all the commotion out on
the ledge in front Of the open win
dow. The courtroom was deserted,
and the child was alone.
''Da. da, da, he was saying softly
to himself, utterly oblivious of the
presence of the officer. Cold drops of
perspiratton stood on the officers
forehead as he softly tiptoed toward
the child, for he realized that his sud-
den appearance before the startled
child meant instant death. Still the
child prattled away, giving itself up
to the enjoyment Of the novel posi-
tion.
The officer reached out to grasp it's
dress, when wild, historical shrek
came from the hall behind him. The
child turned and began to totter, and
Mortified cry arose from the street.
Officer Snyder's hand shot out and he
held the boy in his arms.
Only for moment, however, for
woman in whose face there was not
bit of color snatched the child from
| the officers arms, and then dropped
limp and fainting to the floor. The
big-eyed boy looked about him curl
ously, while the room began to fill up
with people The mother Of the
child. for so she proved, chung tena-
ciously to him. When she became
calmer she said she had been in the
Probate Courtroom. and her boy was
playing and rOmping in the hall. She
had not been aware that he was else
where until she heard the people
rushing down the hall.
He had pushed open the door of the
vacant room and climbed up on a
chair to the open window. The OFF,
Ger chided the woman for her careless
ness, but she was so happy at the es-
cape of her boy that she paid little
attention to his words, but showered
passionate kisses on the child's face.
She was a comely-looking and youth
full German, and spoke English with
difficulty. She would not give her
name, and left, clasping the child to
her breast.
A sigh of relief went up from the
crowd, which had blocked the side
walks and extended across the street,
when the child was taken inside. 1t
necessitated the stoppage of vehicles
and street cars, for in the suspense of
the awful sight not spectator
moved, while a wondrous silence
was caused by the unwonted specta-
Gle. The passengers on the cable
trains craned their necks out Of the
cars to get a sight of the child, and
many women turned away with
frightened faces, as if to avoid wit
Messing the anticipated fall.