Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-04-27
A PERILOUS HOUR.

was apprenticed to decorative
painter, but being of bold, danger low
ing turn, ran away to sea before my
time was out. After some yeaT i tired
of a maritime life, and having married
and determined TO stick to the shore,
got work with builder whose peculiar
line layin erecting tall chimneys had
always very coolshead, and could stand
on elevations that made most men dizzy,
and so / was soon favorite hand with
my master.
We had on one occasion TO fasten a
lightning conductor which had sprung
near the top of very high chimney, and
Mr.. Staining chose myself and one
James Colly to do it as the most daring
of his men. About half dozen of us
went that morning with hand cart con-
tanning the necessary ropes, blocks, the
kite and box or cradle. Having flown
the kite and dropped its line across the
top of the chimney, we soon drew up a
rope, at the end of which was a block,
through which ran the line whereby we
were to be drawn up.
Colly had only been married fort
night, and as we stepped into the cradle,
the men banteringiy asked him if he
hadn't last dying speech to leave for
his wife; and then, Mr.. Staining having
shaken hands with US, and bid us be
cool and steady, we were drawn slowly
up. 1t was known all over the town that
the conductor was to be fixed, and the
streets were thronged with starers.
Colly was very quiet, and when waved
my cap to the people he said snappishly
that this was no time for such folly, and
that he thought might think of better
things than how to amuse these gaping
fools, who, he dared say, desired no bet
ter fun than to see us meet with an acci.
dent.
had come up in the best heart, think.
ing indeed nothing about the danger we
incurred, but as we drew nearer and
nearer TO the top, and had nothing, as il
seemed, belonging to this world near to
US but this straining rope, began to see
the peril of the undertaking. What
Colly thought of it l don't know. He
sat at the bottom of the cradle, never
looking out, though l told him he would
do better to keep his eyes about him, SC
that he might grow used to the height.
Good heavenl what was this? Here
we were within yard of the top pro-
jecting coping, and still they were wind
ing away, without Stacking speed in the
least; guessed in moment that they
mistook our height, and that with the
great purchase of that windlass the rope
would be broken when the cradle came
to the block. l sprang up, and catch
ing the rope, climbed hand over hand
to the coping. Colly, too, sprang W
and followed me. He, too, got up safe
and still they went on winding up, till
the rope sung again with the strain.
Then it snapped, and cradle, hauling
line, and the main rope with its block
fell down. Thus we were two poor
men left in a most desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazed with
alright, and the moment he got on the
coping, which was only foot and hall
broad, he called out, Where can
pray? where can | kneel and prayT
And so said very solemnly, "Sit down
Jem; God will hear us if we pray to him
sitting down."
The color Of his face was transparent
blue, and it was distorted and twitohine
as if he was in fit. His eyes were very
wild and drawn into squint, and he
couldn't sit steady, but swayed his body
backward and forward so that felt
certain that he must topple over.
"Come, Jem, lad" said, thinking tc
take the fright off him; its bad enough
but it can't be mended. Hitch up a bii
and put your arm around the rod-may-
be it viii steady you."
Where are you? and where is thi:
rodY' he asked, in q very hollow voice
though he was looking straight at me
and the rod was only foot or two tC
his left. BY this ! knew that he wa.
gone blind with the fright; and sell
preservation said, Don't go near him
but then l remembered his new welded
wife, and that taking him all through
he was always very decent fellow; and
| thought how should have liked hin
to have done if had been in his case
so uelcru1ucu 70 run q DlG Oh Tlsk III
his favor. OF course burst not get OF
my feet; but working myself on by my
hands, / got to him, and putting my
arm around his waist, and telling hin
as cheerily as could to keep cool, got
him with his arm around the rod. II
had, however, sprung the stapling fol-
five yards down, and was so loose thai
it swayed with him, and expected any
minute to see him falling head and heel:
down and the rod tearing away with
him.
There was great hustle down below
people were running around the yard
and pushing to get in, but as yet there
were but some score Of men at the foot
of the chimney, and by close looking
saw them put somebody on board and
carry him gently away toward the en-.
gine house. One Of the men walked
after with a hat in his hand; knew
then that somebody had been hurt by
the falling cradle, and that il must be
4 Door Mr.. Staining. az none of our men