The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-01
"YOU MUST JUMP!"
Struggle for Life on a High
Building.
RATHER A GRIM JOKE THIS.
Two Men Go Up to View Chicago and
One Wishes That He
Had Not.


CHICAGO, March 31-To-day George
Doyle of this city aud Robert Gedney of
Philadelphia went to the top of the Great
Northern Hotel, a sixteen-story building, to
look over the city. They stood for some
time looking about. and then Gedney gave a
strange laugh, and, grabbing Doyle. began
to pull him about rs if the cool breeze had
exhlarated him to playfulness. Then he
said suddenly: "Hold my hands; l want
to look down."
Doyle did so, and after Gedney had re-
covered himself he approached Doyle with
a baeful light in his eyes and a strange
earnestness in his voice, contrasting un-
pleasantly with his recent playfulness, and
said you've got to jump off this building
or l will throw you off"
With fearful reality 1t came to Doyle's
memory that Gedney, several years ago,
had been treated for mild form Of inssn-
ity. His first impulse. as the sickening
realization of the situation came over him.
was to call for help; but he saw tn at would
be useless. and he tried to temporize, treat
ing the matter as joke.
"Wil you Jump" fercely screamed Ged-
ney, and without waiting for a reply he
seized Doyle aud began to drag him toward
the edge of the roof.
Doyle fought with the desperation Of de-
spalr, and the men staggered to and fro
over the roof. now near the center and
safety, and now, as the madman proved the
stronger, drawing fearfully close TO the
danger line.
Robert Haslam. who has an Office in an
| upper story of the Monadnock building,
across the street, saw the men struggling,
and watched them for a time thinking 1t
H.
was struggle for life and death. and hur-
| rying down to the street, rushed to the
| hotel and informed Eden, the proprietor.
The proprietor, thoroughly alarmed.
called a porter. and the three men started
for the roof.
On the stairs leading to the turret they
encountered Doyle, bareheaded and with
his clothes all torn from his back. He was
very weak and excited and was in a faint
ing condition.
Gedney was walking calmly around the
| roof when Eden put his head ont of the
| scuttle, and he pleasantly asked that gentle
man to come out and see the city. EdeI
declined the invitation. and he finally sue
ceeded in getting Gelney 10 come down fol
the purpose of taking a drink.
Once down he was put into a room, and
when ne was asked why he had attempted
to throw Doyle off he seemed surprised. but
laughed. and said that it was only joke
Nevertheless, lie was locked up and Iii!
father telegraphed for.
When Doyle was able to talk. he gave (
graphic account of the fearful fight for life
aud 1t was learned that he only escaped bj
strategy. After the struggle lad progressed
some time, feeling his strength almost gone
he suddenly called to Gedney to stop ant
! he would iaHp eff. stis..le ting however
Hthat ne must have few minutes fol
PRAYER. He then stepped back and knel
| down, while Gedney reverenty bent his
head. Doyle watched him through his hal
closed eyes, and suddenly darted for th
scuttle, aud went through it like a flash ant
into the arms of his would-be rescuers.