The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-10
A NARROW ESCAPE.
story Of a Maniac and His Invon-
ton.

GNCTy OF y Aau1oc ana Ills lnVon-
ton.
There were dozen of Us who we're
waiting FOR train that was loafing
along four or 1--WE hours behind time.
The junction where we were held un-
willing prisoners was remote and
lonely crossing without any scenic at
fractions Of any kind. and totally limo
cent Of any means Of passing away the
time. Not a book or paper could be
bought, and the alleged restaurant
was place IN which 10 con.
tract an aggravated case Of dys-
lpepsia. We read tho timetables and
fcomputcd the distances between the
stations on the various roads repre-.
scnted; We got hungry and fell 10 talk
ing Of the hotels III various cities, I'M
iii, satisfied with the liarmccidc feast
our iInaginatious set forth, that sub.
iect grew old; we criticised tho rail.
way managers Of the country and sug-
gested laws with dreadful penalties
Tor allowing trains 10 vary second
from the published time; we compared
Iour watches and each insisted that his
was just right and had net varied for
months and still the train did not come.
Then with one accord we fell 10 watch.
ing n flock ofS pigeons that were flying
about One Of them WINS beautiful
tnmhler. Size would rise TO height OF
two hundred feet and suddenly her
wings would drop as II she were dead
aud she would come tumbling over and
i over until she would almost strike the
earth, when she would recover herself
md sweep up into the air only 10 re-
lpcat her performance. Among the
party there was a rortly gentleman
who was evidently delighted with the
birds action and bis EXPLANATIONS 81
delight were frequent
THAT must be i glorious sensation
Tor tho. bird, nc said, ITO fall as II
/ limp aud lifcless. with the speed OF an
arrow, knowing That she Is In no dan.
ger 4 was reading not long ago IN
some paper that men who have been
saved after falling long distances In.
variahly claim 10 have experienced q
delightful sensation while dropping
through the air.
~ had q little experience In that line
short timc ago. said another Of the
| party, who was dressed like i priest III
an Episcopal minister, ''nnd assure
you my sensations were the royerse
81 pleasaflt :
| Here WINS chance 20 xiii time which
we were quick To avail ourselves 81,
and half IL us asked the gentleman 70
relate his experience. He seemed per-
fectly willing to 40 50. and u moment
lRftcrward va had diGpoead onreeiree
Lon the edge Of the platform aud the
/ trunks TINT stood around, In as com
Portable positions as we could find
"A am clergyman, began the gem
tleman. land among the members Of
the church under my care Ii . gentle.
man who Is an enthusiastic student Of
electric phenomena, and 70 him the
world Is indebted for d number of Inn
provements In the telegraph. telephone
and incandescent light, which Ia cred
tied 70 bettcr-known inventors. Re
Gently he has been Investigating the
claims made that telephone pictures
were possible, and have become very
much interested in hia researches,
though lay no claims 10 being m cleo
tricai expert.
"My friends ofIicc Is In tho twelfth
story Of ono 81 the high buildings 10
! Chicago, where my home Il. and from
the windows there Is d distance Of not
far from one hundred and iifty fcets- 10
the pavement below ! have often
thought that there would be no shadow
Of q chance for man who should fall
from one OF these windows, little think
| ing what was in store for me
~ frequently call on my friend be-
cause his talk Is interesting, and be-
cause his Office Is high enough To be
about Us cool place as there Is In the
city
Zone morning about two weeks ago
| dropped into his Office inst ns he was
| preparing TO 90 out He sat down, but
| insisted that he should not stay ON
my account. and finally he suggested
that stay till he returned, which he
said wouai be in the course Of an hour.
/ agreed to this and was soon deeply
Interested In new work which found
lying on the table,
| ~ had not been alone long when q
\ gentleman entered and saluted me, say
| Ing: Are you Interested In electrical ap
paratus? ans wercd THAT was 70 d
certain extent, and that my friend who
occupied the Office was an expert
i have something here that want
TO show you, said the stranger 10 Is
| going to revolutionize the whole cleo
trical system on the country
| |. i shall be glad to.examine IT. re-
piled, as he proceeded toy unlock q