Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-04-04

"ii 'hS ouOhBph TIC COulu COuiLudhu,
again and again. But the men
continued their course down the
valley.
Harry was a brave boy, but his
heart sank as he realized that his
last chance of escape was passing.
Suddenly he remembered the lamp
which he had placed in his hat.
Quickly taking it in his hand, he
began to wave it in circle about
his head. Several times he repeated
this, shouting at the top of his
voice as he did so.
Presently he saw one of the men
stop. He seemed to be looking in
the direction of the chimney. Then
his companion followed his example,
and a moment later Harry saw
them both hurrying up the hill.
He took new courage from their
coming, though he saw no way in
which they could help him. 1t was
all he could do now to keep his face
out of the huge clouds of smoke
that were pouring out of the CHM
ney and curling about him; but
leaning downward as far as posi-
BILE, he called to the men to hurry
to his assistance. In few mo-
ments they were within speaking
distance.
Quick" shouted Harry. run
for ladders and ropes! | cans hold
on here much longer"
"How did you get up thereP"
one of them called.
Never mind tell you I'll be
dead soon if you don't help me!'
Harry shouted.
The men turned about and ran
in the direction of the town. 1t
was now almost dark. They were
soon lost to sight in the shadows of
the valley. 1t seemed an age
to Harry, though it could not have
been more than ten minutes before
he caught sight of half a dozen
lanterns moving swiftly across the
valley, followed by scores of dark
forms. Two minutes later an ex-
cited crowd Of men came running
up the slope, and were soon gather
ed about the base of the chimney
gazing helplessly upward.
Take courage and hold fast!'
shouted one of the men. THE lad
ders will be here in a few minutes
to help you down."
III can't hold on. much longer"
answered Harry, leaning far over
the chimney, while the smoke whirl-
ed about him. II can breathe here
but few minutes more. It's suf-
locating me!'
The people hurried helplessly
back and forth. Some of them at
tached stone to rope, and tried
vainly to throw it to the top of the
chimney.
Meanwhile, a hot, sickening blast
of gas came up, from which Harry
recoiled desperately. Men had gone
to the works to drag the fire from
the furnaces, but the tunnel and
flues were now charged with gas.
1t was but an affair of minute be-
fore Harry must be asphyxiated and
lose his grasp.
The fremen rushed up to the
base of the chimney and ran their
ladders aloft. But the highest
point they could reach was thirty
feet below the top.
A groan of disappointment went
up from the crowd. Harry real
lied that now but one thing remain
ed to be done, and that must be
done instantly. He could not be
reached; he must drop to the stay
wires.
The excited crowd below, looking
upward, saw him first fling his hat
and lantern clear of the crowd and
then swing himself down to the
edge Of the chimney. Then cries
of horror went up as he was seen
to leap forward into space.
Not one in the crowd but thought
he would be dashed to pieces on
the ground. But descending swift
ly, he struck the stay-wire. The
next moment he had caught it in
his hands, and for an instant hung
suspended, swinging like pendu-
lum beneath.
Then he threw his legs over the
wires, slid slowly to the ground,
and fell fainting in the arms Of one
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