The record-union., 1896-10-18
STUCK IN THE SEWER PIPE.
A Cook With Presence of Mind Re-
leased Egbert by Smashing Ii.

There was a wild scene of terror, con-
sternation and almost bloodshed in one
of the most quiet and classic streets of
Evanston yesterday. 1t is painful to
speculate upon what the result might
have been but for the strong arm of an
athletic and excited cook and the vigor
with which she welded cleaver.
Little Egbert Spencer is six years old
and as plump, rosy, and roly-poly as
Cupid himself. Like the busy and dash
ing little archer, Egbert is also a dead
game sport" He is the leader and
pride of his set of small companions,
who regard him with an admiration
which amounts to awe because of his
gamy qualities.
Yesterday this fair little six-year-old
went forth with his band of playmates
to see what they might see. In the course
of their explorations they encountered
length of sewer pipe which had been left
in Hamilton street, where repairs are
in progress. The pipe appealed to the
imagination of Egbert the little. He
pointed out the cave to his follow
ers, and then dared any one of them to
step forward and crawl into it. But not
a single volunteer raised his voice in re-
sponse. His ''dast' was untaken, and
therefore reacted upon it's author.
The little fellow did not hesitate a
moment. His sporting blood was up,
and here was a chance to win new
laurels in the eyes of his small compan-
ions. Therefore he handed his cap to
his nearest playmate, prostrated him
self upon the ground in front of the
section of pipe and inserted his head
therein. His shoulders are broad and his
back broader. The first was tight fit
for the cavity, but he contrived, by
much hitching and squirining and
scratching, to get them within the limits
of the aperture. For moment he
made promising progress, but the real
tug of war came when he attempted to
crowd his hips within the confines Of the
pipe.
By reaching forward as far as his
arms would stretch, he managed to grip
his fingers over the edge Of the pipe. He
pulled and pulled. until inch by inch he
drew his body inside. Then he found
that he had reached his limit, and could
not "budge'' an inch more. When this
fact had thoroughly permeated his con-
sciousness, the little fellow felt his
sportsmanlike prOpensities oozing away
from him. His situation grew more
ment, but he bravely set his teeth to-
gether and made one last, hard pull. A
few waistbuttons snapped their moor
ings, but that was all.
Then he decided to avail himself Of
the special privileges of his tender age.
Little Egbert never does things by
halves, and when he sent forth a howl
it was one of such vigor that it chilled
1 Al of !, nd ctr oI-
terror to their souls. When the third
section of his wall broke from the
sewer pipe the witnesses of his calam-
ity made a cowardly retreat to safe
distance.
Finally his cries attracted the atten-
ton of Mrs Edward Wyman, whose
residence was nearest the scene of the
disaster. She hastened out of the house
and began anxiously to look about for
the author of the wailings. But she
could not trace the howls to their
source After much searching she at
last saw two feet, clad in tan shoes,
sticking out from the end of the sewer
pipe.
Selling the boy by the ankles she ap-
piled her whole strength to the task of
dragging him out. But not an inch
could she move him! He had appar-
entity consolidated with the tile 1t
then occurred to her that she might
work more effectively from the other
end.
Fastening to the new base Of opera
ton she knelt before the pipe, reached
in and grappled Egbert by his Shout
ders. Then she settled back and pulled
with all her strength. Walls grew into
wells. until she concluded to desist and
summon help.
At that moment her cook appeared
upon the scene, took a momentary sur
vey of the situation and then retreated
into the house. A few seconds later,
however, she emerged, armed with the
household cleaver.
Gently, Anna, gently" pleaded
Mrs Wyman, as the stalwart cook
raised the weapon. Three well-directed
blows smashed the shell which en-
cased the weeping boy, and he crawled
out from among the fragments of the
shattered pipe. When Egbert's mother
removed his clothing she found his fair
skin transformed into a patchwork of
black and blue spots. His plump
cheeks had the appearance of having
been in violent contact with a grind
stone
Little Egbert will continue to be the
leader of the little Evanston sports of
his neighborhood, but he will never
again explore the interior of a sewer
pipe.-Chicago Post.