The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-08
An INDEFINITE REPORT
A Story From Kansas which OmitS
vital Point.

A Story From Kansas which OmttS
Vital Point.
Washington Post: Occasionally the
press reports are so indefinite, or at
least SO insuflclently explicit, as 70
be annoying. An incident Is related
which, while giving results. omits de-
tails having important bearings on the
case and which arouse an intense curl
osIty. The press agent at Topeka kas''
sends the following:
TOPEKA, Kas.. Jan. 4.-The people
Of Paola, Kansas, are petitionlnB tne
mayor and council 20 pass an orul-
nance prohibiting the Village orass
band from playing certain piece.
They say two deaths may be traced 10
the playing of the high notes IN rms
tune. A short time ago man ascenued
IN ballon at Paola, and when he was
three hundred feet in the air. the band
struck the high notes. The man drop-
ped 30 the earth dead.
"On Christmas eve an entertain
ment was given at one OF the churches.
One OF the features was the entrance
OF Santa Claus through the skyllght
by means of rope The band was FUR
nishing the music and was playing this
particular air. When It reached the
high notes Santa Claus lost control oil
himself. fell twenty-five feet, and re-
ceIved Injuries from which he Will die.
The band viii be prohibited from play
ing the tune within the town limits.
Whether the Topeka or the Paeia
man IS to blame in this case is not
known, but one OF them, possibly both
is short in this account. There is a GER
tain tune In which occur certain nigh
notes. Whenever a person is caught at
an elevation with a known range OF
from twenty-five TO three hundred feet,
by the high notes in this particular
tune. he loses his grip and down he
comes. What the tune Is we are not
told.
In all the eastern cities there are
number OF high buildings, tail trees
and electric light or telegraph poles.
At some point above twenty-five feet.
which is the minimum danger height
positively known, some one may be, at
any time on a pole or building. Brass
bands are IN the streets any day and
they are liable to give us the Kansas
tune. 1t IS more than probable that
string bands would prove equally as
effective I'm bringing down the game
as brass bands and should such prove
to be the case Washington is in dan
ger.
The fourth of March is not very far
OF and on that day Pennsylvania ave-
nue. will be lined with people witness
ing the great inaugural parade. Trees,
poles, windows, and house-tops will be
decorated with HVinG statues and brass
bands In profusion will solemnly pass
along our great avenue Justify footing
as they go.
Suppose even one of these bands.
more than one is too frightful to CON
template, were, by some unhappy In
SEPARATION, to break out with the fatal
Kansas tune Down from the poles and
trees would tumble all above twenty
five feet. bringing, some at least, Of
those below them in their progress. At
the foot of every tree and pole would
| lie a mass OF dead. dying, and in1ureds
variously estimated, by calculators to
whom the question has been put. from
five TO eleven. according to the length
of the poles. From third story windows
and above, would plunge persons who
| had lost control Of themselves, and
Pennsylvania avenue would be lined
with mangled corpses and estimable
citizens crippled for life.
II we only knew what tune this Is we
could take measures 10 prevent In
jury. We could, perhaps. fathOm the
cause OF the loss OF control which takes
| place at the ejaculation OF the high
notes. We know not whether the eff
feet Of the high notes is blissful relax
alton or a violent and ungoVernable
fury which impels the hearer to pre-
eipitate himself In an understandable
paroxysm Into the midst OF the Offend
ing band. Experiment on elevation
could be made, with safety nets, and
the danger line accurately determined.
But we are left in Ignorance. Not even
the name OF the tune is given. We de-
mand. as n right. the name of that
tune and call on the Press Association
to furnish It. Given that we can avoid
the danger now threatening our fair
city and contemplate with serene sat
isfaction the approach of March fourth