The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-05
CAUGHT BY HIS HEEL
Mr.. Davis Hangs Out of a
Third Story Window.
AT THE CAREY HOTEL
Window Shutter Saved Him
From Being Killed.
CAREY HOTEL

j. c. Davis Of Wellington, who Is dep
uty sheriff of Sumner county. hat mirac-
uious escape from death al the Carey totel
at o'clock yesterday morning. He got up
and in desabile took seat in the window.
How long he sat there is not known. Mr..
Davis does not know himself. He dozed
off and the next thing he was grabbing
and clutching at the window jam and IN
side shutters. His hands slipped and with
ma fraction of second he was suspended
in midair, sway1ng to and fro. He had
failed 10 get hold of anything with his
hands TO save himself, but fortunately ms
left foot caught on the further side OF the
shutter, while his heel stuck under the
window sill. The rapIdity with which he
went out the window quickly brought the
shutter to, forcing his foot into a wise,
which saved his Life.
As he went out the window he grabbed
the right-hand shutter and tore out several
stats, but failed 10 get hold. This made
considerable noise, which attracted Night
Clerk Lee Steele and Night Porter George
Sestrunk. They had been sitting out IN
front of the main entrance. As soon as
they heard the crash they ran 10 the
corner of Fourth avenue. There, three
stories high, they saw Mr.. Davis. He was
crying out with ali the vehemence of a
man about to be dashed to death. Mr.
Steel ran into the office and up the stairs
to the third story. Mr.. Sestrunk took the
elevator, both bent on getting to him be-
fore he would fail to the pavement, sixty
feet below.
On reaching the door of his room they
found it locked. However the key on the
inside was half turned. which made II pos
sible to insert the pass key and unlock the
door. Then began the hard work Mr..
Davis is a short man, weighing fully go
pounds. Both Mr. Steele and Mr.. Sestrunk
are medium-built men and the task OF pull
ing him in was very difficult, besides hav-
ing the mental strain upon their minds
that that they might let him get away
from them. Having scarcely any garments
on, it was Houbly hard to get any pur-
chase. After working for a few minutes,
which seemed like hours to the suspended
man and those who were aiding him, he
was safely pulled into the room. All three
were exhausted.
Mr.. Davis gave one sigh of relief and
nearly tainted. Mr.. Steele, after the task
of saving mans life was accomplished,
nearly became unconscious from the great
physical and mental ordeal.
Before Messrs. Steele and sestrunk
reached Mr. Davis room his cries for help
had awakened every guest in the house.
There was a general stampede Women
trying to find out If someone had been
murdered or If there was a fire. Pende-
monium reigned and it was with the ut
most difficulty that the guests were Quilted.
DR.. McClees was called, but when he
reached Mr.. Davis room 1t was found
that ne had sustained no injuries other
than having his left ankle slightly skinned.
How he escaped is still mystery, as the
shutter is rather fragile and does not seem
capable of holding him in the position
which he was in, as the weight was even
greater than his weight, from the amount
Of leverage that was being brought to bear
Mr.. Davis made a special pea that the
accident not be given TO the newspapers.
1t leaked out, however.
He had come here to locate a bicycle
thief. who had stolen his daughters wheel.
He had consulted with the police durir g
the early part of the evening and 'ater
had sat around the lobby OF the hotel con-
versing with a number of his Masonic
friends. He belongs to the Knight Temp
lars at wellington. Mr.. Davis returned
to his home on the early morning Rock
Island train, still nervous and unsettled,
but without injuries. Not once in a thcu-
sand times would a man of his weight
escape from such a perilous position. He
told Mr.. Steele before leaving for his
home that 1t was the last time re world
ever take room that was not located on
the ground floor.
Mr. Davis formerly was a proprietor OF
a hotel in Wellington located near the
Southern Kansas depot