The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-06
FIERCE FIGHT
IN MID-AIR
WOrkmsn on Balloon Tower In
81. Louis In Hard Struggle.
WERE ITO FEET FROM GROUND
Companions Below Amazed BY the Sight
but Unable to Stop Figat That Threat
s8sd to End la geaih.
WERE. 1io FEET FROM GROUND

ST. Louis. Mo-. Oct. 6.-Facing death
40 feet above the ground two workmen
fought each other on the captive air
ship tower at Forest Park Highlands.
With no other witnesses but workmen
and they too paralyzed TO do anything
but shout-Guy Pearson and Franklin
Beall struggled for several minutes.
Beall welded a hamrnar. Pearson had
nothing but his strong arms to defend
him.
They struggled on a "a inch plank,
where misstep meant plunge to almost
certain death.
There was no way to reach them. They
were too far up to be restrained; too
high 10 be reached. and the only way
to have stopped the arm that held
the hammar was to unerringly send
bullet through 1t with rifle.
There were no rifles and no sharpshoot-
srs at Forest Park Highlands just then.
Those few moments were moments OF
agony to the onlookers.
What must they have been to Pearson?
Beall was too frenzied to know.
Then the tide turned Person wrenched
the hsmmar from his antagonist. but II
was only after desperate fight.
II struck the framework, and as it re-
bounded IL seemed to thrill the spectators
BEALL IN PEARsoN's POWER.
The loss OF his hammar seemed to brins
back the angered Bealls faculties. Had
there been the spirit of revenge in Pear
son II was In his power TO have hurled tn,
man who attacked him down the dizz,
height TO be dashed to pieces
Mercy stayed in his hand and reasoI
took hold of him. IL was fortunate 70
Beall
Then the spectators shouted. The ten
sion was over. Carpenters had begui
climbing up the scaffolding-som urgin
Beail 10 come down. while others yelle
20 Pearson to let him go.
The twisting, wrestling and rolling o
the aerial arm had taken place in fu
view Of the men below.
They heard the cursing and the pate
of the mems shoes as they resounde
against the timbers.
Now one man was on top; now the 9th
er had the advantage Possession of III
hammer was the key TO victory; IL SCENE
20 be the key to life and death.
Both men were well matched for n cor
test OF strength Each was muscular an
each was courageous
Not one OF the carpenters and riggei
employed on the huge framework believe
for a moment that in their sober sense
such a foolhardy contest could have take
place.
They declared that one OF the men mu
have been drinking. both must have be-
unusually quick tempered, and both mu
have been in a suicidal mood
Neither man would say a word wh'
the fight was over. They Just glared
each other. and Beall remained below.
The other man would not let him go
the temporary stairway again.
CASE OF HOT TEMPER.
Deall was accused OF overindugence
drink. This Beall denied 10 f. 2; No
for whom he worked Vol says " w
q case OF hot temper on both sides Pea
son says his antagonist was under {
Pearson and Beall were the only u
men who would venture out on the
gaftjc arm. stretching Ike a crane frC
the tower top out into space
Measured BY skyscrapers ~ was on
line with the eleventh story OF the ave
age office building.
Only one of the huge beams had oe
were engaged IN boltins the exten1lon
f. which was 10 make the projection
eli twenty-four feet
Neither man will say what started
trouble. but II had 70 do with the placl
Of the bolts IN position.
There were few shouts which n
attracted the attention Of the inen
"ovs< YOU fools. Want 20 break y
neoksr' shouted the nearest workn
who did not realize that the scuffling v
strange hand 70 hand ight that ever tc
The fighters heard no. and saw not.
was a battle for supremacy
Edwin y. Vol, MANAGER ~ the en-,
prise. said that he regretted that
I'll ir a thing we tried 70 keep quie
- said. because the men have made