The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-12-24
FALLS FROM LOFTY PERCH
AND ONLY GETS BUMP ON JAW
Boy Loses His Balance While on
Top of Wireless Telegraph
Tower at the Worlds
Fair Grounds. -.
LANDS IN HIGH HATCHWAY.

While viewing the world from a height
Of more than 800 feet above the ground.
Willie Frank, better known to his COM
panions as "Specks.' yesterday lost his
balance and fell from his lofty perch. yet
he only had his Jaw bruised and was at
work yesterday afternoon.
..Specks' is diminutive Western Union
messenger boy attached to the branch Of
flee building in the Press building opposite
the De Forest wireless telegraph tower.
He is II years old. but doesn't look It.
He wears glasses. and hence his dis
tinguishing cognomen. "Specks," to the
casual observer. does not appear to be
possessed of any more daring than the
average youngster.
.'Specks'' had finished his midday lunch
yesterday and time hung heavy on his
hands until O'Clock. az he had finished
the last chapter of the thrilling career
of Sammy. the Sleuth." His eyes lazily
surveyed the tall outlines OF The De Forest
tower. which pierced the gray mist that
hung over the Fair grounds.
At the very topmost part of the tower,
on the pinnacle of the Flagstaff. more than
800 feet above the ground, 'Specks'' dis
cerned large electric light bulb.
Mentally calculating what a resounding
pop It would send out when dashed to
the ground from that altitude. "Specks"
determined that his should be the hand
to pluck 1t from the staff and hurl It.
He lost no time IN setting out for the
prize. With two companions, he began
10 ascend the iron stairways to the top
OF the tower. When they had reached the
highest platform ane paused to view the
Fair grounds and city, spread out far be-
low them as a monster relief man. his
companions We're quite satisfied to hold
tightly to the hand rail and go no higher.
Not SO with Specks. He intended to ge.
that electric bulb. Leaving his compan-
Ions behind, he crawled up the iron stairs
10 an opening In the roof that sheltered
the top platform, and emerged out upon
the sloping roof of the tower
CRAWLS TO BASE OF STAFF.
From there he crawled to the base of the
staff. and. grasping it. Skinned UP the
slender mast. The staff swayed under
the struggling weight of the youngster
but he was undismayed. At last he had
skinned up TO almost the tip OF the star
ne up anu the coveted
bulb from its socket. Looking down to
where his companions peered UP through
the hatchway at him, his exultation was
too great for words. and "Specks' seized
his cap for triumphant flourish.
Here ''Specks'' made his only break.
With both hands disengaged he slid rap
idly down the polished Flagstaff. which is
thirty feet long, hit the roof with bound
and rolled away from it along the slant
ing roof. down. down to the hatchway. The
presiding genius of the small boy here in
tervened for ''Specks'' and his next move
was to roll through the hatchway and
down the steps
He was very much frightened but un-
hurt, save for bruise on the side of his
Jaw. where he landed. The bulb was lost,
and in the excitement ''Specks' was de-
MED the pleasure of hearingi 1t pop.
''Specks' was led down the long iron
stairway to safety on the ground.
Nursing his Jaw. his. two companions
led him to the branch office. where the
operators. Miss Alice Coyle of the Western
Union and Miss Ada Kinney of the Postal
Telegraph, examined his face and as
sured him that he still lived '
''Specks'' worked all yesterday after
noon. He resides at No. 240 South Broad
way. = -