The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-15
MAN AND WIFE ARE
DASHED TO DEATH
Continued From First Page


of the cord so fast that particles of the
cotton, of which the cord was made,
were worn away almost as soon as he
disappeared over the ledge. AS the
jerking of the cord indicated to the
watchers above that the man had halt
ed in his downward course, cry OF
horror arose from the bell boys OF the
club who clustered around the severed
end of the rope.
1.-THE ropes breaking" shouted one
little fellow, as single strand OF the
cord parted on the sharp sill.
Hurry hurry-fOr Gods sakeS hur-
ry," yelled another, but down below on
the side of the building the voices
above could not penetrate, and sound
ed only like more applause for the dar-
ing act of the young painter.
Then came a swapping report like
rifle shot and the end of the cord came
back against the woodwork like whip
lash.
From below arose a great groan from
the crowd and the bellboys knew
tragedy had taken place.
Willie Schofield, head bellboy, said
that he first noticed the wearing OF
the cord a moment after Scammon had
passed out of the window. AT that time
the man was perhaps fifty feet below
the ledge and descending rapidly.
Seammon just before he started on ms
fatal trip and cautioned him against
the very accident that caused the death
of the man and woman.
Better put a newspaper under the
rope. that ledge is sharp, cautioned
the unknown, who is said to be mem
Der of the club.
ooh, that's all right laughed Scam
mon. I'VE made two trips in Mime
never showed a sign of wear.
The young fellow waved aside the
nroffered paper which would have
proved his safety and shot down to MS
death. -,
4 friend who took breakfast with
the pair in Minneapolis said that the
woman was averse to the performance
taking place yesterday because she salo
# was Friday and that day had always
heen I1nlucky for her. When she step
ned from DR.. Crary's window to the
embrace of death, her face was white.
Her husband called to her to keep up
her nerve
aCome on, Molly he laughed.
"All right, Ben" she replied, and
forced a smile to her lips.
Then she stretched out her arms TO
her husband and settled into his lap.
Her feet were still on the sill of the
WlIluOW WllSIl tliC AORO
turned her head downwards in the
death plunge.
over and over they turned and amid
the coils of useless, treacherous cord
they struck the pavement.
Whellams was overwhelmed at the
happening. He could scarcely talk
colleetedly, and kept muttering:
"There is nothing wrong with the
harness. There's nothing wrong, say.
1t was the rope
'T knew Scammon many years ago,
he said 81 knew his mother, as she
worked for me in business project
of mine years ago. He was about
twenty-four years old and SO was his
wife. Poor little woman-poor little
woman" he groaned.
"He was a painter by trade, and
suppose he took undue chances, as he
had had so much experience on scat
folds and work above the surface of
the earth.''
Two weeks ago Scammon applied to
the city engineer for chance to have
the device favorably considered by the
department. He was told at that time
that the law required fire escapes to be
of a certain pattern in st. Paul, and his
arrangement did not meet with the
specifications.
He was also told that there was no
law to prevent him from making test
of the fire escape on private grounds.
He left the office apparently satisfied.
A dozen or more years ago there was