The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-10
JACK KEPT
 THE POLICE AT BAY
Was Secure onoTop of a High
 Chimney Stack
WAS BESIEGED TWO WEEKS
His Friends Sent Provisions Up to the Fugitive and When He Came Down He Found Himself
 Famous.

London Correspondent Washington Post
 Not more suddenly did fame come to Baden Powell through his heroic defense of Mfeking than in these piping days of peace it has descended on Jamie Gill. the Irish steeplejack, because of his long de- fiance of the police from the dizzy sum- init of a lofty chimney-stack. The exploit has made Jamie national character. It has been described at length in all the l London and provincial papers. And the nimble-witted Jamie has not been long in turning his fame to pecuniary account, for he is now filling profitable engage ment in Belfast music hall with the prospect of making still more money on the London variety stage.
 But his sudden attainment of prosperity can hardly be cited as an example that will serve the purpose of popular temper ance orators. Had he not one day imbibed more of the "crayther" than was good for him, he would still be pursuing his da- .gerous calling in obscurity. It Is a laemtnable truth that he owes his rise in -ortune to the fact that on this occa- sion he did get unmlstakably and out rageously drunk. He was arrested and sentenced to pay a fine. or in default thereof expiate his offense by months 1 imprisonment
 Sought Top of Chimney Stack.
 Jamie elected to do neither. When re- turning sobriety had again given him full command of his legs he succeeded in giv- ing the constable the slip. and sought refuge on the top of a mammoth chimney l stack belonging to an abandoned factory on Sugar Island a short distance from his own home, In the town of Newry. It's de- struction had been decreed. and some in- side scaffolding which had been erected to facilitate the work made the perious ascent a comparatively easy task for man of Jamie's nerve and skill But 1t was too tough job for the police to un- l dertake-especially with Jamie on the summit prepared to drop a brick on the l head of the first of them who apperaed inside. They concluded it would be safer to lay siege to him from without and starve him into surrender
 But Jamie's numerous friends contrived to smuggle supplies to him, despite all their vigilance, and for two weeks he held possession of his novel fortress. Some ally managed to send him up a red flag, which he waved defiantly at the police below. and dared them to come up and take him. During the day time crowds assembled about the chimney-stack and vociferous- ! " CHttTtu nlHl. newspaper cOrreSpOnd- ents were dispatched to the scene who held long-dstance interviews with Jamie and telegraphed to their various papers 1 graphic accounts of the progress of the 1 siege. All this spelled fame for the plucky Irishman.
 Just how he contriyed to sleep on hIs ] giddy perch Is his own secret. But every morning found him there as fresh as a l daisy, dancing jigs and singing songs for l dalRCtafiop pf ha de ,,1 heaping scorn upon the police Jamie be- came the popular hero of Newry. Had there been parliamentary vacancy jn the district he might nave been elected by a 1 large majority.
 Falls, But Rises Again.
 But pride goes before fall One night Jamie essayed to descend from the chim- hey to communicate with some of his friends who had signaled to him that the "bobbie' who was supposed to be on watch was asleep. Some distance from the ground he missed his footing and came down with a crash. The policeman awakened from his slumber and bounced upon him. Jamie was a prisoner, and it was apparently all up WI a him. But his wis did not desert him. He was hurt but his injuries were not nearly so bad as he made out.
 Between simulated groans he declared that his leg was brok n and that he was injured internally. and insisted on being carried to his home at once. The police man consented. for he felt sure that in his crippled condition Jamie could not again escape the limbs of the law For a couple of days he lay In bed "pIaying 1 'possum.' and whenever a policeman en- tered his room his surferlngs became in- tense The police kept no watch oyer him there; 1t seemed so obviously need less. They propose that he should be re- moved to the prison infirmary at Dundalk. where he could receive proper medical at- tendance. He gratefully acquiesced in the suggestion.
 But bright and early next morning he slipt out of bed, and despite his lameness managed to reach the top of the chimney stack again, and there the police who came to take him to the infirmary, discov- cred him as chipper as cricket
 Then a Belfast music hall proprietor awoke to the discovery that talent was being wasted on top of that chimney stack Negotiations were opened with Jamie on his lofty perch with the result that he is now reaping the reward of his climb to the pinnacle of fame. He Is pop ularly supposed to be still defying the po- lice from the theatre, but it is shrewtly suspected that his fine has been privately paid and that he has made his peace with