The Bossier banner., 1907-08-01
A RESCUE IN M|DA|R,
PeriIous Feat of Climbing Up a
Skyscraper Frame.
A LIFE WAS IN THE BALANCE.

Quick wit and Strong Nerves at q
Critical Moment In Building Acct
dent-Why One Man Has Warm
Spot In His Heart For Our Sailors.
II was working on steel framed
skyscraper in one Of our large coast
cities on July day some years ago."
said the man who told of the exciting,
almost tragic incident 1--WE had reach
ed the eighth story, and, as the floors
were somewhat more than ten feet
apart, the top beams were well up in
the air.
"Dne forenoon ! was inside an ele-
vator well between the seventh and
eighth stories fastening the guide to
the sheet steel wall. One of the other
sides was also covered with steel, but
the other two were open.
AT 11:3O we reached a set of holes
six feet above the seventh floor. To
get at these l was obliged to sit upon
board supported by two tall wooden
horses standing on planks laid across
the shaft and forming loose scaffold-
ing. Through it's openings l could
look down clear to the basement, more
than seventy feet below Behind me,
on the opposite side of the shaft, We're
lashed short perpendicular ladders, up
and down which the men We're con-
stantly passing, for the elevator well
1,fo ~
steel skeleton.
"Noon struck. In less than minute
the ladders were covered with men
climbing down. There We're lot Of IL
o'clock fellows on the job who would
rather leave bolt half driven than
work second overtime. A gang right
over me had just put heavy steel
header in place on the edge of the
shaft. Two or three bolts had been
driven into one end, but the other was
as yet unfastened. 1t would have TAX
en- only few minutes at the most to
make everything secure, but at the
first stroke of the hour they dropped
their tools and hurried to dinner.
"A sudden strong hot wind swept
through the frame, making the loose
planks rattle. Something grated above
my head. looked up and for a moment
my blood stopped running. The gust
had struck the nicely balanced header
with just enough force to make it tot
ter. Slowly It's loose end swung down.
| ward; then 1t lurched quickly and slid
into the well.
las 1t dropped it just cleared my
head. 1t sheared through the middle
Of the scaffoldins as if the thick planks
were rotten paper. Down it shot, gain
ing momentum with every foot, its
lower end making the opposite wall
clean Of ladders.
Smash! Bangl Grind! All was
over in few seconds. Dust rose, and
when the turmoil had subsidel there
was l sitting on my board with seven
ty-tive feet Of empty air between me
and the debris at the bottom Of the
WELL
THE falling header had taken out the
middle of the scaffolding. leaving only
the side planks on which the horses
stood. The shock had moved one of
these planks two or three inches. so
that II leg of the horse upon it just
overhung the edge. A little more and
the horse would topple into the shaft
taking its support from the board OH
which sat and hurling me down to a
| frightful death.
II knew that l had been seen and
my peril understood. The building was
Oh crowded business street, and the
crash of the falling beam had attract
ed the attention of hundreds of people
\ great silent throng soon blocked all
traffic. could see their upturned faces
and an occasional pointed finger. Their
very stiffness terrified me. for knew
them spellbound.
But there was one in that throng
who did something more than sympa-
thize. He was sailor Oh shore leave
from United States battleship in the
harbOr. Running into store, he OBJ
tanned a hundred feet Of new, strong
rope, looped it about his shoulders and
began to Chamber toward me. AS there
We're no ladders left, lie was forced to
swarm up the steel uprights.
"At first, however, did not see him,
for close to me something happened
that drove everything else from my
mind
"a barely perceptible movement fas-
tened my eyes on the leg Of the horse.
Painfully scrutinizing the spot where
it rested, saw that the plank was be-
ing pushed slowly but surely along by
the lateral pressure of the other legs.
! watched it, fascinated. 1t was only
question Of very short time when
should be hurled into the pit
Suddenly, three stories below, l saw
a man climbing toward me. He was
dressed in blue suit and fat cap
| edged With white letters. \ coil Of
rope hung round his neck. Up he came
like monkey, arms. legs. hands, feet,
all doing their part. Would he be in
time to save me? He was a swarthy
Spanish looking fellow. not very tall,
with black mustache and good natured
face. Two stories below me his cap
dropped off. revealing his thick curly
hair. Several times he slipped back
slightly. and l noticed the dull red
smears on bis clothing from the fresh
~ painted beams.
II watched him tensely He glanced
up and caught my eye
Cheer up mater he exclaimed. IN
have this rome round you in a jiffy.'
Another slight movement of the
~rvcn~ox7 rrl,c ~ ~, -