The Washington times., 1908-06-27
A Pretty Georgetown Girl
Climbs Water Pipe and
Hangs Over Ledge.
RESIDENTS WATCH
PERILOUS PLIGHT
Police Called, and Assist in Res
cuing Her After Heroic
Work.

CHnging 70 the edge Of roof fort,
feet above the ground, with blood
squirting from an ugly cash n her
wrist, and growing weaker every mo
m5nt from the loss OF blood, Miss Sa-
die Petit, nineteen years Of age, a
somaambulist, remained n a perilous
position for more than an hour this
morning, her feet swaying against the
brick wall, while more than a dozen
persons, unable 70 render any assist
ancs, watched her. expecting every
minute 70 see her pitch headloug IRON
the building.
Smashing every pane OF glass n The
window Of her room on the second
floor Of the house at 3l24 P street north
west, Miss Petit climbed out on a fran
water pipe, worked her way along the
side OF the building with only the tin
spout for a fOOthold. until she r.ached
the roof OF the porch extending along
the west side OF the house.
Climbs Water Pipe.
From there she CLIMBED The water
pipe, q distance Of ten feet. to the roof
OF the house. ana managed 10 reach the
ledge Of the roof, which is almost. per
PendicUIar-
Creeping along the gable, she got 20
a small brick projection, which is built
above the rear OF the house. Dressed
only iE her night clothing. she stocd
on this small projection for several
minutes. alternately crving and scream
ing AZ the top OF Ner voice Attracted
by her c-ies. persons living in nearby
houses looked out OF their windows. ard
saw tn= -7Oung woman apparently pre-
pairing 70 leap from the roof
Raising her arms above her head. she
made a movement as II 70 jump, and
the next moment she was sitting on rhe
very edge of the brick wall. her feet
dangling in space. supported only by
her hands.
On Ledge an Hour.
II was about I.s0 O'Clock when Miss
Petit was first seen She remained on
the ledge for more than an hour. and
a rescue was only effected after heroic
work or the part OF policemen O. the
Seventh precinct
Miss Louise Richardson, Who lives az
512S P street, was probably the first per-
son awakened by Miss Pettlt's screams.
Miss Richardson called 10 her from the
window to come back from the edge OF
the roof
In the meantime Miss Emily Smeade
and her sister, Miss Henrietta Smeade.
who live at 512 ? street. aroused by the
unusual noise, were looking out Of their
windows.
Please forgive ne" Miss Petit was
calling between sobs-
oh, my God. forgive me. Il Is awful
horrible can not stand II any long
er"
The Misses Smeads called 70 the girl.
but she would pay no attention TO them.
A telephone message was sent 20 Dr..
Reginald MunsOn, 31M street. Dr
AIHnsOn dressed hurriedly, and rushed
10 the scene OF the excitement. Realiz-
ing Ihac the girl was still asleep and
had no knowledge Of what she was do
ing, Dr. AunsOn cautioned the persons
who had gathered bout the house not
TO shock her so that she would wake
Up suddenly Il was believed that Il
| she awoke and realized her position
she would undoubtedly drop 10 the
ground.
Police Called.
The police OF the Seventh precinct
we're notified few minutes later. and
| Sergeant ". B. Hess and Policeman p
i n
time the police arrived there was a
large crowd watching the girl.
Intending 10 reach the roof from the
middle OF the house. the policemen rap
| ped on the door IN a vain effort 10
arouse some one Il developed that Miss
/ Petit had been living alone in the house
with Miss Mary Thomas. an elderly
woman, who is one Of the oldest resi-
/ dents Of Georgetown.
Miss Thomas and Miss Petit who
were the only occupants Of the house.
were sleeping in different rooms Seeing
/ the crowd outside. Miss Thomas. who
/ is slightly deaf, refused to come TO the
\ door, or admit any one
Afraid She Would FAN.
For time /. was thought that 1t
would be necessary to call out the Fire
4 Department but DR.. NIunson advised
/ the police that the noise of the appar-
atus and the large crowd that would
be certain to congregate. might awake
Miss Petit from her remarkable sleep
and that sac wc5-ld likely fail 70 the
/ ground
Sergeant Hess finally decided that the
only way to -escue the girl would be
to break the door down and set on the
roof from the inside. Hess and Clark
/ forced the lock. AMI got out on the
! porch rSof- There was no way
/ BY which they could reach the roof oF
/ the house proper, without climbing Up
/ the water spout that Miss Petit had
/ climbed Both Of the officers are large
I men, and they realized that the small
/ pipe would never hold them. even l.
/ they dared TO make the perilOus climb
/ While the officers were standing on
/ the roof. Mss Richardson called from
| her window 10 Miss Petit.
/ Wake up and come of the roof" she
1 said speaking at the top Of her voice
4 Miss Richardson had evidently struck
I the mystic words that broke the sneW