The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-01-11
A RESCUE IN M|DA|R,
Ferrous Feat of Climbing UP a
Skyscraper Frame.
LIFE WAS IN THE BALANCE.
Quick Wit and Strong Nerves at
Critical Moment In a Building Acct
dent-Why One Man Has a Warm
SPOT In His Heart For Our Sailors.

Il was working on steel framed
skyscraper in one of our large coast
cities on a July day some years ago"
said the man who told of the exciting,
almost tragic incident. We had reach
ed the eighth story, and, as the floors
were somewhat more than ten feet
apart the top beams We're well up In
the air
lone 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 II 80 we reached a set of holes
six feet above the seventh floor. To
get at these | was obliged TO sit upon
board supported by two tall wooden
horses standing on plsnks laid across
the shaft and forming a loose scaffold-
ing. Through its openings l could
look down clear to the basement more
than seventy feet below. Behind me,
on the opposite side of the shaft. were
dashed short perpendicular ladders, up
and down which the men were con-
staritly passing. for the elevator we'll
was the main thOrOughfare of the huge
steel skeleton.
Noon struck. In less than ii minute
the ladders were covered with men
climbing down. There were lot of Il
o'clock fellows on the job who would
rather leave a bolt half driven than
work a second overtime. \ gang right
over me had just put a 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
blanks rattle. Something grated above
my head. l looked up and for moment
my blood stopped running. The gust
lad struck the nicely balanced header
with just enough force to make it tot
ter Slowly its loose end swung down
ward; then it lurched quickly and slid
into the well.
LAS it dropped it just cleared my
head. 1t sheared through the middle
Of the scaffolding 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. Bang, Grind. All was
over in a few seconds. Dust rose and
when the turmoil had subsidized there
was I sitting on my board with seven
ty-tve 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 a 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 ON
which l sat and hurting me down to a
frightful death.
Il knew that / had been seen and
my peril understood. The building was
on a crowded business street, and the
crash of the falling beam had attract
ed the attention of hundreds of people
A great silent throng soon blocked all
traffic. | could see their upturned faces
and an occasional pointed finger. Their
very stiffness terrified me, for | knew
that it was my mortal danger that held
them spellbound.
Rnt thpra in that thrnnO
who did something more than sympa-
thize. He was a sailor on shore leave
from a United States battleshp in the
harbor. Running into store, he OBJ
tanned hundred feet of new, strong
rope, looped it about his shoulders and
began TO Chamber toward me. AS there
were no ladders left, he 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. l 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
a question Of very short time when |
should be hurled into the pit.
suddenly, three stories below l saw
man climbing toward me. He was
dressed in n blue suit and a fat cap
edged with white letters. A 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 vary 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 | noticed the dull red
smears on his clothing from the fresh
" painted beams.
IL watched him tenseIy. He glanced
up and caught my eye.
Cheer up. mate" he exclaimed. III
have this rope round you in jiffy.'
! Another slight movement Of the
plank. groaned. The bluejacket
! heard me. and it stimulated him 10 do
/ Ills utmost. II was a race between
| him and the retreating wood. On ais