The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-12-03
HOW SOME BIRDS
ESCAPED A POSSE
Sheriff Attempts Raid On Old
Peerless
TREAD CHASM OF Death
Elevator Boy Holds off the Pursuers
While Heavy Artillery Is Moved
Back to a Safe Position.
A Bold Bluff.
TREAD CHASM OF Death
BY BURR BLACKBURN.

a new novel, entitled, over the Roof
Through the Skylights: or Holding the
Sheriff at Bay by Jack Dalton. the
heartless elevator boy, issued yesterday
afternoon from the Peerless" press, is
the latest and most exciting story on the
market. 1t is the talk of the town and
all the boys agree that the part where
the brave lads of the table walked a
narrow plank out of the jaws of death
and Higdon from the window of one
building across a dark chasm to safety
through a photographers skyHght. is one
of the most blood-curdling, beautifully
grotesque incidents ever narrated.
Nearly 5000 people gathered at the cor
ner of Second avenue and Nineteenth
street yesterday afternoon to witness the
original to this triumph over Diamond
Dick" and Jesse James"
It was a cold and lonesome afternoon.
The wind from the north howled around
the corners. Ugh! When suddenly as
from nowhere down swooped Sheriff Hig-
don, deputy Lucien Brown and posse of
the protectors of the law On they came
two by two picking their way through
the bushes without crumpling a leaf.
Turning suddenly into the old Peerless sa-
loon building, they climbed stealthily to
the second floor. There, after searching
behind chairs and under tables they
found nothing
Turning, they approached the elevator.
All, here enters the hero. See him as
he stands ar the helm, fair-skinned and
blue-eyed He fears neither power ce-
lestial or power terrestrial. He is pre-
pared to look the world in the face and
say, You shall not enter"
Turning to the sheriff he says in stern
language without CULVER, 1.-The elevator
is out of order" The crowd in the street
thickens like the throngs of election
night. The whisper goes the round that
big He and all his band are freed In
the third story. There is no other en-
trance to this floor except by the ele-
vator.
Meanwhile panic ensues in the heavens.
About 80 birds of a feather are fiocking
together, with their wings spread for
flight, but nowhere whittier to went. Sud-
denly navigator is seized with the idea
of walking the gap, so tapping their
wings the party flies out of the window,
across the dark chasm on a swayng
plank, jumps down the skylight into a
photogra piers office, and goes around to
watch the crowd and the sheriff.
However, a half dozen of the Oldest
birds prefer, in face of tragedy. to go
down the elevator, so the disabled car
down.
Policeman Lucien Brown: "As a police
man | demand entrance"
Brave elevator man: Thou shalt not"
Sheriff Higdon: LAS sheriff of jefferson
county l demand entrance"
Brave elevator man: Thou shalt not"
Hours pass and the crowds in the streets
increase. Colonel Higdon and his deputies
calmly wait. Finally, at about $50
O'clock the heart of the elevator man
melts suddenly like a marshmalow, and
after three hours stubbornness he offers
his private car for Colonel Higdon's prl-
waite use, and runs it lightly to the third
floor, where is found no one and no.
body's dog. So ends the tale.
Colonel Higdon was on his usual round
of houses looking for blind tigers and
gambling. He had no warrants and could
not force entrance, but he could wait
However, he stated that the next time
he would be armed when officers are
barred" he said, sit looks suspicious at
least"
1t was rumored on the streets that
Mayor Ward had been asked permission
to use the aerial truck of the fire depart
ment, and that both the mayor and Chief
Bennett had refused it, but the sheriff Of
ficers did not make the request. The in
cident caused quite as much comment as
the recent safe blowing However, no ar
rests were made, and the story ended
happily, all the principals living happily
ever after.