Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-24

ing.
Il found a very large and heavy
skylieht In the attic, which required
all my strength TO push II up and out
10 open. II was held open by piv-
oted stick of wood, and by climbing
through the opening saw that
could stretch myself out on the roof,
and, by holding fast to the edge OF the
skylight opening with my right hand
| could reach out with my left hand
and measude the gable wall with my
six-foot folding rule.
Il was sprawled out in this man
ner. fact down on the slate roof. with
my left arm and Ihe rule extended
at full length, when / suddenly be-
came conscious that the wind had
shaken the skylight loose from the
stick that held II open, and that II
was falling shut. II / did not with
draw my hand instantly it would catch
and crush it. If pulled my hand out
would slide down the slate roof TO
the street below.
"WhenI first noticed that the sup
port had given way the skylight had
already begun its descent. and ii had
not more than four feet TO fall. Du-
ring the time that il fell those four
feet / had amp'e time to review the
consequences OF losing my right hand
if held on. and the result of falling
three stories if let go. There was
nothing at the edge of the roof but
little haIf-round gutter, held up by
few holdfasts.
1t occurred 10 me mat 1t might be
possible TO pull out my right hand
and insert my left, as II would be
better to lose my left hand than my
right. | also discussed the possibility
OF being able to hold my place If
withdrew two or three fingers and sac
rificed the others, but | concluded that
they would probably be cut clean or
by the edge of such a heavy skylight,
and that | should slide down to the
street anyway.
This idea OF the insufficiency OF
mangled fingers to support my weight
, on such sloping roof suggested that
il might be better TO stick my arm in
, TO the opening, and that perhaps the
/ injury to 1t might not be so severe as
to require amputation. distinctly re-
member trying to recall whether the
! muscles should be firm or reiaxed, and
thought it best tc hold them firm.
AS well as / can remember, the
outcome of my deliberations was a
determination to change hands and to
sacrifice the left instead of the Eight
, had no sooner come TO this conclu-
sion than it struck that there would
be no time to make the change. and
that | might lose my hold altogether
II seemed to me that / had already
changed my opinion as 10 the respec-
tive merits of the two hands at least
| dozen times.
. All this time. remember. the sky
light was falling shut. AS look back
to it, it seems incredible that did not
spend at least half an hour thinking
over the pros and cons of the situa'
1 ticn, but it must have been less than
fifth of a second. Ny final resolve
4 was a determination TO hold on. and &c
| trust TO the shreds of my manglec
! fingers to hold ME on the roof.
But when the crash came and the
, skylight actually fell shut my hanc
| was not in the opening. 1t was slid
ing down the roof on my way to the
| street below.
The edge was at least 10 feet be
low me and / was gaining speed al
every foot. The only effect Of my
frantic efforts to clutch at the edge
' Of the skylight. the slate or anything
! was to bring distinctly home TO my
consciousness the fact that ! was "
motion, sliding down, heard my rule
go over the edge.
In that fraction Of n second the
entire current OF my thoughts chang
ed. 1t was no longer a question Of
which hand should be mangled. but