The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-07-19

moonlight night in 1868. Mr. Curran
was the midnight u six O'Clock man in
the hotel at that time. and soon after
midnight OF a fine vening. when sey-
eral actors from the Boston theater
and their guests We're having a bite
and a nlghtcap in one Of the dining
rooms. a young man named Ned Me
Guinness a. down the stairs 10 report
that his roommate was asleep on the
chimney top.
McGuinness had come in late. and
while going to his room had heard
some one coming noisily up the back
stairs. 1t was his roommate. Murphy
Murphy was on all fourS climbing the
stairs, but when he reached the level
OF the floor he straightened up. In
stead Of going TO his room he walked
VI another flight Of stairs leading 10
a part OF the ROOF where aTpetS were
beaten.
This was an inclosed space. a high
fence making a sort of r~ooflesS room
OF it. Several feet up a long pole. over
which the carpets We're thrown for
beating, was stretched across the in
closure to the chimeny near the edge
of the roof.
The pole seemed to attract the
sleep-Waiher's attention. He gazed at
1t, and McGuinneSS, in a~StoniShment.
kept his eye on him. He was curious
to see what Murphy would do. And he
had not long to wait. The sOmnam-
bulist gathered himself for a spring,
and went into the air like an in
fielder for an overhead nit. He caught
hold Of the pole e the enCe,
scrambled up and walked the pole
like a tightrope performer. Crossing
the Enclosure to the chimney, Murphy
jumped, got a grip on the top edge
Of the smoke outlet. pulled himself
to the top and curled up on his side
to finish his sleep. Had he attempt
ed to turn over q slip would have
tumbled him to a paved yard, cores
of feet below.
It was when Murphy took to the
chimney that McGuinness realized the
seriousness Of the situation. He rushed
below stairs and reported to Mr.. Cur
ran. A ladder was sent for, and with
the actors and others who were dining
late as spectators and helpers, the res
cue party got busy. Murphy was still
on the chimeny when Mr.. Curran
reached the roof. Noticing that Muir
ply moved slightly, Curran spoke to
him, telling him to be careful, but
there was no graciousness in the
mumbled reply. The actors. their
guests and q lot Of people who were
waiting for the car that ran one an
hour to Boston Neck fairly filled the
space where the carpets We're beaten.
Seemingly every one Of the gathering
had advise or suggestion to offer. Some
Of them warned Murphy to be care
full, while others shouted to the ad-
visers to be still. They might wake
the nan up, they said, and in waking
up Murphy might all.
Queer, though, said Mr.. Curran,
Murphy at times would voice back
angry replies. After being on the
chimney top nearly an hour, no lad
der having been found Murphy twist
ed about and let himself down on
the offside of the chimney to the roOf.
There, on the edge of sudden death.
he stretched out IN his side in the
gutter, which was not more than IA
inches vide. One of his legs dangled
over the side to drop the full height
Of the building.
At this critical period Mr.. Curran
got down to the roofs edge, fastened
a firm grip on Murphy's clothes and
pulled him out of danger. Murphy
was hustled into the hotel, where a
pitcher full OF cold water was poured
on his head by Geo. Chamberlain, the
proprietor. The chill aroused Murphy
a bit, but it did not bring him out Of
the strange stupOr which held HIM.
He got up from the floor where he had
been lying and stood facing the wall.
He would make no reply to any ques-
tons asked. a patrolman was called
in, but he refused to mix up in the
affair. He was not arre5ting men for
being asleep, and he went back 70
his beat.
Finally MI. Curran induced Murphy
to return to his oom, where on the
instant Of stepping inside the door.
he threatened Mr.. Curran With a
dumbell. Another 10 minutes and he
was wide awake. He undressed and
went to bed. For that night, how
ever, McGuinness, his roommate,
slept elsewhere. Next day Murphy
could remember nothing Of what had
taken place.
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