The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-04-17
A SLIDE ON A ROOF
Terrifying Experience on an Ice
Coated Mansard.
FIGHTING DEATH IN MIDAIR
Perilous Plight Of Two Workers, and
an Exhibition Of Goodness, Presence
of Mind and Heroic Patience-How
the Difficult Rescue Was Effected.

of Mind and Heroic Patience-How
the Difficult Rescue Was Effected.
During the fall and winter Of 1870
A. II, Stewart, who had bought the
Grand Union hotel at Saratoga, largely
rebuilt that great hostelry of 1000
rooms. The building has a mansard
roof. and at the peak it Is ninety-eight
feet from the sidewalk.
One cold winter morning, when the
work was virtually completed. two
men. Harvey. the head roofer. and
helper named Dennison went up on
the roof to finish the flashing round
the base of the tower. There had been
p slight mist that morning, and it had
frozen upon the roof. but the two
men had ON india rubber overshoes to
prevent them from slipping on the
states.
Suddenly, however, Harvey's feet be-
gan TO slip. He went very slowly at
first. for the upper roof Of a mansard
is not steep. He tried to stop himself,
but tbtIt was hOthihS W " hiNh hO
rouId cling. He turned his head in
Dennison's direction to see If he could
not give some assistance, but Denni-
son. too, was sliding slowly down the
roof.
Harvey's presence of mind did not
leave him. Lie down fat he called.
So both men carefully laid themselves
mt full length on the icy roof in order
that the increased friction might re-
tard. and perhaps stop. their descent.
For an instant it checked the move
ment. Then the men began again
slowly to slip nearer the angle Of the
roof and the steep pitch below.
1t seemed like hours, although it was
only q few moments, when Harvey felt
bis heels catch on slight projection.
A blind gutter had been built into the
lower edge of the upper part Of the
roof to carry off the large amount Of
water that would fall upon such an ex-
panse of roof. The upper gutter pro-
jected above the slate roof only about
half an inch. but it was against this
that Harveys heels had caught.
There he hung ON the very brink Of
the abyss-safe for an instant. He
dared not move muscle. however, or
even turn his head to see II DennisOn
We're still on the roof. He did not cry
out for help, for he feared that the
mere effort of filling his lungs and
shouting might dislodge him. No one
could see the men on the dat of the
roof from the street below. The only
hope lay in the carpenters who were
should they know what was happening
up there on the roof?
Suddenly Harvey heard voice, low.
but distinct, come from the tower
above him. Hold on" it said, land
I'll help you!" Then after long time
Harvey heard the sound of several
voices. Whoever had found him had
got help.
The first voice spoke again: Hold
On! We will lower this rope to you."
Presently something rubbed on the
slate above Harvey's head. 1t was
lut TUBE. NClC StO"is
working down toward him.
Can you get hold of it?" asked the
voice.
Il don't dare move much" Harvey
replied. Cant you get it down near
my handy
They had to give 1t a dip to get it by
his shoulder. Then it traversed the
length Of his arm and finally touched
his hand.
Harvey raised his arm very careful
Iy and took hold Of the rope. 1t was
an inch cable that had been used In
raising the slate from the ground to
tho roof.
Can you tnrn over very carefully
md climb up" asked the voice.
Cautiously Harvey worked his hand
0IODg on the rope-it was his right
hand-until he finally drew it taut.
Then be carefully raised his left hand
and, reaching across. grasped the rope
with that hand too.
Then when the worst Of the matter
was over. he began to shake like
leaf. He lay there. flat on his back,
cIinging desperately to the rope and
nreading ineXpressibly the next step,
How was he 70 turn over on that slip
pegy roof when he needed both hands
To cling TO the rope?
At last he spoke hoarsely:
Can you pull me up?"
They consulted together.
81 don't dare TO turn over" he
sdJed.
There was II sharp tug on the r"p"
Harvey let them draw his arms up :"
their extreme length. still afraid 70
trust his weight to his rescuers. Then
hr felt his heels lose their grip on the
gsitier and he began slowly to move
coward.
II was not tii he had nearly reach
ed The tower that he dared turn his
bead In Dehnison's direction to see IL
be were still safe. There he was,
spread out On the roof, just as Harvey
had been. lie did not move muscle.
Patiently. beroically, lie waited his
turn. Then the men seized Iaryey's
shoulder and drew him into the
tower.