Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-03-30
A SLIDE ON A ROOF
Terrifying Experience on an Ice
Coated Mansard.
FIGHTING DEATH IN MIDAIR
PeriIous Plight of Two Workers, and
an Exhibition of Goodness, Presence
of Mind and Heroic Patence-How
the Difficult Rescue Was Effected.

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 Il
helper named Dennison went up on
the roof to finish the flashing round
the base of the tower. There had been
y 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, uarvey's feet be-
gan to slip. He went very slowly at
first. for the upper roof of mansard
is not steep. He tried to stop himself.
but there was nothing to which he
could 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 fiatr' be called.
So both men carefully laid themselves
at 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.
I 1t seemed like hours. although it was
only few moments. when Harvey felt
his heels catch on slight projection.
1 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-
iected above the slate roof only about
half an inch. but it was against this
that Harvey's 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 if Dennison
were 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 OH the fat of the
roof from the street below. The only
hope lay in the carpenters who were
at work inside the building. But how
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
III help YOU" Then after long time
Harvey heard the sound of severa
voices. Whoever had found him hat
got help.
, The first voice spoke again: "Holt
on. We will lower this rope to you"
Presently something rubbed on thu
y slate above Harvey's head. 1t wa
, the rope, which they were slowl.
working down toward him.
Can you get hold of it?" asked tn
voice.
II don't dare move much," Harve,
e repn:d. Cant you get it down nea
s my hand?'
n They had to give it Zip to get it b
, his shoulder. Then it traversed tn
. length Of his arm and finally touche
his hand.
u Harvey raised his arm very careful
y ly and took hold OF the rope. 1t wa
n an inch cable that had been used !
d raising the slate from the ground I
# the roof
i Can you turn over very CAREFUL
: and climb up?" asked the voice.
Cautiously Harvey worked his har
along on the rope-it was his rig
hand-until he finally drew it tau
Is Then he carefully raised his left haI
d aud reaching across, grasped the roI
n with that hand too.
IN Then when the worst OF the matt
ID was over, he began to shake ike
4. leaf. He lay there, fat on his baC
"a clinging desperately TO the rope Al
- dreading inexpressibly the next ste
How was he to turn over on that 81
&c perry roof when he needed both han
~ to cling to the rope?
Y At last he spoke hoarsely:
tie "Can you pull me upY"
ad They consulted together.
at II don't dare to turn over"
added.
There was a sharp tug on the ro
TO- Harvey let them draw his arms up
;, their extreme length. still afraid
. trust his weight to his rescuers. II
es' he felt his heels lose their grip ON
les gutter, and he began slowly to M
upward.
II was not til he had nearly rea
the ed the tower that he dared turn
the head In Dennison's direction to sc,
mr. he were still safe. There he '
in spread out ON the roof just as Har
had been. He did not move mus
Patiently. heroically. he waited
turn. Then the men seized Harv
ue- shoulders and drew him into
'ro- tower.
ted In n few minutes Dennison was
raectad lacking n little blue rO