Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-05-30
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 Patienee-How
the Difficult Rescue Was Effected.

of Mind and Heroic Patenee-How
the Difficult Rescue Was Effected.
During the fan and winter of 1870
A. T, Stewart, who had bought the
Grand Union hotel at Saratoga, largely
rebuilt that great hosiery 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 a
helper named Dennison went up on
the roof to finish the flashing round
the base Of the tower. There had been
q slight mist that morning. and 1t had
frozen upon the roof, but the two
men had on india rubber oyershoes to
prevent them from slipping on the
states
Suddenly, however, Harveys feet be
gan to slip lie 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 Gins. lie turned his head in
Dennison's direction to see ii he could
not give some assistance, but Denni-
son. too, was sliding slowly down the
roof.
Harvey's presence Of mind did not
leave Linn. Lie down fat he called
So both men carefully laid themselves
at fun length on the icy roof in order
that the increased friction might re-
tard, aud perhaps stop, their descent.
For an instant it checked the move
ment Then the men began again
slowly to Sip nearer the angle Of the
roof and the steep pitch below,
Ii seemed like hours. although it was
only few moments, when Harvey felt
his heels catch on a slight projection.
4 blind gutter had been built into the
lower edge of the upper part Of the
roof to carry OIL the large amount Of
water that would fan 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 lie
dared not move a 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 sec the men on the dat 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
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
the rope. which they were slowly
working down toward him,
Can you get hold of it?' asked the
voice
II don't dare move much" Harvey
replied Cant you get 1t down near
my handYs
They had to give it Zip 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
ly and took hold of the rope 1t was
an inch cable that had been used in
raising the slate from the ground to
the roof
Can you turn over very carefully
end climb up:" asked the voice
Cautiously Harvey worked his hand
along on the rope-it was his right
hand-uutl he finally drew it taut.
Then he 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 4
leaf He lay there, flat on his back,
chuginc desperately to the rope and
dreadiug ineXpressihly the next step.
How was he 10 turn over on that slip
perry roof when he needed both hands
10 cling to the rope}
Al last he spoke hoarSely:
Can you pull me up?"
They consulted together,
Il don't dare to turn over" he
added
There was a sharp tug ON the rope.
Harvey let them draw his arms up to
their extreme length, still afraid to
trust his weight 10 his rescuers. Then
he felt his heels lose their grip on the
gutter. and he began slowly to move
upward.
1t was not till he had nearly reach
ed the tower that he dared turn his
head in Dcnniscns direction to see il
he were Still safe There he was
spread ont on the roof inst as Harvey
had been. lie did not move muscle
Patiently herolcally, he waited his
turn Then the men seized Harvey s
shOulder-S oud d-ou him into thc