Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-05-15
A SLIDE ON A ROOF
Terrifying Experience on an Ice
Coated Mansard.
FIGHTING DEATH IN MIDAIR

IN Exhibition Of Goodness, Prsssnos
Of Mind and Heroic Pstienco-How
che Difficult Rescue Wa Effected.
During the fall and winter Of 1870
A. 7. 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 Il is ninety-eight
feet from the sidewalk.
One cold winter morning, when the
work wns virtually completed. two
men. Harvey. the head roofer. and q
helper named Dennlson went up on
the roof TO finish the nashing round
the base Of the tower. There had been
a slight mist that morning, and It had
frozen upon the roof, but the two
men had on india rubber overshoes to
prevent them from slIppiSg on the
slntea
Suddenly, however. Harvey's feet be-
gan to slip. He went very slowly at
6rst, for the upper roof Of a mansard
Is not steep. He tried to stop himself,
but there was nothing to which be
could cling. He turned his head in
De~nnison'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 him. lie down 6atr' he called
30 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.
1t seemed like hours. although It was
only a few moments, when Harvey felt
his heels catch on a slight projection.
A blind gutter had been built into the
lower edge OF the upper part OF the
roof to carry or 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 1t was against this
that Harvey's heels had caught.
There he hung on the very brink OF
Nn0 ABJoo-buA AOA III AnSNuuE h0
dared not move a muscle, however, or
even turn his head to see II DennisOn
were still on the roof. He did not cry
out for help. for he feared that the
mere effort Of filing 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
at work inside the building. But how
should they know whnt was happening
up there on the roof?
Suddenly Harvey heard n voice. low,
but distinct, come from the tower
above him. Hold on" it sud. "and
Ill help you'll" Then after a long time
Harvey heard the sound OF several
voices. Whoever had found him had
got help.
The first voice spoke again: Hold
on! We win lower this rope to your
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 itT' asked the
voice.
~ don't dare move much" Harvey
replied. Cant you get II down near
my handT"
They had to give it a dip to get it by
his shoulder. Then II traversed the
length Of his arm and finally touched
his hand.
Harvey raised his arm very careful
ly and took hold Of the rope. II was
an inch cable that had been used In
raising the slate from the ground to
the roof.
"Can you turn over very carefully
and climb upT" asked the voice
Cautiously Harvey worked his hand
along on the rOpe-it was his right
hand-unhl he finally drew 1t 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 a
leaf. BE lay there. Cat on bis back.
clinging desperately to the rope and
dreading inexpressibiy the next step.
How was be to turn over on that slip
perry roof when he needed both hands
to cling to the roper
At last he spoke hoarsely;
"Can you pull me upF'
They consulted together.
II don't dare to turn over" be
added.
There was a sharp tug on the rope.
Harvey let them draw his arms up 10
their extreme length, still afraid TO
trust his weight to his rescuers. Then
be felt his heels lose their grip on the
gutter. and he began slowly to nov
upward.
1t was not till be had nearly reach
ed the tower that be dared turn his
head In Dennison's direction to see II
he were still safe. There be war,
spread out on the roof. just as Harvey
had been. He did not move a muscleL
Patiently. heroically. he waited his
turn. Then the men seized HarVey's
shoulders and drew him into the
1 $780,