Raymond Stiner, 18, of Cogan Station, is of the opinion that much can happen in 12 months. For instance, part of a stone quarry can be blasted away and removed.

The Cogan Station youth arrived at the conclusion the hard way — after the fire department had been called out to rescue him.

Late Sunday afternoon he began to descend the face of the 175-foot cliff in the back of Holmes Silk Mill in Newberry. It would be easy he assured himself. Only last year he had started at the top of the stone quarry and made his way safely to the bottom.

Slowly he inched his way downward, always careful to avoid stones that were coated with ice. One slip and he would go to the bottom, a fall which would at least result in serious injury and perhaps death.

A group of children began to form around the bottom of the quarry to watch the show the 18-year-old was giving.

With 135-feet of cliff above him and only 40-feet below, Stiner realized something was wrong. Stretching below him was a smooth expanse of stone which offered not the slightest possibility of securing a toe or finger hold. It was not that way a year ago.

There had been no variation in the face of the cliff then. To make things worse now sheets of ice had formed all around him.

Most of his energy spent, Raymond despairing, called for help to the children below. The children hailed Fred Nordstrom, of 1190 Park Avenue, who was driving in an automobile.

Nordstrom called Fire Company No. 5 which relayed the call to Company 2, and the hook and ladder truck was sent to the scene.

As a growing crowd looked on the truck’s aerial ladder was swung into place and the stranded boy made his way to safety.