Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-02-12

acqn0intanceS, hastily arranged a plan for
preventing the progress of the fire and
when the City fresh pair of arms, which
Yngve had brought with him, unanimously
and vigorously obeyed their commander. a
new turn was soon given to the work Of ex-
tinguishing the fire. 1t began really to a.
bate, and its further progress seemed stay.
cd Nevertheless, they we're met 10y unfUr
seen difficulties, partly through the failing
supply of water, and partly through the
want of harmony among the city authori-
ties.
For instance, a number of young uavvies
had succeeded in raising a sail-coth to the
roof of house which stood in the corner
of a narrow lane and Just opposite to one
which was burning furiously. There they
sat upon the root, pouring torrents of wa
ter over the sail-cloth, when orders came
from the magistrates that the sai-cloth
must be taken down, in order to be placed
upon another house which was already on
fire. The young fellows vcntured to act in
opposition to the authorities assembled in
the market-place. The magistrates mes
senger was sent crestfalen away. and they
still sat triumphantly on the roof. But, as
a matter of course, they were the minority;
the majority in the lane below we're deter
mined to have their own way the navvies
were obliged to loosen their ropes and give
mp their own schemes. The sail.cloth was
carried off in triumph, and the end of it.
was, that the house itself, and many others
near it, together with the sail.cloth, were
all consumed
We must pull down that house, said
NOrdin, an hour later, speaking with deci-
sion to the magistrate, and pointing to q
house which had not yet taken fire, but
was SO situated us to render such step
necessary
Pull it downp exclaimed the other al
most shedding tears surely it is quite e.
nough fo' the houses to be burnt down
without pulling them down. No, that shall
never be done as long as l live
Yngye was obliged to restrict his opera
tionS to the well-directed IL e of the lire-en-
gine tubes. He put himself at the head
Of this part of the business, he himself
working one of the hose But now water
failed him.
BE so good as to let us have some water
here y said he to gentleman who stood
quite calmly at short distance from him,
watching the fire, with his hands in his
pockets, we must have more water here
Immediately, otherwise we cannot save this
, house.
1T is no business of mine = replied Mr.
Won Tackjern Il don't trouble mysel
about anybody's house but my own, and
that stands safe yonder. That is the house
keep watch over
Certainly, your house is not yet in dan
ger. and with Gods help it shall not he so,
said Yngve ; you can, therefore, without
any risk, go and see after water
Go yourself, and the devil take you y
replied the surly and selfish proprietor of
the uncndangercd house.
Yngve Nordiu. as quick as lightning,
gave him box on the ear, and was just
about to rush after water himself when q
voice in the crown exclaimed
Stay where You are lin a moment wa
ter shall be here ?
The voice was that Of woman it was
Hertha's. She and Mimmi Svanherg, in
! the course Of their work of salvation, had
been brought to this place, aud had thus
heard the alteration between the two gen
tlemen.
Before many minutes were over, Hertha
returned with water-cart, which she
herself drew.
In the meantime, Mimmi Svanherg Mr.
Won Tackjern talking, in an under-voice
to IL stronglimbed, coarSe-lOoking working
man, to whom he gave some money. On
this the man nodded assentingly, and i'm
! mediately as Nordin, who continued to d.
rect the hose, turned round to look after
water, he received so violent blow be-
tween the eyes from this hired ruffian, that
the spectacles which he wore, on account
of being near-Sighted, were smashed on his
face. Without staggering or pauSing a
moment, Nordin returned him so heavy a
| blow on the side of his head as to knock
him down, after which he SUNK off, utter
ing imprecations. Nordin, near-slghted a:
he was, seemed, in the meantime, helpless
although, fortunately, his eyes were unin'
jurcd by the blow, aud fortunately, also, hC
was not unprovided for in case Of accident
With the utmost calmness, as if nothing
unpleasant had occurred, he took second
pair of Spectacles from his pocket, anc
turned himself again to work.
When, however, he was about TO retakC
the pipe, he saw, to his surprise, that it was
in the hand of q young woman, who wa'
not for the moment directing it upon thC
fire, but npon the fellow who had dealt the
insidious blow, and the person who had
hired him. Both rushed away from the
unexpected duSch-bath. Hertha laughed
aud then directed the mouth of the host
against the fire. But the eHraged fellow
turned again, and was rushing toward her
uttering voley of insult when once NOR
she directed the pipe against his mouth, an
the torrent of water drowned its cOarS
abuse, after which it was again turned {
the flames
YDgVe, who immediG tely recognised Her
tina, stood for a few minutes the silent spec
tator Of her deeds, aud seemed to hav
great enjoyment in thus watching her. Blu
when he saw the sparks Of fire fall upon he
beautiful plaits of hair, for the handkeI
chief which had been tied on her head ha
fallen back upon her shoulders, he took OI
his cap and put it on her nead.
You work well, comrade,' said he smi
ing, and with a tone that expressed heart
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