Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-04-20

AEMH ~
and drsggers, who lend q hand at the ropes
pour in from the n~eighbOring dram-shops
or the low danc,ng-rOOmS where they re-
main waiting to earn some dimes by such
casualties. A shout "a tigeri
uHeil HE'LL heilil heillti" (erescendO,)
and out at lightning speed dashes the engine,
in the direction of the red CLEAN now wi
dening and sending up the hn-like radiance
ola volcano.
Perhaps it is a steam ire-engine. These
arc entire successes, and will soon be Eniver-
sal among a people quick to grasp onward at
all that IS new, fit but be better than the
old. Then the fires are lighted, and breath
ing out ardent smoke, and splitting out trains
Of fiery cinders of it dsshes.
Now, a roar and crackle, as the quick
tongued flames leapei out red and eager, or
lick the black blistered beams-now, hot
belches Of smoke from shiverirg windows
now, snaps and smasheS Of red hot beams, as
the floors fall in-now, down burning stairs,
like frightened martyrs running from the
stake, rush poor women and children, in
white trailing night-goWns-now, the mob,
like a great exultant many-headed monster,
shouts with delight and sympathy-nowj
race up ihe FIRE engines, the men defyIng
each other in rivalry, Is they plant the lad
ders aud FIRE escapes. The FIRE trumpets roar
out stentorian orders-the red shirts fallintO
line-rock, rock 60 the steel bars that force
up the Water-up leap the men with the
hooks and axes-crash, crash, lop chop, 60
the axes at the partitions, where the IRE
shoulders. Now, spirtup in fluid arches the
blue white Jets Of water, that hiss and splash
and blacken out the spasms Of fire. and as
every new engine dashes up, the thousand
Of upturned faces turn to some new shade Of
reflected crimson, and the half broken beams
give way atthe thunder Of their cheera
TEE yICTnN or TEE FIRE.
The ERE lowers, is all but subdued, though
every now and then Aoor gives way with
an earthquake crash, and into the still lurid
dark air rises q storm Of sparks like q hurri-
cane Of ERE flies. But suddenly there is q
croWding together snd whispering Of bel,
melted heads. Brave Seth Johnsoni Is missing;
an the hook men and axe men ars back but
he; all the bumpers are there, and all the
loafers are there. he alone Is missing.
CALEB Fisher saw him last shouts the cap
tain 10 the eager red faces be was then
breaking a third floor back window with hi5
axe. He thinks he il under the last wall
that fell. Is there a lad there who will not
risk his life for Seth2 MOL or he would he
no fireman, l dare swear.
He'll HE'LL hei lil heillll
Up they tear, through choking smoke,
sparks, and still dangerous FIRE over bridges
/ Of half burnt beams, half brittle charcoal
They reach the tomb Of smoking bricks, they
dig Is If the life Of each were depending
on it-hooka axes, bleeding hands, every
thing but teeth.
Hell HE'LL heilll heillii
Click-shough go the shovels chick-chich,
the piek-axes. A shot e scream Of
aSethF
BE Is there, pale and silent with heaving
chest his breast bone smashed In, e Geld dew
DOSING from bis forehead. Now they bear
him 70 the roaring multitude, their eyes ach-
ing and watering with the sufocating gusts
Of smoke. They lay him pale, in his red
shirt amid the hushed v~oiceless men in the
bruised and scorched helmets. The grave
doctor breaks through he crowd He st0ops
and feels Seth's pulse. All eyes turns to
him. he shakes his head, and makes no 9th
er answer. Then the young uen take Of
their helmrts and bear home Seth, and some
weep, because Of lis bstrothed, and the
young men think Of her.