The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-10-16

and the horrible fear of death so close al
hand, | seemed to be regularly unnerved
and fell to shrieking and crying out that
my mates had deserted me, when they
were on the roof and had let down a rope
to me, but | could not see it; and then at
last one Of them was let down and tried to
get in at the window, but the flames beat
him back, and groan came from the pee
pie as they saw all that had been done.
AS | told you, seemed quite to lose
my nerve, and ran abont shrieking for a
few minutes, and then fell down on my
face upon the hot floor; but directly after
my mind seemed to come again, and felt
that if must die | should have done my
duty, and had saved seven poor creatures ;
and as | thought that, rose to my knees,
and some words came to my hps-words
that came to my heart as | thought of
those who We're once saved from the heat
Of the burning, fiery furnace, aud prayed
that | too might pe saved.
And ah it was hard to pray there to
keep your thoughts in the midst of that
fierce, suffocating heat OF smoke and steam
from the water pouring into the room.
And how everything else but the words of
prayer came into ones mind; and it was
as if deyls-despaiting blasphemous dew
iIs-were Kissing in my ears to curse and
shrek oaths. Then. too, came the thought
of those at home, and the little golden
curls that | should play with no more; and
bow | could now understand the dread
my wife always had Of what she called my
frightful business. Yes, had saved seven
that night; but it was hard to ode-hard to
give up life at eight and twenty, and to
suffer the death from which | had saved so
many.
| couldn't help it just then, for a grim
smile came over my face as | thought it
was my old enemy, the fire, being revenged
upon me; but directly after | tried to pray
once more, and then in the midst of the
smoke | gave a wild cry, dashed off my
helmet dragged my belt undone, and
kicked off my heavy boots, half sutfocated,
and had off my thick coat, too; and then,
with my heart beating with hope, | thank
ed God for the thought, and the next mo-
ment | was over the CRATE bars and in the
big chimney of the old house.
1t was full of smoke and [ could hardly
breathe; hut it was a sure way Of escape to
the roof; and though | could feel that |
was tearing the skin from my elbows and
knees, | managed to climb higher and
higher, slowly and painfully, but SC on |
could feel a current Of sweet, refreshing air
setting down to me, and every breath gave
re fresh strength till reached the top,
when my heart sank, aud | found it would
be impossible to get any further or account
Of the chimney
To shout was useless, and for a while |
was in despair; but at last got my hands
we'll above me, and tried to move the pot.
| tried again and again; and then to force
myself through, till | was SO wedged in
that | could not get back, but found that
| had loosened the pot, and at last com
pletely forced it off, and raised myself
painting to sitting position on the chin
ney stack, but afraid to move, for my head
was wedged in the pot, which was fixed
down upon my shoulders.
l knew that could not stay where I was
for long. and tried once more to get rid ofI
my awkward helmet; and now, having
both hands at liberty, | Ioosened it, and it
fell with crash into the court beneath.
Just then there rose a cheer, for some
one had made me out from below; and
sick and faint as was, managed to wave
my hand and try to cheer; but it stuck in
my throat and | could not get down with
out help. And I suppose English people
must be fond of cheering, for how they did
shout when got down through another
house and was there amongst them; aud
after all it was only ones duty.