The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-11-01

And up came the flame and smoke,
and the roar and crackle and falling in
of timbers was getting terrible. Every
place was light as day, while as to the
heat, declared it seemed to scorch you
fearfully.
s'The sooner you're across and me
with you, the better ! shall like it |
says" and then I took a look round to
see how matters were, when there came
crash and puff, and in a moment the
flames came wreathing and twirling up
from underneath, where I stood, and
just as the last chap had his leg on the
Window-sill and | was going to tip the
rope round him he gave a yell and fell
back, or rather l pulled him back into
the smoky room, and he tainted dead
away.
He must have gone down crash into
the court if / hadn't have dragged at
him; but there was no time to lose. l
Elade the rope fast and got him on to
the ladder, with the flames darting up
through the rounds and burning his
hair; and then shouted to them to haul
and haul they did, with me trying to
steady him with my end of the rope;
went snap, and I staggered back in the
room, holding on to the piece of burnt
rope, and with my heart sinking as l
felt that my own salvation was partly
gone.
Just then the flames were waited on
one side, and [ saw that they were drag
ging in the last of the seven, and [ felt
now as if | had done a good nights work,
and it was time to save myself. Pm not
ashamed to own il. [ did feel frighten-
ed as | threw down that piece Of rope,
and it must have been something like
a cry Of horror gave when l got hold
of the ladder and felt it burn my hands;
and then as l tried to bear upon it, felt
it crumble and give away, and that I
was without a way to escape.
Far above the noise of the fire and
water came the shrek of the crowd as
the burned ladder fell away and hung
blazing by one end against the opposite
house, While there came up such rush
of fame past the window that | could
not look out; but directly after l heard
the fierce rush of water, and could see
that four branches We're deluging the
Window and all beneath; for my mates
knew what danger ! was in.
| ran to the window, and was beaten
back by the water, while the smoke
that came up was quite binding. Then
room to see If could get out of the door
and reach the roof; but just at that mo-
ment there came a dull flash through
the smoke, and [ could see that the back
of the house was on fire, while from the
way the flames rushed up again in front
and filled the court knew that there
was no help to be had from opposite,
for they must be beaten from the Win
dow.
I'd been in some dangers in my time,
but till now there had always seemed Il
road out; and rs [ tore furiously around
the place, with the sweat dripping OF
me, and the horrible fear of death so
close at hand, seemed t. be regularly
mnerved and fell to shrieiAing and cry
ing out. thatmy mates had deserted me,
when they We're Oh the roof and hid let
down u rope to me, but | could not see
it; and 4leliklt last one Of them was let
down, ;hd trSed to get in at the window,
but the 1f%trfes beat him back, aud a
groan came from the people rs they saw
all that had been done.
AS | told you, | seemed quite to lose
my nerve, and ran about shrieking for
Il few minutes, and then fell down on
~ after nay mind seemed to come again,
and felt that if must die I 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 lips-Words that came 10
my heart rs / thought Of those who
were once saved from the fiery furnace
and prayed that | too might be
saved.
And ah. it was hard TO pray there
to keep YOUR thoughts in the midst of