The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-09-21
THE STORY OF HERO.
BY GEORGE MANNvILLE FEM


BY GEORGE MEANWHILE FEM.
And don't think ever shall get to take
it as matter of course, sir-taking it
cooly's out of the question. Here we are
living about as exciting life as men can
lead-always on duty, and ready at mo-
ment to have a set.to with the worst fire that
ever broke out. No; ! shall never get to
take it as a matter Of course; for it's all
dark, rush and excitement; and love it,
sir. Flash comes the news to us by tele-
graph, most likely; out comes the horses:
there's light put to the ready trimmed fire
and then with train Of sparks flying out
behind US, as the FIRE roars, and the steams
getting up, away gallop the horses. Ay,
its's Hi hoi! hollo!' aud they clear the
road for us; and away we 60 full gallop
down the streets, with the horses hocfs
striking fire, the crowd shouting, and the
running mob increasing at every step.
There's something in it as warns ones
blood; and as to the dang of course,
its dangerous; but when We feel that we
are doing our duty, and know what's before
US, why, somehow we don't remember the
danger but 60 at it in earnest.
Now there was only last week, sitting as
was waiting for call, there it was at last,
late on in the night, when the streets were
clear; and away we tore at something like
. pace. Oxford street, Holborn, down the
Hill, up Skinner and Newgate street
whoop! and away at full gallop, with the
horses enjoying it, bless you, and flashing
out till it's hard to say whether they didn't
fly more rarks than the fire under the boiler.
We wanted NO more instructions, for there
Was the red glow on ahead; and as we got
nearer we could almost see the sparks; and
at last we did see them come pouring and
rolling along with the smoke, and being a
heavy, Lei night, hanging like thick star
epangisd cloud just over our heads
Two engines were there and as it hap
pensd 80 laie, there were not SO many peo-
pie as might have been expected; but as
soon {, got there l saw as something par
ticular lsal the matter, and this is what it
was. TIE FIRE was in quite narrow court
where they couldn't get the escapes, and
there were people burning to death; while
above ii. shouting of the mob and clanking
Of the ea.gines hard at work, you could hear
their awful cries for help.
Nov, don't you suppose that I'm proud of
all this Pm going to tell you, because I'm
not. Nor, if you were to dash in and save
any ones life, why no doubt it would be
brave and gallant, because you would have
done it out Of true compassion for suffer-
ing fellow-creature; but then with me its
quite different. I'm paid so much a week
to save life and property from fire; conse-
quently only do what's my duty to do.
runs up the court, axe in hand, and soon
sees the state of affairs. One house was in
blaze from top to bottom, and the flames
had worked through into the next, and were
attacking the one opposite, while, with their
escape regularly cut off, there were about
half dozen people at the upper windows
Of the same house, and no way Of getting
to them There was no back door to the
place, being in one of those crowded city
f'aces; while the door in front and stair
we're row fast getting into state Of
off which the water sputtered and
ut making any impression.
he aaSao time for ladders or anything
stse n8t tie sheets, and them we got
s,refaned OFT for the people to jump into,
but, poor things! they dared not, and what
to do could not tell. There was the fire
blazing up higher and higher, and lighting
up two of them old city churches that you
see lost down those old courts, and looking
as if they'd been put there out o the way
because people didn't have any use for
them now. There they we're lit up and
glowing, and the pigeons that lived up there
scared and flying round and round the fire
there was the rush and roar Of the wind
along the court as it set towards the fire
and there were the flames leaping up, the
clouds of sparks rising, the clouds Of smoke
rolling away, and the cracking sputter O
the states as they few with heat, and ther
slid rafting off into the court beneath
smash upon the pavement. Every now anc
then came louder roar and crash as
rafter or beam fell in, and sent the sparks
up in whirlwind. And there all the tim,
were these poor creatures uttering the wild
est piercing shrieks for help that you eve
heard. Now, I've heard SO much of tina
sort Of thing that you'd expect shouldn'
mind it; but do, though; and as sail
about the free, don't think shall eve
get to take it as matter Of course fo
there is something very awful in seeing fel
low creatures strong and hearty, and ye
dying before your eyes, and you not able t
save them.
But wasn't idle all this time-not bi
of it for every minutes worth something a
fire, and if you give it too much time
will beat you. Under the circumstance
the first thing was to save life, and willis
them as had the branches did their best t
keep the fire back from them at the thir,
floor window, got hold Of a rope, and il
at the house opposite, and made my way u
stairs to the third floor, which, like the res
Of the place, was used as a warehouse an,
crammcd full of packages.
Being strange house it wasn't easy t
find your way, but got up at last, and op
posite to the room where the poor thing
were all now huddled together at one win
dow, for the fire was gaining on them, g.
that unless they we're soon helped the,
wouldn't want it.
"Crash! crash!' Didn't let my littl
axe play round the sashes of that window
and soon have a clearance, for it was naile,
up, and then when the poor things hear,
me, and saw the light shining on my helmet
how they did shrek for help.
Just then looked down at the depth. an,
caught sight Of one fellow standing below
with 9 short ladder in his hand, whicl
might have been of use if the poor thing
Had been in the FIRST floor; and then mad
ready to throw my rope across, when jus
% was ready to lei 60, and then going {
try and catch it, a thought struck me, and
let the coil Of rope fall down into the court
and but one end as kept mold of, aud thel
when the poor things saw it let down the
shrieked again, and one Of them fell bac
from the window.