Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-21

lldn-and ne was dragged over IOC
for he dare not try to crawl across
and lsuppose to a man as amt use'
to such things to creep over a plac
like that, all those feet over the pave
ment, and when you've been frighten
ed to death nearly by waking out o
your sleep to find the next place OF
fire, is rather tryin'; and now there
was only that chap whose wife was
sent over first, and who had worked
all he could to help me and another
terrible cowardly chap, whom I'd hac
quite a set-to with to keep back so as
to save the women and children first
And now this chap as I've just
spoke about, made rush to get the
ladder, and he was in such horrid
fright that [ don't belive he'd got over
safe, and besides | knew there was
time for US all to get away if things
were done quietly; so, considering as
1t wasn't his turn, held him back for
the married man to 90 first to his
wife, when the other one almost shrek
ed out with rage and fear.
Let him 90 first" says the married
man, I'LL wait"
"Tain't his turn" says, rather OBJ
stinate like. "Over you gor' and at
such a time we can't be interfered
with, and having made my plans so
far | didn't want them altered. So.
cover You go!' says.
Il think can crawl" he says, and
he got ont on the ladder: but instead
of crawling he sat astride of it and
worked himself along, with the crowd
hurrahing and cheering him tremen-
dous.
And up came the fame and smoke,
and the roar and crackIe and falling
ip of timbers was getting terrible.
Every place was light as day, while
as to the heat, declare it seemed to
scorch you fearfully.
"The sooner you're across and me
with you the better | shall like it." |
says, and then | took a look round to
see how matters were, when there
came a crash and Il pun, and in a mo
mens The flames came wreathing and
tWlrling up from underneath where
stood, and just as the las chap had
his leg on the window-siIi and !! was
going to tic the rope round him. he
gave g yell and ielI back, or rather
pulled him back into the smoky room.
and he tainted dead away.
lie must have gone down crash in
to the court il dadn't have dragged
at hlu nut there was no time to lose
| made the rope fast and got him on
the ladder with the flames darting up
through the rounds and burning his
hair; and then | shouted 10 them to
haul and maui they did. with me try
ing 70 steady him with nv end Of the
rope, but before he was quite across
something Went snap, aud staggered
back INTO the room, holding on to the
piece OF barnt rope, and with my
heart sinking as | ielt that nv own
salvation was partly gone,
Jaot then the flames was waited on
one side and saw that they were
dragging in the last Of the seven, and
felt now as i I'd done good night .
work and it was time to save myself
I'm not ashamed to own it, | did feel
frightened as | threw down that piece
Of rope and it must have been some
thing like a cry of horror | gave wher
| got hold of the ladder and felt il
burn my hands and then as | tried tC
bear upon it, felt it crumbling away
and that | was without way of es
cape,
Far above the noise Of the fire anC
water came the shrek of the crow(
as the burnt ladder fell away and huns
blazing by one end against the oppo
site house, while there came such F.;
rush of fame past the window that
could not look out; but directly afte
| heard the fierce rush OF water, ant
could sec that four branches were del
uging the window, and all beneath
for my mates knew what danger | wa
| in,
| | ran to the window, and was beat
Ell back by the water, While the smok
that came out was quite binding
Then | tried through the hot vapo
in the room to see if | could get out c
the door and reach the roof, but JUS
at that moment there came a du
flash through the smoke, and | coul
sec that the back Of the house was 0
ire, while from the way the flame
rushed up again in front and file
the court, | knew that there was II
help to be had from the opposite fc
they must have been beaten from th
window.
I'd been in some dangers in N
time: but till now there had alway
seemed q road out, and as | tore fun
ously around the place with the swe;
dripping of me and the horrible fes
OF death so close at hand, | seemed
be regularly unnerYed, and fell
shrieking and crying out that n
mates had deserted me when tht
r were on the roof and had let down
rope to me, bat | could not see i
, and then at last one OF them was Il
r down, and tried to>get in at the wi
dow, but the flames. beat him bacI
t, and groan came from the people
# they saw what had been done.
u AS | told you, | seemed quite
y loose my nerve, and ran about shrie
', ing for few minutes, and then f
it down on my face upon the hot fioo
i and directly after my mind seem
to come again, and telt that i
IL must die | should have done my du
d and | had saved seven poor creatur
re and as | thelgh that, 1 rose to
10 knees, and some words came to
20 tlins-wOrds that came to nv he: