Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-09-27
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THE STORY OF A HERO.
BIZ GEoRaE NAxNvILLR FEM.

By GEORGE NANNvILLR FEM.
And don't think ever shall get to take
it as a matter Of course, sir-taking il
coolly's out of the question. Here we are
living about as exciting life as men car
lead-always on duty, and ready at mo.
ment to have. a .set-to with the worst fire that
ever broke out. No; IIshall never get to
take it as a matter Of course; for it's all
dark, rush and excitement; and love it,
sir. Flash comes sthe news to us by tele-
graph, most likely; out comes the horses ::
there's aslight put to the ready trimmed fire
and then with, d train of sparks flying out
behind us, as the fire roars, and the steam s
getting up, away gallop the horses. Ay,
its's ssHii hoi! hollo" and they clear the
road for US !; and away we go 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.danger-well 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 go at it in earnest. SO
Now there was only last week, sitting as
I was waiting for a call, there it was at last,
clear; and away we tore at something like
a 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 lashing
out till it's hard to say whether they didn't
fly more sparks 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 didSsee them come pouring and
rolling along with the smoke, and being
heavy, hot night, hanging like thick star
spangled cloud just over cur heads.
Two engines were there and as it hap
pened ISOLATE, there were not so many peo-
pie as might have been expected; but as
soon as got there | saw as something par
ticular was the matter, and this is what it
was. The fire was in quite narrow court.
where they couldn't get the escapes, and
there were people burning to death while
above the shouting of the mob and clanking
of the engines hard at work, you could hear
their awful cries for help.
Now, dpn't you suppose thatI'm proud of
all this Pm going to tell yous because Pm
not. Now, if you were to das. in and save
any ones life,a why no doubt it would be
brave and gallant, because you would have
done it out Of true compassion for suffer-
ing fellow-creature ;gbut then with me it's,
quite different. I'm paid so much q week
to save life and property from fire; conse-
quently l 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 fran TOT ito 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 an one of those crowded city
places; WiAle the door in front and stair
case were now fast getting into state of
glow, Oft which the water sputtered and
steamed without making any impression.
There was no time for ladders or anything
else but the Sheets, and them we got
stretched OFT for the people to jump into,
but, poor things! they dared not, and what
to do l 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 were 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 of
the states ashley flew with heat, and then
slid rafting off into the court beneath,
smash upon the pavement. Every now and
then came louder roar and crash as a
rafter or beam fell in, and sent the sparks
up in whirlwind. And there all the time
were these poor creatures uttering the wild
est piercing shrieks fol-. help that you ever
heard. New. I've heard SO much of that
sort Of thing that you'd expect I shouldn't
mind it; but do, though; and as said
about the fires, don't think shall ever
get to takeeit as "a matter of course; for
there is something very awful in seeing fell
low creatures strong and hearty and yet
dying. before your eyes, and you not able to
save them. .S-s (Ef
But wasn't idle all this time-not bit
OF 1t for every minutes worth. something at
a ire, and If ybu give it too much time it
Will beat you. Under the circumstances
the first thing was to save life, and whilst
them as had the branches did their best to
Keep the fire. back from them at the third
door windoI, got hold of rope, and in
at the house opposite, and made my way I'D
stairs to the third floor, which, like the rest
OF the place, was used as warehouse and
crammed full q, packages. 1900 ....,.--.
being strange house it wasn't easy to
ma your way, but got up at last, and OPP
posite TO the room where the poor things
were all now huddled together at one win
uow' 1on the IRE was gaining on them, so
mat unless they were soon, helped thew
wouldn't want it,
Crash! crash! ~ Didn't let nv little
axe play round the sashes of that window,
ana soon have aclearance, for it was nailed
up and-then when the poor things heard
me- and saw the light shining on my helmet.
now tney did shrek for help.
just then looked down 1T the depth. and
l caught sight of one fellow Standing below
win short ladder in his hand. which
might nave been of use if the poor Times
nau been IN the first floor; and then made
ready to throw my rope across, when lust
as as was ready to let go. and then going to
anu eaten 1t, o thought struck me. and /
let Inc coll ofsrOpe fall down into the court
ana put one end as I kept hold of, and then
Mnen thesp poor things saw it let down thew
s snrieked again, and one of them fell back