The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-07-01

ment house, I know by the direction
and size of the building. Mother OBJ
jected to the plan from the 6rst-it was
always crowded with careless creatures
who lived in one or two rooms, and
took no care Of the property. Oh |!
how light it is growing! This Ere will
be quite loss to Charles, l fear ~
A loss to Mr.. Charles Hildreth,
whose princcly income it could no;
possibly affect And the loss Of prop.
erty-perhaps life-to the unfortunate
inmates, Miss Hildreth overlooked alto
gethor
"Suppose We order the carriage"
said Charlotte, II am anxious to know
the extent of this fire, and you shall
sec our Millwood engines"
Miss Hildreth ordered all the buck
cts to be placed in the drivers seat for
distribution, and they were soon on tho
way.
The tenement building was near the
mill, four stories high, and composed of
wood which burned with great rapidity.
The read was already thronged with
men, women and children running wildly
to and fro with buckets, screaming fire!
They reached the nearest point safe to
watch the progress Of the 6re-bright
enough to shame daylight with its un--
earthly glare.
Then Charlotte's heart opened in
sympathy with the scene before her.
The building Mr.. Hildreth planned
to save expense, contained more than
ktwenty families crowded into small,
badly ventilated apal tments, lighted
with narrow windows. A stream of
smoke and fire issued from every side,
rendering it unfit to approach, front or
rear. A few unfortunate creatures cut
off from escape could be seen at win
dows yet unreached by the flames, call
ing loudly for assistance. Charles had
just arrived at the scenc, frightened
out Of his accustomed dignity; he
rushed from point to point, finding
fault, and giving confused and contra
dictory orders. No one noticed him.
They were under the control of a mas
ter mind, whose self-possession aud
courage stimulated the others to like
exertion. Paul Reichelm was conspicu-
GUS among the rest by his towering
form, laboring with an abandon worthy
the causc-'encouraged the sufferers
with assurance of speedy relief, and
gave directions in clear, calm voice,
which were promptly obeyed. Where
the cries wero budest, bis deep voice
rose with an answering cheer; where
the FIRE ragged hottest he stood in front,
Boldly battling with the element Of de-
struction. =
Manly forms rushed through the
smoke and dragged ont all within their
reach-some threw ropes, and others
lashed ladders together to reach the
highest windows-Mr. Percival head
ing the line Of bucket passers.
Charles came to the carr,age-glad,
it must he confessed, to escape the
heat and exposure.
"Oh, Charles, do not come here p
cried Charlotte ego back and try to
save those poor people: IF I was a
man I would answer their appeals for
help if it cost my life Do go
Charles I"
Charles declared he had no idea of
risking his life for such creatures.
"Don't get excited, Charlotte they
have more assistance now than they re-
quire or deserve. Those ignorant
Dutch aud Irish cannot take care Of
home If they have one. Besides I am
we'll represented by my manager,
perfect Hercules. He has already
saved many lives. God bless me, what
shriek!"
A wild-lookiug woman rushed through
the crowd towards window, from
which the smoke was just beginning to
issue. "Save my boy! Oh, save him,
good men, or I will die too. They told
me he was safe, and I ran to get moth
er out. 1t was another boy they saw
ed =; mine is still there, in the lower
story. All! do you hear him call
me7"
The crowd, awe-stricken for a mo-
ment, distinctly heard :'mother !" from
within the building, but none stirred
save to restrain the distracted woman
from attempting the rescue.
"Oh, Mr.. Reichelm," begged she,
catching glimpse Of Paul, "save my
boy! You have helped others; do
something tor me. He is my only
one"
MIR. Percival tried to lead her away
from the awful scene. "Poor mother,
it is too late No on9 could endure the
suffocatiug heat moment; do not ask
him who has risked go much to lose
his life in vain"
But she did not heed him. "My
child ! my child! Mr.. Reiohelm, if
you have a mother that loves you, save
my boy"
Paul glanced towards the building
and took step forward. Mr.. Percival
held him back. uYou must not 90.