The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-01-15

to pull myself up by it, few seconds saw me
on one of the upper branches which had ca"ght
my eye from below; There was Gat .,lm.h.
if could secure one end of the rope to one OF
the projections of this battlement, l might
contrive, by tying the other to the tree, 10
noose gathered up the line like lasso, ana
cast it with all my strength. The first at
tempt failed. The crowd below saw my object
now, and gave tremendous cheer. ~ ar ,Sa
again aud this time the moose caught upon the
battleInent. I drew up the rope as tignt RS .
could, tied it fast to the tree, and, clasping IL
with my legs and hands, began the most dan
.fheTs was breathless silence below as 1 pull,
ez myself across the awful chasm could
hear Tia roar and cracking of the flames, ana
the hot air and acrid smoke We're driven into
MY face until / thought should have tainted
and fallen to the ground. At last l reached
the battlement. With much trouble caIn-
bered on the roof, and while the excited villa
gers wcre screaming themselves hoarse aud hur-
raining like madmen-I hardly heard their
cyjes. 1t the time, but, with other incidents OF
that Memorable afternoon, they came to me
afterwards-I piled my axe so vigorously tnat
III b few minutes had stripped off n section
of the roofing, and made an opening two OF
three feet square. 1t was too dark now 70 DIS
tirguisl, any thing in the interior, but knew
that tho platform on which the bell rested
must be some twelve fifteen feet below me.
Fastening the second coil of rope to tho bat
Element, let myself down through the hole
unf1k j felt the SOLID planklnS unucr my icee'
There was n suffocating OdOr of fire, but tne
air was still pure enough to be breathed with
out aerious incon venieuce. l CROPPED about IN
the dark until found the ladder leading DO.
Iuyv, and, trembling with apprehension, hurried
Down a. fast was able. ! shouted, but there
TGA5fid ICES en- reached the landinS-staxe
where I'll ladder stopped and the rough steps
alreadyH s esioned began, and ct this moment
some bar; which had kept the flames con-
fined belol seemed to give way, and hood OF
light stream ed mp the staircase. hurried on
with the energy of desperation. When l
reached the lumber-rooln, the doorway Leading
into the gallery was wrapped in fire. Through
it could see the old organ blazing, the planks
dropping off one by one, and the metal pipes
melting under the Intense beat. The lower
staircase was nearly consumed, and tho hoor
of the room itself had caught in several places.
The dreadful glow reflected upon the rough
stone walls and rugged beams showed me In a
moment what had come to seek. There, IN a
remote corner which the fire had not yet
reached was n female form stretched senseiess
on the floor. round hat was lying beside her,
and her rich brown hair fell in graceful waves
over her neck. Her white arms from whicn
the sleeves had fallen back, were stretched GU,
| BEFORE and her fingers clasped q rosary, as Il
| her last conscious act had been q PRAYER.
seized her by the waist, and, with strength
| at which oven now wonder. rushed Win my
| burden towards the steps which had just des
| cended She was still living. could feel tht
beating of her heart and the heaving OF hel
breast, and my joy Mt this discovery gave III
| fresh energy.
| concluded next week.