The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-02-24
A TuRsELsSG SCENE.

The Friborg (SwI:4-rlaud) correspondent
of the London Standard after describing the
recent confagration in that city. relates the
following act of bravery aid self>devotion on
part Of a woman;
rFIitherto I had looked upon the scene
onf,,I as it was, as being simply case OF
destruction Of property, as | had been tolo
that the people who lived IN the houses hau
Huccesded in escaping. Suddenly, however,
from one Of the front windows, on the thlIu
storv. heard a crash OF glass. and 'ooKlrg
mn Lava womau's face-such a face as
never care TO see again. II was dfeaGiui III
irs asouv. Screaming to the crowd below.
she seemed to feel that she was too nigh for
them to hear, and tie flames, as she stood at
the window, came licking up. the wall, as
though they felt she WAS already given up TO
them
"What she said, or attempted to say, DO
one ever knew, but the crowd gazlug up tiom
below saw her, and hoarse roar came from
Them. which seemed to reach her and give her
some encouragement. Wildly waving her
arms, she disappeared for moment. and
then reappeared at the window with little
child in her arms. In England a fire-escaps
would have been reared against the wall OF
the house, and fireman would have brought
down the woman and child-not, perhaps,
without some difficulty, but still without any
very great danger, provided he could have
kept out Of the way of the flames, which
were darting out of the windows Of the lower
stories; but iu Switzerland DO such things as
fre>escapes exist. There are willing hands
and brave hearts, and that is all. What,
then, can be done2 Are the people TO see
The woman aad child roasted to death under
their very eyes? But they are far below,
and the fiery flames are creeping up the walls
and windows, and already the woman has to
draw back her burden as the fire comes nearer
and nearer. Far below all access is cut off.
The starcases are simply masses of led hot
stone, where no enc could live for a moment.
What can be done ? Just then a trsmen~
dous cheer burst from the crowd below, the
reason for which could not understand, and
] could only continue to look with horrible
dread upon the sight, for l knew that unless
help came within a few minutes it would
come too late.
'But help did come at lsst-though, to
me, from a somewhat unexpected quarter
The house in which were the woman aud
child was the last of those which had taken
fire, and an adjoining one had iron balco-
ny, from which a fireman, seeing the dread>
ful danger, and cheered up by the crowd,
attempted to throw a rope to the woman
But it was very difficult for her to catch it
Four times he threw it, and each time he
saw it fall past the window, though it was
pitiful to see how eagerly she tried to get
hold of it. But the fifth time she was sue
cessful. and tying the rope tightly round the
Child's body she swing it out Of the window,
and it was slowly but safely drawn into the
adjoining house. Directly she had done this,
the woman disappeared from the window
but almost Immediately y returned with an
other child, and 10y the same means she sue
ceeded in saving her second charge. But in
saving the lives of these two children the
brave woman had got terribly burned. The
flames had been creeping up nearer and near
er t. her, and as she stood at the window
tying the children tongue Of fire would Of
ten leap up and encircle her, but she never
hinched. Wrapping the child she held in
her arms tightly in woolen cloak. so as to
prevent the flames touching it, she quietly
bore the fire until it had ouce more gone
down, and then she quickly proceeded with
her work. But now it seemed too late to
save the woman herself. for fire had reached
the store Of wood at the top of the house and
tho roof was 10 flames. Her hands aud arms
TOO were terribly scorched, and we feared
she would never be able to hold the rope
But as the cord was thrown her the people
raised a tremendous cheer, as though to en-
courage her, and catching it at the first at
tempt, she managed TO fasten it round her
body, and throwing herself out of the wins
,!ew, she was gradually lowered into tie
street, aud carefully taken to the hospital
where she at present lies in a dangerous con-
d!tion.
There have besn great many cases Of
devoted herois n in times past, but know
of none more noble than this Of a simple SER
want girl, who not only risked her own life,
ls-It stood such dreadful torture 10 order to
save the lives Of children under her charge,
and gladly give her name. 1t is Arua Al
biz, of BirkeDdorf. The Swiss people are a
warm hearted race, and the devoted conduct
ef tIe gir sesTS to he fully appreciated by
Them. The whnls press has spoken loudly
IA praise of the heroism she has sh 'wn, aad
already a subscription has been opened for
her benefit, it is feared her injuries are so
severe that she will never again be able. even
If she RECEIVERS from them, to gain her own
living"