Connecticut western news., 1872-01-12
A Fire I'm Switzerland.

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 A correspondent writing from Fri bourg, Switzerland, speaking of the great fire in that city says Hitherto l had looked upon the scene, awful as it was, as being simply Q case of destruction ofs property, as had been told that the people who lived 1n the houses had suc- ceeded in escaping. Suddenly, however, from one of the front windows on the the third story, I heard Q crash of glass, and looking mp saw woman 'S fare such face as never care to see again. It was dreadful in its agony. Screaming to the crowd below, she seemed to feel that she was too high for them to hear her, and the flames, as she stood at the window, came licking up the wall, us though they felt she was already given up to them. What she said, or attempted to say, no one ever knew ; but the crowd gazing up from below saw Ter, and q hOarse roar came from tEem which seemed to reach her and give her en- couragement. Wildly waving her arms, she disappeared for moment, and then reappear-d at the window with little child in her arms. What could be done Are the people 10 see the woman and child roasted to death under their very eyes? But they are far below, and the fiery flames are creeping mp the outer walls md windows, and already the woman has to draw back her burden as the fire comes nearer and nearer. From below all access IS cut off. The staircases are simply masses of red-hot stone, where no one can live for Q moment What con be done? Just then tremendous cheer burst from the crowd below, the reason for winch could not understand, and could only continue to look with horrible dread upon the sight, for knew that unless help came within few minutes, it would come too late. But help did come-though, to me, from q somewhat unexpected quarter. The house where the woman and child were standing was the last of those which had taken fire, and the adjoining one had an iron balcony, from which fireman, see ing the dreadful danger, and cheered by the crowd, attempted to throw a rope to her to catch it. Four times he threw it, and each tine we 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 successful, and tylng the rope tightly round the child's body. she swung 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, and ny the same means she succeeded ih saving her second charge. But in saving the lives of these two chil- dren, the brave woman had got terribly burned. The. flames had been creeping up nearer and nearer to her, and as she stood at the window tying. the children, a tongue of fire would often leap up and cncircle her, but she never finched. Wrapping the child she held in her arms tightly in 8 woolen cloak, so as to pre- vent the flame touching it, she would stand quietly bearing the fire until it had once more gone down, and then she quickly proceeded with her work But now 1t seemed too late to save the woman herself, for the fire had reache the store of wood at the top of the house, and the roof was in fl lmes. Her hands and arms, too, were terribly scorched, and we feared she would never be able to hold the rope. But as the cord was thrown to her, the people raised tre- mendous cheer as though to encourage her, and catching it at the first attempt, she managed to tasten 1t round her body. and throwing herself out of the window, she was gradually lowered into the street. and carefully taken to the hospi al, where she at present lies in dangefous condi- ton. There have been many cases of devoted heroism ill times past, but know of noue more noble than this of a simple serv mt girl, who not only risked her own life, but stood such dreadful torture in order to save the lives of the children under her charge, and gladly give her name. It is Anna Albitz of Bilkendorf. The Swiss people are q warm-hearted race, md the devoted con duct of the girl seems to be fully appre- ciated by them. The whole press has spoken loudly in praise of the herof>m she has s3own, and already q subscrip- ton has been opened for her bencat, as it is feared her injuries are so severe that she will never agaln be able. even if she rccovers from them, to gain her own living"