Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-07

A BrAvE .woMAN's, IsClHI.s,,


The Montreal papers give the following
spirited account of the marvellous escape
from st. James Hotel. which burned last
week: A woman appeared at the nth sto-
ry window calling in the most frantic and
heartrending terms for assistance. The
room she occupied was full Of smoke, and
all retreat from it. save by the window. -.
was cut off. Firemen and spectators hur
ried away to fetch ladders, but Il was no
easy thing to find such as would reach
that window. Meanwhile, TO escape suf
location she crept bravely out and hung
by her hands from the window sill, the
whole support for her naked feet Being q
small ledge Of stone above the window
below, projecting from the wall little
over en- inch. Bedding and all sorts Of
material were piled by the spectators on
the pavement below, to break the fall,
which was mamentarily expected. i Peo-
pie stood in breathless suspense AZ she
hung in this perillous position for full
twenty minutes, while the pitchy smoke
rolled out OF the little room she had left.
and the roaring flames were steadily eat
ing their way toward her hands. At the
very first flash of flame through that win
dow, it was evident that her wonderful
endurance would avail her no longer; she
must fall. At last the ladders came and
were run up. An involuntary groan es-
capped from the anxious multitude as it
was found that they would not reach her
by thirty feet! Another ladder, however.
was brought and spliced, and the popu-
lace held their breath till she was seen
placing her feet on the rungs, when their
pent up feelings found vent in loud and
prolonged cheering. As johanna UCon-
nell came safe down the ladder, the flames
poured through the dizzy perch she had
just left, and as soon as she reached the
ground unharmed, the wonderful nerve
that had saved her life gave way, and she
tainted. The following touching details
OF her escape are taken from her own
statement: s,ft s,
Twas awakened BY the loud shouts of
the watchman, who yelled to the top Of
fire y Another girl slept with me, and
she screamed out for me to get up, think
ing me still asleep. got out of bed and
went outside my room but could not see
any light. and was nearly choked with the
smoke-oh, it was sitting! I then ran
back and put on the first clothes could
get hold of. but did not iasten them nor
put on my stockings. ran out again to
try and find the stairs, but could not, and
every time l took brearth thought l
should choke. Then heard some men-
boarders, l think-shout out, Where 8
the stairs?" then ran towards the voice,
and by chance happened to catch hold Of
mans coat; he said, who's got
match9" l kept hold of his coat till we
got to door. l opened it and went in.
The gas was lit. We all ran to the win
dow, and one of the men smashed 1t and
called out for help from the people below.
Just then the bed burst into blaze. and
one man jumped out and then another.
then, seeing the whole room in q blaze,
let myself out of the window, clinging to
its frame with my right hand. and hung
in that way shouting for help, the room
below me was on fire, and l shouted:
"Oh. men! oh, men help me J" and they
were very kind, and told me not to let go
and they would help me; SO l took fresh
courage; but the fire got hot below me,
and a gentleman called upon = fireman
to throw water into that room until was
rescued, but somebody else took the
stream to another part Of the building.
The people below kept on saying "Don't
let go; the ladder is coming" But when
it came it was too short. only reaching my
feet. Ipressed with my foot and 1t went
right down. Then SOME men lifted it up,
SO that | could touch the top with one
hand and then with the other; then put
my clothes between my feet and let my
self down. but the ice was dreadful, and
my clothes hindered ME from going, and
was nearly fainting. Then. when i got
TO the second story, some men caught me
in their arms. hav elost everything"
Miss O'Connelrs arms are cut and swollen
by the frost and she is in an exhausted
cOnlitin,l