The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-08-08
GREAr FlRE an poRr1 -rarl,

NNs .ssS"tSSs vs ssW uN ASEEhaFStfsCtts
Of this city. from His Honcr Mayor
Failing, Of Portland. was received,
containing the information that Port
land WIS In flames, ami asking tie as.
sistalGe OF Albany Fire Department
1t 0DCs. A few taps OF our fire bell.
In a very few minutes after the e,ep-
tion II the telegram. aroused our citi-
zells irom their peaceful morning avO-
cations. and 4 rush for the engine
hN,se was made from every direction.
The news of the terrible fire which
was then des0lating Portland was made
known, and volunteers calltsl flr 10 90
down b. Portland and help man our
fire engine there. The announcement
of P0ftland's peril GRATED the widest
excitement. and We suppose that one.
half our population old and young.
would have gone. had it heen neces-
sary, to help oNr brothers tlrp IN their
hour efneed. Business stopped. houses
were cl0Sd. a,M the owners thereof.
equipped for work, stood ready to
90 down to Portland and labor to ave
--and the greatest anxiety was mani
tested to get there quick. A telegram
was sent to Mayor Falling by the
Mayer and Chief OF the Fin DepArt-
nleut Of this city. informing him that
Albany fire engine and Company were
~ readiness ut the depot. at eight
O'Clock. awaiting transportation to
Portland. Also i dispatch was sent to
Snpt. llildreth. asking for immediate
transportation for Albany engine and
Company to Portland. In tie mean
time the down freight train came IN
and the conductor was beslegeti to drop
his freight ears, load on our engine
aud tile boys and strike out for Port
land on the double-quicE. Another
telegram was sent TO Mayor Failing
Informing him that we were ready,
that freight train was lying at the
depot, and the Conductor thereof was
only too anxious to receive OHIers to
leave his freight and take Hs down.
During all this time the excitement
was growing more intense. as the news
came flashing over the wires that the
fire was gaining headway-that there
was no water-that men hal been
caught III the act of firing buildings.
aud thrown into the seething flames.Or
hung to convenient hmp-Nsts--that
the fire had cleaned ont Fourth street
to Fifteenth street, and that Ns'enty-
three blocks en- Trout and Fir street
were In ruins! No news cO.M he re-
ceivei from Portland as to Il neaA'S Of
alrl although NyCing
WITH imptienee. olr MlyS were ,om-
pelle.l to await the appearance oy the
noon train. At'e,pvcn 0'clM.k ajnnes-
sage was received from Mayor Falling,
directed to Mayor Van CIeye, all
nonncing that the fire was HNler CON
trOl. and returning thousand thanks
for the readiness manifested hy o,lr
citizens to aid Portland in l.er dire dis
trtSs. 1t was q great relief to all to
know that Portland was ont 0ftlanger.
and that our aid was not needed: vet
all day long the telegraph office was
besipged by anxious inqnirerS after
''any more news3" Had it been ,Os-
sible to have chartered u train, Albany
Engine Company and machine, head
Ell by Chief Weber, would have been
In Portland as soon as steam could
have got them there. aud when there.
would have aided with all their power
IN staying the further destruction
Of property by fire. IN concluding
this article. we should not do our
whole duty did we fail to mention a
little incident Of Saturday morning
another proof of the big-heartedliess
and kindly forethought Of the gpntlpr
sex. When it was aseertainetl that
orr boys could not leave for Portland
until the train from Roseburg came IN.
and supposing even If the train came
In an hour ahead Of time, there would
he no stopping tor dinner on the road,
and fearing theye could nothing he oh
tlinel in Portland to eat. even If time
would permit, Miss Lib. Graf and
Mrs. Pnrlom filled several baskets
with enticing eiibles, and. inprpssing
n number Of little boys into their ser.
vite. loaded them with the aforesaid
baskets and started them tor the depot.
This was done without any suggestion
from any 0ne-Out Of the higness of
their own hearts. They thought oftlle
toll and probable danger the boys were
about tOeneDnnterto save the property
and lives Of Others, expecting no other
reward than the consciousness of hav-
Ing done their duty. and these two
noble women determined to do what
they could to nerve the arms and cheer
the hearts OF men who were thus ready
to forget self and selfinterest and
speed 70 the help Of suffering human-
ity. And although the refreshments
were un'Nlcled because not needed,
yet the kind intent was there. and the
members Of Albany Engine Company
will ever remember with the highest
respect the thoughtful kindness Of these
two ladies'.