Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-16
THE OLD FIRE VAMP'S STORY.
BY PELEG ARKWRIGHT.

BIZ PELEG ARKwRIGHT.
KS, yes; you've got fine machine-a beautiful
machine;
a bandsone critter, FURNISHED we'll and smar
and neat and clean.
s'pose now, with your horses and your telegraph
alarms,
And fire and steam to do the work instead OF
hands and arms,
It amt so hard on flesh and blood, and like as moi
he fires
Rss less 10 brag of fighting steam that never
But, boys. them old machines of ours-we loved
ZEN mighty well,
And liked to hear the music of the good old fire
bell!
Yes, thank you, boys. l wouldn't mind to sit and
chat awhile,
And have pipe, and hear you l about the mod
But somehow, boys, I don't believe, in these here
steamer DAYS,
You get the same enjoyment from roasting, roar
ing blaze
like what we did in olden times when tbrouph
the sleeping town
ghe watch-tQwer changed the loud alarm It did
the business brown,
Ard fetched the night-caps out of bed to see the
fun. you know,
whsu was chief Of Neptune Five, some thirty
years ago.
I feel at home amongst You, boys; it carries me
away
10 ;ircs when our red shirts ana belts was thought
to be quite gay.
And then the girls-poke bonnets eh?-would al
Uavs have an eye
For any ga,lus fireman. God bless the girls
ravs ].
Z s'po. 8 some Of you may have heard about the
Tlac roade my fortune, may say; for, though
didn't like
10 take money for it then, it didn't come so i'll
When wenty thousand dollars boys, was left me
IN 4 will.
II happened on summers night, in eighteen
fue house on a corner up in Second avenue
Took fire in the basement, and before the people
woke
Ihe flames were raging down 0clow-the house
full of smoke.
Wban we got there the people was a-dropping,
white with fear,
To the roof Of extension from the second-story
7E.ev we're safe: out thrilling through us rang
cry Of wild despair
FreEl out an upper window, and we saw woman
there,
with q little child clasped tightly to her BOSOM
clad in White
I vas ap Oh the extension in iiffy at the sight,
And I climbed in at the window, through the
smoke that rushed out thick,
AnG CROPPED my way up blindly-not second,
though, too quick
For the fire was gaining Roadway fast; and when
] found the pair
II was bursting out where climbed in and shoot
Toe late to save them from below-I saw that
plain enough;
don't know now done it, but 1 got 'em to the
roof.
As we appeared a cheer broke out from anxious
crowds beneath;
Bet still my chance was mighty slim to all
from death
Na ladder could reach upward, through the smoke
and flame there was;
The HCXt roof twenty foot away-an awful gap
Tor as
cat OF. Il seemed from human aid no means of
rescue nigh
Alone between a blazing hell, black and lurid
Ehree living souls expecting death-a scene of
terror wild
And one trembling woman was and one a little
child.
& never saw a sight like that-the mother kneeling
es srIas around the little boy, her face upturned
il prayer.
Ef ever human agony disturbed the far-off skies
Then did the suppication of those piteous, plead
Likely heaven took an interest the little one to
save,
For now they're on the other roof-my boys so
prompt and brayel
AND now they've hauled a ladder up, and now it's
showed across;
hut such a bridget You'd better b'Heve the thing
was perilOus.
Inc mother saw and shuddered, and cast one
glance around
Upon the gathering horror and heard its sullen
sound.
She kissed the child with cEnging lips and held
him out to me-
ssSave him, save hina-my precious boy Ny life
Is naught," said che.
I took him, started; rung by RING stepped the
chasm DER
Through sitting gusts the fire sent up with dull
and angry roar;
TIL, safe across, the child gave then turned tC
cross again
TO help the mother; but saw the peril would be
vunl
SIN: -naa z1atched the dizzy journey with a moth
cr's eager eye
eEufil we stood in safety; then she heard little
CRY,
Aud saw her baby's outstretched arms. Another
look to Cod
Yes, darling; mammals coming now'-and forth
the woman trOd.
Her feet were bare, her hair was loose and stream
ing on the night;
The iurid glow lit up her face with red, unearthly
light.
I tell .Tou now ny nerves were shook performing
OF the feat
THAT that pale woman undertook through fiery
gust of heat
NO doubt her feet was guided like a spirit swift
she came,
While the roof behind her as she left broke into
sweeping flame;
But when the dreadful journey in safety she had
passed,
Her woman's weakness triumphed and went back
on her st last,
And she fell amongst us fainting; but reckon
such cheer
SIS went up on that occasion would done yor
good TO hear
&c was nip and tuck tween lie and death for al
of us that night;
But death was euchred. That's all, boys IC
'' " " ~ Y. Daily Graphic.