Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-19
Jim Backsey's Burning.

Jim Backseys Burning.
AS the saloon was of unpainted
boards, and upholstered, the flames
made rapid progress so that jim
Slipson, the proprietor, had barely
time 10 save two or three armfuls Of
bottles. With these he retired to the
opposite side of the street, where the
spectators stood and he was mourn
fully contemplating the effect of caloric
upon alcohol, when he suddenly start
ed, and exclaimed
Good God Injin Mary's in the
loft over the saloon, ~
who's that!' asked the deacon.
who had joined the crowd.
"She's-well, not exactly one of
your kind. deac'n, replied Jim. .She
come las night with her young .un an
wanted to sleep thar till mornin."
"Some poor, deprived creature,
s'pose, sighed the deacon.
"Well,' said Jim, prudently mass
ing on his front most of his outlaying
bottles, IL reckon Injins, in general,
was off huntin' when religion was give
out, deac'n ; an Mary amt no better'n
the rest. But anybody's too good to
be roasted,-leastways in this world"
continued Jim Slipson, remembering
the deacon's groundworks of belief.
and treating it with polite Difference
"She don't intend to risk it now, at
any rate" exclaimed the Major, as a
dark figure dashed out Of the flames,
and, rolling on the ground to extin-
guish its flaming clothing disclosed
the coppery, dull, heavy, impassive
features of Indian Mary.
"Hooray!" shouted the crowd.
Mary had been seen very often at
Spurtip; but never before had Spurtip
felt itself called upon 10 exhibit any
respect for her.
1t was very evident that Mary had
been asleep or drunk, or both for she
stood stupidity rubbing her eyes for
several moments.
didn't you say she brought child
with her." asked the professor OF Jim
Slipson.
Good God, yes" exclaimed Jim,
seizing Mary by the shoulder, and
shaking her violently.
MARY, Mary, where's the young
un:''
Mary stopped rubbing her eyes, and
stared vacantly at Jim for moment;
then she uttered a piercing scream,
and attempted TO enter the burning
building again. The intense heat,
however, drove her back; and she
stood in front of the crowd with
fierce, hopeless glare in her eyes, while
every few seconds she uttered hor-
rible cry, half groan. half yell, which
made even the most whiskey- hardened
men shiver and turn pale.
"a hundred dollars for whoever'll
get that babyw shouted the major.
Nobody started. There were plenty
Of impecunious men at Spurtip, but
none seemed inclined to earn money
in exactly this manner.
1.-TWO hundred !" cried the professor.
Three !" roared the deacon, 'Its
little heather, an it runs double
risk"
faint no use tryin'," remarked
Seventeener, eX member of an Eastern
fire department, "No feler could
live in that there fire more'n half a
mint. He'd hev to breathe, an then
'twOuld be all up with him.
That you a-yellin' over yer loss,
Jim:' pleasantly asked Joe Backsey,
edging into the crowd, and patting
the unfortunate bar-kcepcr on the
back.
ATS Injin Mary her baby's in the
loft. o, Lord, just listen to the poor
de vii r said Jim, as Mary uttered an
other cry.
Joe picked up q bucket of water,
and poured it over himself, and an in
slant later dashed into the flames, and
up the blazing ladder which led to the
loft. Not a man spoke; it seemed
that no one breathed for q moment.
The deacon closed his ewes, and his
lips were seen to move rapidly; and
many men, though unused to such ex-
ercise, followed the deacon's exam
pie.
Suddenly mighty roar broke from
the crowd as Joe Backsey, hatless.
hairless, beArdless, and almost black,
emerged from the blazing building
with dirty bundle in his arms. He
had nearly crossed the street, when
suddenly he stopped, screamed" Catch
it." threw the child, and dropped,
face downwards, on the ground.
The deacon was by bis side in an
instant, shouting for water and oil, rs
he tendcrly turned the insensible form
over.
mo CO." said Seventeener, giving
Joe's face q critical glance. "He's
breathed the fire; l know it by bis lips
and nose he won't never breathe
nothin' else"