The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1874-01-20
VOLCANO WEST VA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 90 1874


roof-tops with marvellous agility, and
amid smoke, cinders, and the clash OF
falling walls, performed his duty like
a sturdy veteran OF the days of Jim
Gulick and Harry Howard. Was there
not framed in the famous Break o'-day
House a picture depicting the figure OF
a stout young fellow with two scared
children in his arms, descending from
the third story of a building wrapt in
flames? The fond mother Of the pre-
cious ones he has in charge is in her
MIG ht- dress, and on her knees in the
muck and mire of the street she is or
fering up a fervent "God bless you.
brave fireman. while in the sphere Of
her fascinated gaze the features of her
children's preserver, though tarnished
with dust and SCOT, seem as radiant as
the face Of an angel. Such are the
foundation deeds upon which .upriSes
immortality; and though the picture
did not develop the whole story, it
was true as gospel as far as it went,
and Daniel Sloshgrip was the hero OF
the thrilling scene. Rather rough on
the brave fire -laddie, too, for his new
Beaver-cluth coat and pants (''foity
inches round the bottom, and throw
EN- on the tailor's hands if half an
inch less,") were scorched beyond re-
pair-though the foreman had been
playing the hose on him all through
his perilouS desCent-to say nothing OF
his beautiful soap locks crisped beyond
the panecea Of BEARS grease and po.
matum. Those who relate the grand
tableau say that Dan, although ne
lacked the polish Of Chesterfield or
D'Orssy when he placed the babies
in the hands of the overjoyed mother
with the remark, I've been mighty
keerful of your lot of cradle fruit, my
handsome lady, and you can call me
shyster and fooloo if there's a hair
Of their precious heads singed," never.
theless lowered as grandly as success
fu! general on the battlefield. She
did not reply, Vulgar fellow! what
do you mean by addressing such lam
guage to me?" but threw her white
arms around his neck and gave him as
chastc kiss as he ever received from
his mother. More than one who saw
the deed assert positively that Dan.
who was never known 10 finch from
danger before, shock at this stage IS /!
stricken with a sharp attack OF the
ague; and truly it was 4 trying mo-
mcnt to q man who, though brave as a
lion among his fellows, was ever bash
lu in female society. 10 her oft re-
pcated thanks he could only say:
"Please to switch of, nam. Any Of
our boys would have done the same
thing, you know, Only my duty"
But she tool; his Eame and the num-
Der of his machine, ere carriage ar
rived 20 convey her to the nearest ho-
rcl. The woman whose children Dan.
had SO bravely preserved was widow,
and with limited means; yet, like the
interest upon the mite contributed by
the poor woman in the scriptural par
able, the consciousness Of 4 good ac-
ton. together with souvenir of friend
ship in the shape OF { handsome watch,
was a source Of continue! consolation,
particularly as the present hsd carved
on the back tkc scene Of The fire con-
nected with all the thrilling incidents
we have related. a ball az Monroe
Hall-ilty cents ticket and twenty
five cents hat money-lor the benefit
Of the Ses; man on the machine, pro-
duced a sufficient fund to recruit Dams
wardrobe, and TO leave him a fifty dol
lar note as a contingent fund. In any
case Of calamity during the days OF the
Volunteer Fire Department, the mem-
bers Of company seemed TO enter
tain for one another the friendship OF
Jonathan ard David, amd every mem
Der of the machine 10 which Dan. be-
longed was ready to bet his bottom
dollar that he was as noble fellow as
as could be found in q days walk.
His shutting, easy way, when he first
became member Of the Department.,
made him seem more like an awkward
lout from The rural districts, than 4
sharp iirc-ladG:e Of the city; but the
unprecedented short time in which
he used up the Mackervilie Pet gave
him at cnce the position Of head OF
the class. He was always ready to
laugh against himself for drawing his
words Or tangling grammar into the
guaintcst dialect OF slang; but nothing
would induce him quicker TO fight than
some strangers alIusion to his deiec-
tive paris of speech.