New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-05
THE OLD FIRE vAMp,s STORY.
Br PKLKG ARkWRiGHT.

Yes, yes; you've got fine machine-a beautiful
handsome critter, FURNISHED WELL and smar
and neat and clean
Is'pose row, with your horses and your TELEGRAPH
alarms,
And fire and steam to do the work instead of hand
It amt so hard on flesh and blood, and like as no
a.. less to brag of fighting steam, that neve,
Stacks nor tires.
But boys, them old machines of ours-we loved
AND liked to hear the music of the good old fire
beN
Yea. thank son, boys, wouldn't mind 10 cit and
And have pipe and hear you tell about the mod
But somehow. boys, I don't believe in these here
temperance days.
Tou get the same enjoyment from roasting, roar.
Like what we did in oiden times, when through
The watch tower changed the loud alarm. 1t did
the business brown,
And fetched the nightcaps out Of bed to see the
When was chief of Neptune Five, some thirty
years ago.
feel At home among you. boys; it carries me
thought to be quite gay
And then the girls-poke bonnets, eh !-would al.
ways have eye
Fer any gallus fireman. God bless the girls saysI
j spsse some OF you may have heard about the lit
THAT made my fortune. { may say; for, though
didn't like
TO take the money for it then it didn't come so ill
When twenty thousand dollars. boys, was left me
n . wille
II happened on summers night. in eighteen
4 fine house = corner up in Second avenue
FooA IRE IN the basement and before the people
The flames we're raging down below-the house
vas full of smoke.
ha- 81
go shs roof of an extension from the second story
They were safe. but thrilling Though u. rang
cry Of wild despair
FsSin out an upper Window and We saw woman
these.
With little child ciasped slightly 70 her bosom
{ was up the extension in jifiy at the sight,
and climbed in at the window, through the smoke
AND CROPPED my way up bndly-uot q second,
though, too quick.
eos Che fire was gaining Roadway fast; and when
Ut was bursting out where Eclimbed in and shoot.
sroo Ing ing up p the hest stair it,. s,, ,.,.
& don't know now done it, but go. EN- to the
root.
IL we appeared a chees broke out from anxious
crowds beneath: |
But still my chance mighty slim to save us all
from death.
no ladder could reach upward through the smoke |
The next roof twenty foot sway-an awful gap for |
Gut off it seemed from human aid, no means of
Alone between blazing hell, black and lurid
shree living souls expecting death-a scene of ter
ssdone trembling womaa was and one = little
child.
saeve fs see "ssh' iike 'aathe mother kneelins
Aer arms around the little boy her face upturned
in prayer
IF ever human agony disturbed the far Off skies.
Then did the duplication of those pteous plead
ing eyes.
Likely heaven took an interest the little one to
For now they're on the other roof-my boys SO
true and brave!
And now they've hauled ladder up, and now it's
ssut such bridge! You'd better b'lieve the thing
ri mother saw and shuddered and cast one
Upon the gathering horror and heard its sullen
sound.
She kissed the child with clinging lips and held
him out to me;
eSave him, save him--my precious boy! My life
is naught," said she.
8 took him started; rung By rung stepped the
Through sitting gusts the FIRE sent up with dull
Gill; sale cross, the child gave. then turned to
cross again
20 help the mother. bu. saw the peril would be
vaias
&she had watched the dizzy journey with mothers
eager eye,
C'nti, We stood in safety; then she heard little
cry, |
&nd saw her Saby's outstretched arms. Another
look to God:
@sss, darling mammals coming now"-and forth
the woman tIod.
giey feet bare her hair was loose and stream.
ing on the night;
Sne lurd glow lit up her face with red, unearthly
light.
4tell you now my nerves shook performing
of the feat
Shat that pale woman undertook through fiery
gusts of heat. |
go doubt her feet was guided: like . spirit swift
she came, |
Nhile the roof behind her as she left broke into
sweeping fame
ssut when the dreadful journey in safety she had |
passed, |
iSler woman's weakness triumphed and went back
her at last, |
and she tell amongst fainting but | reckon
such a cheer |
As went up on that occasion would have done Won |
good to hear |
was nip and tuck tween life and death for all of
US that night |
But death wss euchred. That's all, boys I'd thank
you for light.
NEW York Graphic.