American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-04
Selected sMisreHa',g.
THE OLD FIRE TAXP'S STORY.


THE OLD FIRE VANP'S STORY.
BY PELEG ARKwErGHr.
YES, yes; you've got fine machine-a beautiful
A handsome critter. FURNISHED well, and smar
and neat and clean
Is'pose now, with your horses and your telegraph
And fire and steam to do the work instead O
hands and arms,
1t amt so hard on flesh and blood, and like no
the fires
Has less TO brag of fighting steam that never
But boys, them old machines of ours-we loved
And liked to hear the music of the good old fire
bell!
Yes, thank you. boys. wouldn't mind to sit and
And have pipe, and hear you tell about the mod
steamer days.
You get the same enjoyment from roasting, roar
Like what we did in olden times, when through
The watch-iower changed the loud alarm 1t did
the business brown.
And fetched the night-caps out Of bed to see the
When wv was chief Of Neptune Five. some thirty
years ago.
feel at home amongst you, boys; it carries me
To times When our red shirts and belts was thought
And then the girls-poke bonnets, eh?-would al
For any galus fireman. God bless the girls.
spose some Of You may have heard about the
little strike
That made my fortune, may say; for, though
To take no money for it then it didn't come so i'll
When twenty thousand dollars boys, was left me
1t happened on q summers night, in eighteen
A fine house on a corner up in Second avenue
Took fire in the basement, and before the people
The harnes were rasng down below-the house
was full of smoke.
When we got there the people was a-dropping.
To the roof Of an extension from the second-story
They were safe :but thrilling through us rang a
cry OF wild despair
Frem out upper window, and we saw . woman
'nete'S = .FEtE
With little child clasped tightly to her bosom,
1 was up on the extension in ji6y at the eight,
And climbed in ct the window, through the
sm4ks chat rushed out thick
And CROPPED my way up blindly-not . second,
though, too quick,
For the DIRE was gaining Roadway fast; and when
II wa. bursting out where climbed in and shoot
Too late to save; them from below-I saw that
I don't know how done it, but 1 got 'em to the
roof.
As we appeared . cheer broke out from anxious
crowds beneath;
No ladder could reach upward. through the smoke
The next roof twenty foot away-an awful gap
Cut oG. II seemed, from human aid, NO means of
Alone between . blazing hell, . black and lnrid
sky.
Three living souls expecting death-a scene Of
And one . trembling woman was and one little
1 never saw . sight like that-the mother kneeiing
there,
Her arms around the little boy, her face upturned
II ever human agony disturbed the far-on skies
Then did the supplication Of those piteous, plead
Likely heaven took an interest the little one to
save,
For now they're on the other roof-my boys go
prompt and brave!
And now they've hauled a ladder mp, and now it's
But such bridget You'd better b'lieve the thing
WAS perilOus-
The mother saw and shuddered, and cast one
Upon the gathering horror and heard its sullen
She kissed the child with cHnging lips and held
him out to me:
. Save him, save him-my precious boyl My life
took him, started; rung by rung stepped the
chasm DER,
through sitting gusts the fire sent up with dull
and angry roar;
Till, cafe across the child gave, then turned to
cross again
70 help the mother; but saw the peril would be |
vaini
She had watched the dizzy journey with a moth
er's eager eye
Until we stood in safety; then she heard little |
cry,
Ind raw her baby's outstretched arms. Another
look to God:
Yes, darling; mammals coming now"-and forth |
the woman trod.
Ter feet were bare. her hair was loose and stream
ing on the night;
The lurid glow lit up her face with red, unearthly
light.
tell you now my nerves were shook performing |
Of the feat
That that pale woman undertook through fiery
gust OF heat
10 doubt her feet guided like a spirit swift
While the roof behind her as she left broke into
sweeping flame;
,ut when the dreadful journey in safety she had |
passed,
Ter womsn's weakness t1iumphed and went back |
md she fell amongst fainting; but reckon
Is went up on that occasion would q done you |
good to hear.
t was nip and tuck tween lie and death for all |
OF us that night;
SUIT death was enchred. That's all, boys; I'd |
thank you for . light.
~ Y. Daily Graphic.