Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-13
A THRILLING SCENE.

About one hundred and fifty years ago,
there lived in England, minister of the gos.
pei noted for bis sweetness of temper and zeal
for the welfare of his fellow men. He was
possessed of but small amount of those things
which are most valued by men generally. He
was wholly absorbed in the work of saving
sinners. His promised salary was small, and
only little more than half Of what was
promised was paid His wife was an amiable
woman. They had large family. In fact,
it was an exceedingly large family, for at one
time thirteen were living and six had died.
The care and education Of this large house
hold fell mainly upon the mother. The ven.
erable father added small amount to bis
yearly income by writing poetry, of which he
was fond. Strange as it may seem, this good
man was exceedingly unpopular. His very
goodness Of disposition and earnest effort to
do good to others, seems to have made those
who should have loved and pitied him, hate
and maltreat him. Because he endeavored
to reform the multitude and induce them to
do right, they became his enemy and because
he bore, with patience, their rude attacks up
on him, they determined to injure him BY de-
stroying his property. The way these out
laws undertook to accomplish their purpose,
was to burn the house in which he lived
One night a crowd of rabble, no doubt
partly drunk, assembled at his house and ap.
piled the torch to it. The flames kindled with
terrible fury, but after the house was partly
consumed, the fire was distinguished. These
vile creatures we're not satisfied. On another
night, whilst the family were all in the house
and the wife and mother sick and in bed, the
same crowd of rabble, or anothe' equally as
malicious, came and applied the torch to the
house of the man whose only fault was that he
was good man, and whose only misfortune
was that he was poor. The fire was not dis
covered until the whole dwelling was wrapped
in flames. It was in q small town, and many
people ran to the assistance of the afflicted
family. The doorway, the stairs, and the root
ofthe house were all in blaze. Some OF the
family were sleeping in the upper story, and
some in the lower. The father and children
made their way out Of the burning house, by
leaping out of the windows. The mother was
sick and so weak that she could not get out
of q window. The burning stairs were fall
ing, and the flames were leaping through and
around the door, In agony, the husband saw
his wife, and the children, their mother, about
to be burned to death. Every exit was barred
by flames. 1t was an awful moment. No
one could render any assistance. As her on,
" hope, she summoned all her strength ana
rushed ~ through the flames. She was fearful
ly burned, but her life was spared. On
looking at the group Of children assembled
ed that one of their little boys was not there;
A shrek was uttered by both parents and
children. The child was in the upper story.
The roof was about to fall in. The child was
seen at the window. To leap out would en-
danger his life. It was critical moment
Two strong countrymen placed themselves BE-
meath the window, the one standing upon the
shoulders of the other, and the boy was told
to leap down into the arms Of the one Or, nearest
him. He did it and was saved. That house
was the house of Samuel Wesley, and that
boy rescued from the flames was John Wes-
ley.