Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-04-19

and again upon the window,sill. The
'orm was evidently feminine, but the
grasp on the rope was sure one, and
as soon as the crowd caught glance
OF the white figure gliding down the
side of the building they realized the
situation, and sent UP a shout. The
name OF the young lady who made the
first descent was Miss Clara. Handy.
After Miss Handy, descents were made
on the rope by Que gentleman and two
ladies'. AS soon as all the fifth story
had been removed by means of the
rope, the ladder was run up to the
upper story, and the first ono taken out
was young lady dressed in white.
The solitary fireman way up at the
head of the ladder could be seen tax.
ing the young lady as she swung by
means of a rope from the window and
guiding her carefully to the ladder.
The smoke-cloud again blew across
the topmOst stories, and the scene was
again shut out from below. AS soon
as the crowd were able to discern what
was going on, the brave fireman could
he seen slowly moving down along the
ladder, ring by rung, bearing upon his
back the young lady he had so gallant.
ly rescued. She was clinging to him
with her arms about his neck, and was
evidently SO intent on escape that
when some of the Greman's comrades
came to his rescue and offered to re-
lieve him of his charge she absolutely
refused to let 60 her hold. Others
were rescued from the upper story, ,and
all were taken to the saloons across
the street and kept there until their
fright had passed away. A most pa.
thetic scene was witnessed by many
spectators on the Fourth street side.
just as the danger appeared most i'm.
minent, in q lifth.story window, upon
a background Of lurid flame, might be
seen Che profile Of a man and woman
shaking hands, and taking a last fare
we'll OF each other. They had stood
at the window and appealed for aid
until hope gave out, and, just when
they felt the volume of the smoke
overcoming them, and saw the flames
apparently stretching toward them
with rapid strides they fell into each
others arms prepared for the worst.
THE AWFUL TRUTH.
Though every engine was on the
ground and more than twenty streams
Of water were poured into every acces-
sible part of the building, the Hook
and-Ladder Department were inexpli-
cably tardy. Two truck wagons were
allowed to stand a half block away the
ladders not being even displaced.
Great reliance was placed on the Skin
ner tire-escape ladder by the firemen,
and all their efforts were directed to.
wards getting that clumsy continuance
III position. 1t is melancholy fact
that the fire had been in progress
nearly one hour before a ladder was
placed SO that it could be used, and in
the meantime several persons, crazed
by the apparently desperate nature of
their surroundings, precipitated them.
selves to the pavement below.
TIE FIERY GULF.
at 3 O'Clock the scene was horrible
and thrilling in the extreme. The
hotel WAS wrapped in flames, and al.
though most OF those who had made
themselves visible had been saved by
means OF ropes and ladders, yet here
and there an agoniZed face leaned from
lirellt window to give Il last appeal
for help. Men and women rushed
about, wild with excitement, calling
frantically for missing friends or kins.
men, and the tiremen stood appalled,
and unnerved before the terrific no
ocaust in progress. The heavens were
agloW with rolling waves Of fire, dark
ened here and there with black col.
umns Of smoke. Myriads of sparks
rose up into glittering canopy. and
particles Of burning debris were hurl
ed by the hot air upon adjacent build
ings and pavements.
Inside ,oniy guess could be made Of
what was going on. Escape by means
OF doorways was no longer possible,
the upper floor being in absolute pos
session Of the flames, and the lower
halls and stairways being enveloped in
black smoke that would have made
sutfocation instant. Not one of the
5000 spectators dared to go into the
seething mass of smoke and gas, at
4 O'Clock all had either escaped or
perished, for every floor had given
way, and the south and east walls had
fallen, demolishing the smaller ada
cent buildings and burying everything,
animate and inanimate, in their ruins.
The firemen continued their work
until 6 O'Clock, the flames burning
tiercely ut that hour. But, shortly
afterward, they began to'subside, Shy
1.-THE debris was heap of smoldering,
smoking timbers and steaming mortar
and brick.
THE DEATH ROLL.
1t will probably never be known how
many perished. At this writing only
eleven are known to have been lost,
though twenty-five are thought to be
missing.