Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-04-20

practice is to use the elevator in ascent
and descent, and therefore could %,
find staircase or any means of escape.
There were others on the same floor in
the same terrible dilemma, but could not
see each other for the smoke. Presently
we CROPPED along and found step down
ward. We commenced TO descend. What
happened l cannot say, for do not dis
tinctly remember. have been in great
er danger, as you know, and always en-
deavor to maintain my composure, but
the smoke stifled the senses. Wereached
by some means or other the first landing
of the ladies' staircase on the Fifth street
side, opposite the Olympic Theater.
There was a great crowd of ladies in
their night-dresses in the vestibule, and
some persons were persuading them to
remain, assuring them that all would be
safe. We did not heed this advice and
passed out on the street. A way was
made through the crowd for us to reach
the hotel opposite, and ! remained there
some little time to recover myself
There saw poor Miss Mcclellan brought
in. l can never forget it. My brother
procured carriage shortly afterward
and we came down to the Lindell.
feel very much worse to-day than l did
when l arrived here after the escape. l
have lost everything, literally every
thing, for am under obligations to lady
sympathizers and friends for the clothes
which you see me wearing now. l have
nothing of my own whatever, except the
night-robe in which l escaped"
A thrilling scene was witnessed at the
east front about 2;30 o'clock. A num-
Der of people had been taken out of that
portion of the building by means of the
Skinner truck, which had then been re-
moved, it being supposed that that side
had been emptied of its inmates. Sud-
denly at one of the windows on the
fourth floor man appeared in a night
dress. Glancing around he seemed to
realize his situation perfectly. The lad
der had been taken away, and below him
was a sheer descent of sixty feet. To
jump was certain death. What shall
do?" he asked. "Stay where you are,
answered the crowd, aroused to a clear
appreciation of the imminence of the
danger, and of the possibility of secur-
ing help. "God deliver me" he ex-
claimed, looking up al the lurid sky, and
down at the floors below, now all ablaze.
He looked up at the sky and clasped his
hands in prayer Lord, for Jesus
sakep could be easily heard by the
throng below, calmed into perfect
silence. 1t seemed hours before the
truck was brought. 1t must have
seemed centuries to the lonely
man, standing at the darkened win
dow, lighted by an occasional
flash from the flames around him, and
startled by the crash, that came here and
there, of falling walls. Lord, for
Jesus sakew he cried. ." Stand where
you are," said fifty voices. The truck
finally came and was slowly and clumsily
raised to the window. Two firemen
went up and put the man on the ladder.
He came down slowly, bis limbs trem.
bling beneath HIM. At the bottom he
raised himself up to his full height.
Hurrah for st. Louis" he cried; New
York amt dead yet" Then, raising his
hand up to the sky, he said in lower
tone; 'Lsrd, forgive me for every sin
that have ever committed. To think
of having your door opened with a cry,
and find the whole building on fire, and
then to get out! Lord, l thank Theel l
have been in fires before, and in battles
and fights, but this beats ALL" He was
account of himself, and was hurried away
in an overcoat which had to be forced on
his shoulders and held there by the two
strong firemen who escorted him to
place of safety.