The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-04-20

struggle OF three minutes he Shrleked Let
go - and fell, with every bone crushed.
4 FATAL LEAP.
Another man appeared at an adjoining
widow III his night attire and frantically
called out, ''What shall do ?''
The flames were leaping all about him
and seemed ready to envelope and con-
sumo him.
Jump Jump answered back
dozen throats. The man looked down at
the pavement. as if hesitating what to do,
but the scorc!Iing flames were closing in on
him fast and he bounded from the window,
turning over twice and whirling to the
stones below, striking on his shoulders and
head. He was Immediately picked up and
carried into an adjoining saloon, and lived
long enough that his uame was j. l.. Stew
ems, when he Immediately expired.
Two other faces soon appeared at the
window from which lie had jumped, bnt
tie flames and smoke closed them from
view almost instantly and left no doubt of
the awful fate that befel them.
GENERAL RESCUE.
On the Wali.ut street port ico, for five or
ten minutes before the hook and ladder
company lent any aid To them, we've a crowd
cf at least sevcnty-tivc men and women.
The men were slrieking constantly for
help. and the women kept crying out CON
stautly, adding considerably to the ter
hut for several minutes no ladders weie in
sight. At length one ladder Was brought
ON and placed up against the portico, and
there was genera Iusii :or it ! lie ladies
in .hcir dIohabIlie were first allowed to de
scend, after which the gentlemen, having
rid themselves of their yalScs and other
supcrilutics. The ladies were then taken
to the saloons opposite amd provided fol as
best could be.
TnE OCCUPANTS OF THE TOP STORY.
For the people III the top stuIy there
seemed to 3e 'he greatest sympathy, and
tie dilatoriness OF ihe fire department was
loudly and generally deprecated. The
men and women above seeing that the Of
forts made for their rescue were being
made in vain determined to do as much ms
possible toward securing their lives, and
there was accoid ding ly general plecipita-
tion of bedding from the windows, as if
the poor creatures desired to make as soft
Il bed possible for themselves in the face
of death. The top stories were during this
:Ime now aud tlicn lit up with a glow of
flame from inside, and again wholly en-
vclOped in clouds OF smoke issuing nom
the various windows. The men and women
who had been taken from tlic poGticu by
this time gathered sufficient strength of
mind To go out, and pointed out irant ically
those whom they suspected were sui eD-
ltdDlttI dOpNt anu w dlAAiIE icl fSSiS'''lt'5'
" hon the ladder was at iengih II placed in
position and found too short 10 be of any
avail! their was general Outcry for Il rope.
Those in the street kept shouting out to
those above Haven't You got Il rope p aud
those above as we'll kept crying lor il rope
Whtn the ladder Was placed IN position, aud
the necessities OF the situation thoroughly
understood, a couple OF flremen rushed up
to the TOP rounds and threw coil of rope
:
The rope was caught and was fastened 10
the iron pillar running down the center of
the window. The smoke cleared away ;Or
a moment. The sUSI ense Iii tie Cow ct
WAS intense, Every body was in:cnt upon
what would occur next. Would they te
able TO reach the ladder? was the general
question, as few understood the rope es
cape which had been provided.
BEGINNING THE DESCENT.
While the queslluuS were fitting thToug Ii
the minds ot the spectators, aud 1t to'hl
bat "a moment for them to do 80, and just
as ile smoke cleared away, IA white form
was seen fitting down tie side Uf the
house. 1here was now ID slide of ten OF
/ fiiieeu feet and again Tie slide was sioI I
and jerkcy now the foot rested IL moment
ia Il coInIce won k aIa az atn ut,un the " M
/ dow sill. The fJr.u was evidently feminine,
huj the grasp on the rope was sure one,
+ =
( white iEttrc CHUNG dow The SIDE OF the
bulldiug they realized the situation and
sent up a shout. The name of the young
lady who made the Hsst a, scent vas
Mss CIa,a Hardy. After Miss Handy dc
scents were made Oh tic rope 5y one gcn
/ Licmau and TWO ladies.
/ THRILLING SPECTACLE.
As soon as all on the fifth story had been
rescued Toy means ot the rope the ladder
! H., and ~
one taken out WAS young lady dressed IN
! white. The solitary fireman, away up al
! the head of the ladder, could be seen taking
/ the young lady as she swung 10y means OF
| II rope from the window aud guiding hes
/ carefully to the ladder. The smoke cloud
/ agai in blew across lie topmost stories and
! the scene was again shut ont from below.
! As soon as lhe crowd were able to discern
what was going on tie brave fireman could
bc seen slowly moving down along the
! ladder rung after rung. bearing upon hls
/ back the young lady he had SO gallantiy
rescued. She was cllnging to him, with
! her arms about hlS neck, and was evident
I ~ 30 intent on escape that when several OF
! the fircman's comrades cam" to his rescue
/ and offered to rrieve him q: his ciarg.
she absolutely refused to let go hcr bold.
LAST FAREWELL.
\ most pathetic scene was Witnessed 10y
] many of the spectators on the Fourth street
side, Just as the danger appeared most
| imminent In the filth story window, upon
n background of lu1d flame, might bt
seen the proiiles of a man aud woman
shaking hands and taking last farewell
! of each other. They had stood at the W u
dow and appealed for and until hope gave
out, and just Wien they felt the volumes
| Of smoke overcoming them and saw TIE
flames apparently sttt tching toward then
( with rapid strides, they fell into eaci
others arms, prepared FOR The worst.
iH. AGONizING SCENES.
At three o'clock the scene was horrible
and thrilling in the extreme. The hote
was wrapped in flames, aud, though mos
of those who had made themselves visible
had been saved 10y means OF ropes and lad
ders, yet here aud there an agonized fac,
leaned from fire-lt window Ia give Il las
appeal for help. Men and women Iusllet