The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-12-20
A HEROIC ACf.

II was when VIM. G. Conner, the popu-
lar sberif, w - secretary Of the Protection
npipe Com5any 5, and the Volunteer
T.. epar: nent of New York was lR
full TO and in all its glory that the sub
iola~., incident, enough in compass upon
which to build romance, transpired.
tits not necessary to mention with par
tjcularitv the number of the street, for the
old structure was long ago removed where
the FIRE broke out. Very near the time
has neen given, and that should be sut-
fcient.
The clocks of the city, both large and
small, had struck the hour Of ten on a bit
tsrly cold night in December, and orderly
disposedpeople were about preparing to
retire, when suddenly the City Hall and
all ths other great fre-belIs began ringing
furiously. In those days the alarms were
not given by stations, and the hremen
often experienced no little difficulty and
considerable loss of time in seeking the
exact locality of conAagation.
On this occasion, however, the flames
shot suddenly upwards, and every one
knew that the fire was on the East side
of the city, and was certainly below
Twenty.Fiflh street. 1t was, in fact, IN
Thirteenth street, in a four-story tenement
hoIse.
The flames had gained considerable
Aeadway before the engines could get at
their 6tful work-and it was with no lit.
tie difficulty that the inmates succeeded,
losing their furniture, in escaping un.
scatheJ.
But as the flames leaped with great
forked tongues from window to window
and from floor to floor, it began at first
to he whispered, and then with loud cries
asserted that little girl, between four
and five years old, was asleep in one O
the back rooms on the upper story.
The mother or,the child rushed franti
cally towards the burning building, an
in vain effort, for such it would hay
been for her, to have thoughtlessly aus
recklessly entered it.
One Of the assistant engineers, how
ever, stopped her, He even gently pusbe
her back, finally placing her in the car
Of a policeman, at the same time inform
Jag her that if it were humanly possible
that her little one should be rescued frot
the flames. "
While he spoke-not, howevrr, belie'
ing his own words, for be thought no on
could reach it, ladders were hurriedl
placed against the front.of the structure
aud hose was served up.them in order t
drive back the forked flames from I'll
chamber in which, ii not already smothe
ed by the smoke, the child might be.
While this work was being accom-
pli5hed, bright-eyed, handsome,lookin
AMI resolute boy OF about fourteen year
broke through the Gordon, and running
the engineer said
II can save the little girl. Her nan
Is Lottie Wilson, sir. ! know which WI
to go, and how 10 do il, She'll be burne
up or smothered before they can get wat
on the fourth foor. Just tell some Of Il
men to play on the stairs and Ill be .
right. Its the only way, sir"
"But, boy" huriedly reioined the eng
Reer 'don't you see the stairs are i
ready on FIRE"
"Play on them then,a shouted the Do
as he ran forward.
In another second hardly stopping
eIuie falling bricks and pieces Of barn
and brokea tinherl that cane from II
doors, windows an 4 roof Or the house
was beyond human saccor so far as. cou
.~ BE- given by those who saw him diss
pear,
And now great hush fell. upon
vast ossembage.
Many had actually seen-all had hea
of the brave boy-and there were peoI
Who murmured
God save hin! Who is he ?'
And now the assistant engineer in
loal voice, Instructed the men who h
the pipes to play directly upon the stai
AL, ifPassible, for 4 minute or two, 60