, 1879-01-05

places, be told how he first became aware OF LIE
fire. He was sitting in the Chief Clerks room
copying. when Capt. Hosick rushed IN, say
ing the building was, on fire, and the
elevator on the east side had caught Hc went
upstairs to tell the other boys, and found tue
smoke intense. Before they could feallze Tue
danger they found the hallway was so full OF
smoke they could not get out, and were 1o1ced
to shut themselves III room and depend on as
sistapce from outside. ~-, *--.
CONLAE'S EXPERIENCE.
The experience Of Joe Conlau, the elevator
boz, was OF character varied and exciting. He
was at the fifth floor when the fire broke out, or
rather when notified of It's existence. His first
impression, he said, was escape. This was both
natural, and. one might say, imperative. But
seconds reflection recalled his senses to reali-
cation Of the impending danger, aud prompted
him to contrary line OF policy. He ascendcd
to the sixth floor and warned the janitor's wife
who, with four children, were occupants OF
rooms I'd that portion Of the building: She re-
fused to be admonished, and escaped when the
fire got under hcadway by means of the fire.
escape, her children attaining safety by the
same medium. On the fourth floor Mr.. Shufeldt,
a lawyer, was overseeing the labors of q
gang. Of carpenters and -plasterers who
were preparing an office for his
occupation. Upon being ady1sed'of the critical
condition of affairs he, with his daughter and
the mechanics employed, were loaded into the
elevator and safely landed on the ground floor.
They made their escape By the Dearborn street
entrance. Conlan made four trips with his
elevator, notifying occupants OF Offices of the
hY-f lima na firaT Ind
gotten under full headway, aud the means Of
escape were not only limited, but prccarious.
Hc realized this fact ana abandoned the convey
ance on the second floor. Blinded by the smoke
and seeking any avenue Of escape, he felt his
way into the main office of Shcridan's suite.
The General was engaged in securing his valuable
paters, which he secured and fed. Conlan assisted
in thrusting the records OF the department. into
the department safe, and then turned about to
canvass the chances. They were limited. The
fire was almost upon him, and whichever way
he turned escape seemed to be cut off. In q fit
of desperation he rushed to window opening
onto Adams street, hoping by this means to
gain the pavement. Again he was disappointed.
All means OF escape seemed to be cut off. He
told TIRE TRIBUNE man last evening, that for
the first time In his life be contemplated the fu
ture. The contemplation, he said, was. the re-
verse Of pleasant. He would be willing, he ad-
ded, to make any sacrifice to ''get out." After
a moments delay he crossed over the
hall, the smoke binding and impeding
his advance at every step, and directing his
advance to window which appeared diruly
through the conhagration. After much Vexa-
tion Of spirit he reached the sill, and realized
how much better 1t was to be born lucky than
rich. For outside the easement he saw the per-
manent tire-escape with which the building was
supplied, and, avalling himself Of that Samari-
tan means, landed on terra firma safe man, if
nut Sa1amander.
When The TRIBUNE reporter reached the
scene OF destruction the alley bounding the
building on the north was the centre of attrac-
tion- The building adjoining the PostrOf1ice
was apparently threatened,-in reality in
flames. The top story was occupied By five
ladies in the employ of the mailing depart
mcnt, and their "escape" was q SOURCE
OF wonder. One by one they came to
the window, opened the frc-eseape adjoining
for an instant, and entered. But this could not
last. II they remained they would be burned,
and yer there seemed to be no influence that
would persuade them to undertake the pcrllous
descent. They seemed paralyzcd with fright
which nothing could remedy. While those on
the ground we're wondering, fearing, asking What
should be done, fireman answered In person
and solved the problem. A ladder was elevated
to the "connecting 1ink'' Of the escape, upon
which, having been firmly "based,' he assembled
rapidly. He reached the floor on which the
ladies were embargoed and assisted them one
by one to places Of safety. When they had re-
covered from the fright incident to the occasion,
woman-like they began to exhibit a wonderful
amount OF anxiety for the "Wardrobe u left be-
hind. This continued, and they would not be
comforted until that OF each was dropped
from the window into the embrace Of its
vearning claimant. It will be many days te-
fore a1rs. Lyon, Mrs. Dennel, the Misses Fuell,
McCorquenoble, aud Murry will enjoy such an
experience, or be made the central figures Of
sensation of equal proportions. When they
had been secured and their hearts were palpi-
tattng with relief, q lank, lean, and hungry fig
ure was observed making the der-rounds
with cat-1ike agility. Voices were raised in pro-
testation, aud the universal verdict as he disap-
peared in the smoke emitted from the fifth
story window was one OF condemnation. s'He's
q bloody fool,'' said all with one accord, and
during his absence the opinion was universal
that the foolhardy adventurer would become q
subject for the Coroner. While these judgments
we're beng rendered the bloody fool emerged
from the window. He held black-and- tan in his
arms and cat pcering out Of his overcoat
pocket Thus accoutered, he descended the lad
der and reached the groundt In safety, greeted by
cheers.
Ben Bullwinkle assisted some of the inmates
to escape, after hazardous conflict with the
elements When his charne was safely disposed
Of out Of harms reach, the Captain was nearly
paralyzcd with cold and astonishment at re-
quest that he would aid in securing the safety
Of canary aud poll-parrot.
Mr.. Kline, Of the Postmaster's Office, was no.
titled Of the fire after it had obtained such head
way as to imperil his escape. He went to door
communicating with the elevator aud found
that was cut off from the means Of exit, and that
he was left to perish unless the interposition Of
Providence should prevail in his behalf.
After trying every means accessible,
he at last found q rope depending
from the roof, and slid into the cold aud saliva