Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-02

One guest night-for we had our little
social parties occasionally--we were sit
ting at the open windows, when the sub.
OF the party exclaimed:
What glare there is yoHder! It's a
fire, 1 believe"
"Bedad, your right" said one of the
guests. ats down by Sir Johns; he las
a house full. I hope it's not tho house
ITSELF"
"Shall turn out the pickett" asked
my brother. "Why, look, it's increasing;
they may want assistance"
As he spoke the flames mounted up
and the lurid smoke rose high into the
glare above.
Sound the fire-call and turn out the
pickets, Hamblyn," said my brother.
"Take the men down at the double
Wen drive over. Come along. Look
sharpi"
hurried out for coat to cover my
dress clothes. Of course, being in hur-
", was delayed. In the dark CROPPED
unnecessarily, and at length when I
crossed from my room I found that the
Others had driven off in the cars our
guests had come over in.
The sentry at the gate civiliy "shoul-
dered his rifle as passed, and in reply
to my question told me that the captain
and the whole party had gone, leaving
word for me to follow, if liked.
"Yes; but how9 They've taken all the
cars, sentry"
Eyes, sir; but there's the gig, sir"
Whose gig9"
"Tbe boat, sir. You can scull down
almost as quick as they'll drive, yer hon.
or"
would pull down. 1t was not far
the moon was still bright. ! knew the
rlver pretty well. No sooner thought
than done. A soldier from the guard
room came across and helped me tc
launch the gig.
That's big fire, sir; they do say its
at the hall below. Poor creatures!
hope they'll all escape. bright, sir?"
Ireplied in the affirmative. He let &C
the painter, with two vigorous strokes Of
the light SOULS I was in the stream
Fortunately l knew almost every turr
and bend Of the fine river or I should
have more than once had very narrow
escape, If had not been quickly upset
It is all very we'll to row in daylight, but
in the gloom, when the banks and tht
water alongside are equally shrouded, sc
that where one tegins and the other ends
is an extremely difficult problem to solve
and snags and submerged shoals are quite
invisible, the pulling down rapid stream
alone is no joke. But / did not mind il
then. Urged by reckless daring,
sculled rapidly on alone.
Alone, but for all the company of two
good planks. Whence came they, apC
whittier they were bound, did not think
but noticed that they were kept close Il
me--now swirling away, now in the din
light meeting, then dividing, turning
round, separating themselves, and sooI
irclOsing my SOULS, so as to impede ny
way and endanger my safety. They
Rugged ne so closely at last that lay OF
my oars, and clutching the intrusive
boards pulled them into the boat, where
under the thwarts' they exchanged drip
ping condolences as to what they would
do next. What they did shall be told il
due course.
"Such great effects from trivial causes spring.
The blazing house was now almos
visible. The reflection was caught BY
the water just beyond me. On I scud
ded round the bend of the bank, the
stream hurry1ng me down, and now
have opened up the town reach, and the
burning and half-demolished building i
cracking and roaring half mile off
The smoke, dotted with million sparks
flies up to heaven, while screams anG
cries and the roar of falling timbers as
cend with them to the lurid sky. Thos'
tiny jets of water only served to aggra
vate the thirst in the fiery threat, ant
not to quench it; no man can 1--we nea
such fire as that; the heat even in m,
gig was soon felt distinctly, and the tw
plank5 beneath my feet winked to eacl
other in the glare, and gllstened side b.
side at the thought of what was com
ing.
A yell, roar! -Four people had go
upon the crumb.ing parapet, some fee
above the stable-roof, and were cryin,
and shrieking for assistance. Twent
mea at once rushed in to offer ropes an
help. What could they do2 The IN
happy inmates. clad in evening dres!
looked wierd and unearthly in the fer
glare. One was lady, three were me1
Taking of their coats they knotted ther
by the sleeves, and let the lady down t
the lower roof in safety. Such chez
arose for this. Well done, brave mel
we'll done! I watched and waited. Pull
ing in, the heat was great. / pulled ava
to the opposite wing, abbutting on til
river, now almost wholly clad in fam
and smoke, but still itself unburning.
What is that? Can it be a man or W.
man kneeling there, and unobserved ami
the shrouding smoke by all the rest WI
are gazing at the gallant men around tt
stables2 The soldiers had arrived an
were doing good service; but no or
else perceived the solitary form wrappe
in an ulster coat, and trembling on ii
wall above the river.
Not moment was to be lost. I pulle
in hastily.
Leap" / shouted, "lesp!"
AS I spoke rose up IN the boat. II
planks winked once more and rattle
"Jump!' yelled In my excitement.
One look to heaven--a glance down
the swiftly-running river, and the perso
addressed leaped feet first. Unthin
ingly. / moved suddenly; the light g
rocked. Ia vain attempted to recov
by balance; the boat tipped over and
fell headlong into the water, now covers
with debris.
The two planks started after me I
gether from beneath the thwarts.
] sank; and as I did SO / thought
Rosie, and made up my mind TO die, il
; must; but I struggled manfully tor Ii
the while.
,, When one is unwillingly under wat
the brain seems to become buster than
, all other fimns i know not why h,1t