Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-07

and IN by right, the place no was born
for. 'Bill--Joe---Abe--D arky--conie VT
me-.
The crowd divided, and the Avc made
for tho offices, and fonnd there, In q
row, number OF barrcl-shaped machines
Of metal, each one having q small hose
and Ii pumping apparatus attached 70 It.
These were II new boon from the gener
Gus hnnd OF scicnce---a French c0ntriv-
ance, ny the name attached to each set
fortl---I' Extinctcur.' Each Of the mon
seized ono of them and bore II TO the
edge of tho shaft, the crowd once more
making way.
A bucket, technically called "bowk,"
some two feet deep and eighteen inches
wide, was affixed to tho wire rope which
swung above tho booming shaft. The
self-appointed leader asked for flannel
clothing. A dozen garments were fling
to him ut once. He wrapped himself up
like n mummy, aud bound u cotton
handkerchief around his face. Thon,
with the machine strapped securely
across his shoulders, no stepped one foot
in the bucket and laid hand on tho
rope. A man run forward with slcn.
der chain, which no passed rapidly
round tho volunteers waist, and fixed
to the rope which supported the bowk.
Another thrust an ond Of rope into his
hand, and stood hy to reeve ont the rest
az he descended. Then came the word
"Shor, steady" The engine painted,
the roped frightened, tho clumsy figure
with the machine bound about 1t, swung
into the smoke, and in death-like still
ness, with here and there slnothered
gasp, tho man went down. His COM
rade at the end drbbled the rope through
his coal blackened fingers as delieately
as though it had been silken thread.
Then came n sudden tug ut 1t, and the
word was flashed to the engine room,
and tho crack of tho wheel ceased, and
tho gliding wire was still. Then for y
space of nigh minute not sound was
heard; but every ego WAS Oh tho rope,
and every cheek was pallid with aus.
pense, and every heart was with the hero
in tho fiery depths below Then came
another warning ting at tho rope, and
again tho word flashed to tho engine
room. Tho wheel spun rennd, tho rope
glided, quivered, stopped, the figure
swung up through the smoke again, was
seized, lowered, landed. When hiscom-
rades laid hands on him, tho flannel gar.
ments fell from him in huge blackened
flakes, no near tho flames had no boon.
He east these garments from him, and
they fell half tindered at his feet. Then
he drew off the handkerchief which
bound his face, and at the God-like he
roic pallor of his countenance, and the
set lips and cleaning eyes, women whis
pered pantingly, "Good bless hbn!" and
tho breath of those bold fellows wa
drawn hard. Then he roeled, and, ant
pair of arms like bears were arount
him ina second. .....
In two minutes he was outside tn
crowd, and women ran for water. And
while nil this was doing, another man
as good rs he, was swinging downward
in the binding smoke. So fierce leal
the flames made at this hero, that the.
caught him fairly for u moment In thei
arms, and when he was brought to tn
surface, he hung limp and senseless, Wit
patches of smouldering fire upon his gar
monts, aud his hands and face cracken
cd and blackened. But tho next MA
was ready, and when he, in turn, can,
, to the light, he said good-by to the ligh
, forever in this world. Not this, no
. anything that fear could urge, could sta
the rest. There were thirty-Ave me
0 and boys below, and they would hay
: them up or die. With that gotllike pa
lor on their lips and cheeks, with thos
4 wide eyes that looked death in the fac'
G and knew him and defied him-dow
Q shey went. l saw these things, who to
4 the story. Man after man dotted thu
r fiery hell, and faced the lurid, sn'ok
J., darkness undismayed, until at last the
n valor won the day.
}. The love lorn William had but littl
g room in his heart for superAnous sent
r. ment as he laid his hand upon the wi
d rope and set his foot ID the bowk agai
e The rope grew taut he passed the han
e kerchief about his face again, and Wi
g tho memory of her eyes upon him, dro
p ped out of sight. The man at the s''
n of the shaft paid out the slender Iii
again, and old hands watched it closel
,c Yard after yard ran ont. Tho great Ct