Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-01-14
A Hero.
A DEED OF GLORY THAT ALL HISTORY
CANNOT SURPASS.

A DEED OF GLORY THAT ALL HISTORY
CANNOT sURPAss.
The New Y rk s'Star" gives the follow
ing graphic picture of scene at the dis
astrous fire in a New York tenement
house, on Monday, January Sd, tele-
graphic report of which appeared in
EVERY Evening" of that date. Charlie
McKenna was the little boy who. at the
risk of his own life, saved his three small
brothers from the burning building, by
display of heroism and courage that is rare
" exhibited in grown men. The follow
ing is the "Star's" account OF the heroic
deed:
t. McKenna family occupied an hum.
BILE room on the third floor Of the burned
tenement house when the fire broke out on
Monday The parents were temporarily
absent. There was Charlie McKenna, IA
wears old, in charge OF his little .brothers,
one years old, another only 2, and the
third a sleeping baby in its cradle. School
time had come. and Charlie, after kissing
the little fellows goodbye, opened the
dnor-and in rushed the smoke and the
fame.
In another moment the whole neighbour
hood was aroused; the adjoining windows
were black with people; the screams of
the diving and the shouts of the hremen
made bedlam through the building. Chat
lie looked out of the window and saw that
the flames were mounting the freescape.
Now, gentle reader, you are doubtless as
brave as most men or most women. WHAT
would you have done in such situation !!
How would you have contrived to save
those three little ones and Yourself Try
| to think of plan that would not take too
much time-for the fierce fire Is cracking
| at the door aud the deadly smoke under it
and that would not risk the lives and
| limbs of the children.
Charlie went to the window, and the
people outside called upon him to jump.
10 Jump down two stories and leave his
| brothers to perish ? Charlie shook his
| head. He knew better than that.
| But, in looking out, he saw mum Der OF
people on a shed near at hand, ana ne
called to them to catch what ne should
throw them. They answered and encour-
aged him. In AN instant he caught UP
| the tiny two year old; held him out OF the
window: swung him backward and for
ward. as you have seen athletes do at a cir
Gus. and threw him toward the shed. The
people caught the child. One was saved
Try to think whether you could nave
done this. Would you have had the nerve
the pluck, the cool courage, the quick eye
to measure the distance, the calm StrenRCn
to throw the child far enough and yet not
too far, as this boy of fourteen did! Let
each reader answer for himself, and may
Heaven grant that none OF us ever De
placed in such peril that he will be com
PEELED to make the test!
The four year old child was frightened
| nIo Nl,or Ri n lift him
out of the window, He cried, kicked
struggled with his preserver. Charlie felt
that time and strength were being wasted
in this struggle. Then be released the
child; went to the further end OF the room
took brisk run to gain force and impetus
and out went the second brother, thrown
clear across to the shed and caught by the
ready hands of the crowd. What instinc,
and what calculation there were IN this
sudden run and rush that both overpower
ed the child 8 resistance and sent him hy
ing through the airl Would you have
thought of thatp Would you have dared
to venture itS Charlie did, and two wert
saved.
The baby remained. Should he throw
out the baby as he had the others? No
that sublime something, grander than rea
son. which had controlled the little here
80 far, now taught him that the tender in
fanr might be hurt or killed by the fall OF
the rough handling of the crowd. Tit
flames were burning through the door; thu
smoke made breathing almost impossible
but Charlie completed his preparation tt
save the baby as methodically as If he hat
been safely playing on summer Afternoon
at Central Park.
First, he put on great coat; then bun
died up the baby aud slowed it away in
side the coat, where the stout button
would support its weight, while his hand
were left free. Then he got out upon thu
fire escape, waited for lull in the fire, AM
climbed down, hand over hand, with tn
baby bundled to his breast. The fir
gnawed at his fingers; but he would no
let 20 his hold. Arrived at the loves
stage of the escape, and afraid to drop les
he should jar the baby. he took off tn
great coat, put the infant in it. as in
hammock, and gently lowered it to tn
people below. After that he dropped down
down himself, and all we're saved, Hi
first anxious question was, lis the baby
hurt?" Another second and the fou
children were EMBODIED in their mother
arms, while great cheer went up from
the crowd.