South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-12-16


whole population forth. Vic seized his
bat and ran, guided by the glare which
already appeared at the opposite end OF
the town.
Tho burning house was one OF tho
largest in tho little city, a building three
stories in height; and before the exci,.
ed volunteer fire companies could get a
stream OF water running, the fire was
evidently beyond their control. II had
broken out In the lower story. near the
stairway; and finding that efforts to
stay its course were idle. the firemen
and spectators did little moro than place
ladders at second. story window for
the escape of the family, who had been
sleeping. When all we're out, there was
nothing to do but to stand and watch
the bonfire. as no other house was near
enough to be in danger.
Presently head appeared at one of
tho windows Of the third story. and n
cry for help was heard. A shudder ran
through the crowd, for there was 70 help
to be given. The fire had burned both
the stairways, and there was no ladder
long enough to reach beyond the second
story. Some Of the spectators stood
stupetied; orthcrs ran about aimlessly.
trying to do something, but having no
idea what.
Meantime the boy at the window cried
aloud and piteous!y for help. His faith
er and mother we're not less frantic than
he. They had believed that all the fam.
ny were safely out, supposing that Hen
--ior 1T was Hen Little--bad passed
down one fight from his third story
bedroom, and had escaped With the rest.
Seeing him now at the iniow, thew
lost their wits, and cried to him 10 lean
out, without thinking that TO do so
would he instant death to him. Yet
there was apparently nothing To be
done, and the situation was appalling
The crowd shuddered 10 think that The
boy, whom they all knew, must be burn-
ed to death there in their sight.
Presently cry arose EL the rear OF
the crowd. and Vic Whitney came run
ming with all his might. shouting:
Don't jump. Hen! Stay where YOU
are Don't jump out
Vic had run TO q neishboring house
ana brought away clothes line.
Has anybody string 2 lao shouted
"a kite cord any thing quick =
boy handed him kite cord. and
Vic quickly tied ono end of it around
hlsown body. Then turning to Tom
Reid he said:
Unwind 80 feet or so, break it OF.
ana Tie the end TO this rope so that
can pull the rope up. BE quick
Leaving Tom To execute this direc
tion' VIC ran forward, stepped upon the
raiiing oil the front steps. and grasping
"indow-shutter which luckily was Oh.
en-, and therefore not in tho blaze that
hcked It's tongue out of the window. he
drew himself lightly up to it's top. cry-
Ing out az he did SO, Play a stream of
water on me-
The i'emen obeycd. and mono too
soon. for all the clothing on Vic's RIGHT
side was sc)rching. From the ton OF
This shutter Vic reached the window.silI
above, and disappeared in dense cloud
OF oiacK smoke. 1t was for only a mo-
nent, however. Having his wits abou,
him, he held his breath to- avoid suG-yca-
tioD, AID quickly climbed to the ton OF
the window ard into the air again. An,
other moment. and he had erasped the
Sill oil the third-story window. A gust
OF wind blow n fame from below RIGHT
upon him. He felt his arms blister and
his mead swim. One second more. and
ne must loosen his hold, aud fall. The
crowd below uttered a moan OF horror
The wind SHIFTED instantly, however.
and IN spite Of the agony ho suffered
from the burns, Vic made list effort
and drew himself up to the window
where Hen had stood Hen was no lon.
ger there, and the room was too full OF
smoke Tor Vic to see into IL. lie knoy
what had happened. Hen had become
UNCONSCIOUS from sufFOcation, and had
taI'en on the floor by the window.
hastily drawing up the kite cord. 70
which Tom Reid had fastened the end
OF the clothes line, Vic soon had tlo
rope IN bis hand. Reaching down from
the window sill, he fastened tho lima a
round Hens body, and SWING him ont
the crowd helo" yelling itself hoarse as
ne lowered away. A few seconds anf-
nced TO let Hen down 10 the ground,
where The doctors took charge OF him.
Meantime Vic had 70 think Of saving
! himself. lie fastened the rome a. tic
window, and was on the point Of slin-
4 Ping down it when q fierce fame buIst
from the window immediately beneath
burning the rope off Ike a thread and
cutting off all chance OF escape in that
! direction.
VIC saw his extreme danger, but as
ne aiterWard said, his mind seemed 10
De unnsluFally calm and alert. There
was hre below him, through which IL
was Impossible to pass, and the roof vas
IN q blaze. But lac remembered that
the lightning rod Of this house. instead
OF passing straight TO the Garth. was
carried down along The roof to The cor
ner nearest him, and thence down the
/ corner to the ground. Selling THE
slender chance OF life, he climbed 20 the
top OF tho window and grssped tue
stout gutter pipe that ran along the
caves.
Swinging from this by bis hands. he
/ worked bis way alnwIr mi rnt.r.ll..