Smyrna times., 1883-06-13
What to do in Case of Fire.


A writer in the Leisure Hour makes
a number of valuable suggestions, some
of which we copy. If these sugges-
tions were observed in case of fire,
lives might often be saved which would,
without the presence of mind so neces-
sary under circumstances of peril,
almost certainly be lost.
The one thing, above all others,
which is most necessary for saving life |
and property in case of fire is that
which, alas! is generally wanting
namely, presence of mind. And assur-
edly it is never more needful than in
dealing with cases of fire arising from
the carelessness of others. In reading
the details of an inquest held on the
unfortunate victim of q fire at a Cele-
brated mansion the other day, one was
forcibly struck with the entire absence
of this presence of mind in every one
concerned. If the fire was caused by
the upset lamp, and the victim had
had the knowledge, the self-possession
and quickness to draw the blankets
from her bed in the same room, to
throw them on the fire, and afterward
to saturate them with water, the fire
would not have spread and she would
not have lost her life. No one appears
| to have followed her to the burning
room when she made her appeal for
help, nor in any way endeavored to
eXtinguish what must, even at that
moment, have been but small blaze.
Screaming " fire" from the open Win
dow in the adjoining room was not the
wisest course to adopt in such an emer-
gency.
This sad story reminds me of an in
stance in my own experience which
proves how much one person can
accomplish, in even more dangerous
circumstances, when armed with cour-
age and presence of mind.
In large private house occupied by
many inmates, the two ladies who are
the subjects of my story were living.
J They occupied the bedroom behind the
drawing room, into wich it opened by
folding doors. One cold Winter morn
| ing, as they could hear the noise made
| by the housemaid, in the adjoining
: room, in rubbing and polishing the
t floor with turpentine and beeswax. II
: ceased for some little time, and one o.
the ladies opened leaf of the folding
doors to see why it had ceased. Nc
: one was in the room. The maid haC
evidently been called off in hurry
r and in leaving had placed her sarther
jar full of mixed turpentine and bees
e wax on tho hob! 1t had just caugh
fire, and presented an awful blaze t
= the Mortified view of the beholder
Her exclamation brought her friend t.
5 her side, and both looked aghast at tn
S now roaring conflagration, which grew
t. more violent ever moment. The dan
" ger was too apparent. Supposing tn
2. Jar should burst, and the whole of tina
it molten stuff should be poured out int
IL the fire!
DRAW the bath as near as you ca
l. to the door," said the younger lady
d and as her friend turned back to exc
N cute her behest she moved quickly
the fireplace, and, with the aid of
al thick towel which she fortunately hel
ID in her hand, she took up the jar an
carried it, all flaring as it was, slowl
to and steadily into the next room, wheI
d. she quietly stood it, upright still, in til
l centre of the tin bath, which her frien
= had filled with water. The great dai
w ger was over; there still remained til
ne dread that the boiling fluid might owe
! flow upon the surface of the water, bI
It. q heavy wet towel soon smothered IL
ne flames and disposed of this fear.
L Now, this is exactly one of the acc
.ic dents which lead to great fires in IL
absence of presence of mind in the b
holders.
1t is some years ago now that gi
ut friend of mine, only lately married, w
standing, one hot Summer day, in fro
ess of the mantel piece sealing letter al
as lighted candle. She was dressed in
rs. thin muslin gown widely distended
cd crinoline, and when, in the course
er. her sealing, she let fall flaming dr.,
st. of wax on the front of her dress, t
fiames," as she afterward described
"a, "blazed up in her face in a moment
he She retreated a step or two, fell on b
nd knees, and gathered the thick heart
ear rug closely about her, thus smotheri
ICY the fire completely. A short time aft
she was found by her Mortified husba
elf, lying on the floor in the same pla,
RS. with the hearthrug still wrapp
der round her-unhurt, but quite inse
ex- sible,
am In many of the newspapers, not We
long ago, there appeared the story o
ion similar accident to a young girl with
ext different ending, alas! The inflamn
BILE agent In this case was q light
Ith. match. Frightened beyond measu
the unfortunate girl rushed from I
J it room and down long passage-t
flames becoming greater and fer
every moment-and out into the or
!, it air through garden door, in the he
of reaching pond which was in
rt." orchard below. This place of ref
my she managed to reach, but too late
out he of any avail, for she was so sever
nth hurt that no life was perceptible wi
sn't a short time afterward she was tai
out of the shallow water.
-lok