The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-05-28
THREE BLACK CROWS.

looking at the upper stories of the tall
structure. As the crowd began to
swell, busy brokers stopped to look,
messenger-boy fiocked to the spot
from all directions, merchants, clerks,
journey and gazed at the building as
if they expected some frightful catastro-
phe 10 occur. The throng soon grew
too large for the pavement. and the gut
ter and part of the street were speedily
occupied by several hundred elbowing,
jostling, impatient, and curious sight
seers.
II wonder if the walls a-going to
fall?" observed speculative specula-
tor on the outskirts of the throng.
They say the wall is going to fall"
repeated the man next to him.
Look out, the building is going to
tumbie!" shouted the next.
Don't crowd sou yelled man in
the center, 1.-THE wall is going to falln'
Look out! Look QUIT" shrieked
dozen others, and the men pressed
backward on each others toes until
there was space enough on the pave
ment to let regiment march through.
Il wonder whether it S on fire. OBJ
served another spectator.
Its on fret shouted another.
'.See the smoke"' yelled a third.
Fire! firer' howled score of other
voices, and the crowd surged back to
the pavement as flies gather on a lump
of sugar in summer time.
81 hope there are no women or chill
dren in the building" remarked char
itably inclined citizen.
"There are women and children in
the building getting burned up" yell
ed another.
"Three women getting burned upI'
yelled another.
"Open the window and rescue them!"
piped little man who was observing
the building from under a tall mans
coat-tails.
Bring ladder!' yelled sensible
Ladder! ladder! fetch a ladderr'
howled dozen others, and a number
of boys were dispatched in various di-
rections for those useful articles.
''Why doesn't someone turn on the
fire-alarmP" suggested another man.
. Turn on the alarm!" took I'D the
crowd. "Call the fire department!'
and several men started Simultaneous
ly for the fire. alarm boxes.
Fifty dollars to the man who saves
their livesn' yelled a man with west
ern air and wide rimmed hat.
'Break open the doors and 90 up
stairs!" howled an enthusiastic man as
he edged away from the crowd in the
opposite direction from the building.
''Save their ivesn' yelled another as
he made break through the crowd
for the stone steps, followed by a half
hundre men.
Call the police'' said another man.
Police! police! police!" shouted the
crowd.
someone will go through the build
ing and rob the otfices! said another
on the outskirts.
Robbers! Robbers! Police, Po-
lice! Fire! Fire! Save the women!
Bring ladder! Bust in the front
door," howled the crowd.
whats der row?" growled a po-
iceman on the opposite corner, as he
observed the crowd.
someone's getting killed." replied
an imaginative but long-range specta-
tor.
"Tll rap for help" replied the guard
ian of the peace, sagaciously.
whats der racket" cried another
patrolman, as he came painting around
the corner.
Terrible fight over there" replied
the first; 1.-TWO men being murdered"
More raps. More policemen.
Fire-engines heard coming in the
distance.
'Let's clear the crowd" said a po-
hceman.
Fire! Murder! Police!" shouted
the crowd.
Clear de wayr' howled the officers.
'Whack, thump, bang!n remarked
the policemen's clubs. as the sturdy
officers reached the edge of the crowd.
Here come the police! Clear the
way! Quit hitting me. Ouch, Stop
crowding me-" shouted the spectators,
as they made way for the policemen
and lodged the fast-gathering en-
gines.
What's the matter?'' cried an Off
Ger, as he rushed into the building.
Nothing" replied the janitor.
wv hat IS the row in the street?h
"What's the row out herep" inquir-
ed another officer of one of the specta-
tors in the crowd.
IN othing is the matter here" re-
Piled that individual. Its in the
building"
where's the fre?' shouted the fire
marshal.
mo fire here" replied the police
man.
whats the fight about?" inquired
the police sergeant, who appeared on
the scene at the head of the reserve
force.
No fight" replied the officer
where's the dead man?' asked the
ambulance-driver, as he stopped his
painting horses in front of the build
ing.
"No dead man here" said the Off
GER
"WellH' calculated the sergeant.
"Well!' echoed the policemen, fire.
marshal, janitor, and spectators.
In the thick of the crowd stood the
man with the white hair, his eyes still
fixed immovably on the building.
Say, old mani" said the sergeant,
as he grasped his arm, what in thun-
der are you looking at?"
The old man slowly turned around,
his hat outstretched in his hand. dis
playing on his breast a large placard
which read:
Please Help the Blind.
Three hours later the old man faced
the bar of justice il the tombs.
"Charge?" observed the court
Begging on the street, blockading
the pavement, creating a disturbance
replied the police sergeant.
Six months" replied the court