News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
A FIRE QUEEN.
ONE Of THE STRANGE CHARACTERS
THAT DRIFTED TO CALIFORNIA In
THE OLD DAYS.

ONE OF THE STRANGE CHARACTERS
THAT DRIFTED TO CALIFORNIA In
THE OLD DAYS.
The Women who Saved the Lives of Num-
| ber of UncO usciOus Fircmen.
| from the San Francisco Alta
About three weeks ago a despatch
was received announcing the death at
Reno. New, of Mrs. Easement, colored
woman about 63 years of age, who be-
oueathed sums of money of more or less
maonitude to several companies of this
department, as well as few of the old
members of the volunteer companies of
early DAYS. That old lady was the
ssFire Queen" Emily Easement came
here overland from New York city in
an early part of 1850, and opened a
saloon and dance hall on the old Mission
road, in the neighborhood now marked
bv Tenth and Mission .seets.. She was
a freeborn quadroom girl, about twenty
eight years of age, and possessed face
and figure of striking beauty. Her &C.
centric character and odd, reckless ways
soon brought her into prominence among
the men about town, but her generosity
and happy-go-lucky disposition. gained
her many friends. Emily had few bad
traits and many good ones in her old
character. She was honesty itself, and
would permit no underhanded dealings
among those In her establishment. As
for charity, she was the personiticatIon
of it. No one ever asked for assistance
from her and met with a refusal. She
made great deal of money, but was
always free with it, and many poor
fellow has been checked on his down
ward career and given new lease of
life through her generosity and kind
ness.
1t was some time during the summer
of $50. if l remember correctly, that the
old distillery of James DOws d Co., on
Mission Creek, was burned. 1t was a
large, rambling brick structure three
stories in height, with several additions
of lesser size adjoining. 1t was late In
the afternoon one day in the early part
of the summer that the boiler of the
distillery exploded, the spirit tanks
ignited, and in very few minutes the
whole building was in flames. The deep
heavy sand this side of the distlllery
hindered the progress of the hire engines
very materially, and by the time that
we arrived the fire was beyond control.
all that could be done then was to save
the small buildings adjoining, and
portion of the movable property. A
great crowd of spectators had gathered
BY this time, and among them was Emily
Easement shouting words of encourage
ment to the weary fremen. The fire
ragged fiercely, and the flames crept
steadily on and licked every beam and
rafter in the old building, In spite of our
almost superhuman efforts. The walls
were waving and the roof beginning
to show signs of caving in, when sud
den cry rang out that several tiremen
were in the building, and so overcome
by the heat and smoke that they were
unable to find their way out. A call for
volunteers to go to the rescue remained
unanswered A second call, and no re-
sponse At last Emily Easement sprang
forward, and throwing the skirts of her
dress over her head, rushed into the
burning building. A few seconds
elansed. during which the spectators al
most held their breath in suspense,
/ when they saw Emily returning drag
| ging the form of a haltSsutfocated fire
man. Again she disappeared INTO the
burning building, returning almost
Immediately with another rescued ire
man. Five or six times was this heroic
deed repeated, but at last human endur-
ance could accomplish no more, and the
noble woman fell fainting in the door
wav beside the last unconscious fireman
whom she had saved from horrible
death.
Ready hands removed the heroic wo-
man to place of safety, where 1t was
discovered that she had been horribly
burned about the face and hands. Her
hair had been entirely burned, and the
skin and scalp were scorched and bis
tered in frightful manner. She soon
regained consciousness, however, and,
instead of giving way to her agony and
suffering, she commenced giving orders
for the proper care and treatment of the
injured firemen She tore her clothing
into strips to make bandages for thell
relief. and then ordered them removed
to her house, not far distant, where
they were given every attention. 1t was
not until after the others were all cared
for that she submitted to having her OWE
injuries attended to. From that day sht
was known as the ''Fire Queen" and be
came the idol of the ire-boys and al
who knew her. 1t was many weeks be
fore she recovered from the effects OF hel
injuries, and to her dying day she bor'
the honorable scars received on tina
t memorable occasion. During the sue
ceeding five years her life was one OF un
| eventful monotony, but in the latter par
!, of 1880 her increasing business induced
her to remove her establishment to Call
l fornia street, just above Kearny. Tn
change was an unfortunate one, how
/ ever, and ill-success clung to her unit
she was finally compelled to give up ne
/ place and open small place ON Mortol
. street After year passed in tins plac
e she sold out and left for the East. Sine
. then very little is known of her, and
i late years nothing has been heard OF he
4 until the receipt of the dispatch wit
the news of her death. There is on
thing had almost forgotten; she Away
, took very active part in saving youn
girls from life of shame, and In case
where some had fallen, she did all In he
> power to turn them from the sad fat
that awaited them.