The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02
A FIRE,
AND SOME SCENES THEREAT
CAUGHT BY AN OBSERVING
EYE.

CAUGHT BY AN OBSERVING
EYE.
Saturday evening there was fire. The
fire was something more than is usually
confined to the narrow limits of stove
or fireplace, for the simple purpose of
heating and cooking. 1t was of lively,
frolicsome spirit, and ill-content with its
would be compulsory confinement, broke
bounds and proceeded to take possession
of the entire kitchen and parts adjacent.
4 Once free and in open air. it became hilar
4 ious and soon made itself Objectionable to
4 the neighborhood, and the wild alarm
bells rang out.
In space of time shorter than it takes
\ to mention it crowd of men, women and
4 small boys had collected, and from their
light and ARP costumes, spectator would
4 be probably reminded that it was stub
a night" and even that some who were seen
n hurrying to the scene were caught in the
act and scarce luckier than Bill Nye's
4 Apollo, barely caught their wreath" in
n the excitement of the moment.
Once arrived, the most prominent figure
exposed to the view of clothed and uncloth-
ed boholders was that of recklessly brave
individual, who occupied commanding
q position on the top of the cistern house.
a Determination to do or die was written in
eyeyv lineament of his beautiful, noble
81 face,while few clothes to hamper his actions
were about his manly form. But that MS
neither here nor there. To behold him one
could be but glad that he was near ire.
u He was eager to work, but alone was help-
less. He could not get any water, and,
n alas, he wanted it bad. His lungs
gallantly came to his aid, and in stem
torian tones he shouted for some one to
"fetch" him a bucket of water. For
time there was trouble in obtaining the
water, owing to the absence of fire plug
Il in the vicinity. One fellow offered to-
bacco plug, but it proved inefficaclous IN
81 the emergency. He finally got what he
wanted. and in his zeal to find the place
where it would do the most good, consid-
erately and scientifically upset 1T on the
grass, amid the groans of the crowd. The
& groans we're not on the grass. In this ne
-displayed great presence of MIND. Inc
grass undoubtedly did need watering, on
account of the protracted droutn las1
summer and the intense heat from tne
fire at the moment, but it Is doubtful II
any one man in thousand would have
thought of it at such time
Another brave scene was portrayed by
three or four yonng men (students) who
were standing on the upper front gallery
olternatelv gazing at the fire
and Yelling "6 elp !" Still another-fol
- ahont this time two young ladies with
blankets rushed frantically to the door
rang the hell and inquired of some mer
Who anneared to have been wandering
oirn,esslv about the house, if they knew
where the children were, and one of them
esnec;alIv. asked if they knew "Daugh-
70 ), the little girl who was sick-to which
Ioing somewhat discouraged by this
IA +ba Young ladies wrapped themselves, IN
tho blanlsets. and retired to the opposite
corner, to watch the progress VI 'N'
flames. ,,oe
81 The distant galloping OF horses wa'
now heard, and in few minutes Une n IT,
and ladder dashed around the corner I n AK
firamen lost no time, but went ilenV !,
Il work, and propped ladder agains0 W,
4 house. One of the men ascenoeu, any
stood on the top round for some Ulnle
for what purpose it was at hrst lnpoSol
BILE to ascertain. But finally oucKe's y
4 water we're handed up, during whlcn oPeI
alton a large part OF Ineir e"o;J
towards irrigating the grass aforesaid
At this iuncture there were cries OF NOR
4 buckets" and in answer to this CALL
man appeared carrying two buckets o
water. which he threw over the renee nea
the house, possibly forgetting they woul'
unset. He then proceeded to ciino u. IN
4 fence. although there could be no PoSslol
objection to his going in through the gaze ave
which was standing open, about three Zee
from him. la rr;ved
During this time an engine had arr rlV y
and the great difficulty in obtaining wate
was again experienced. The nreH ts
worked very hard, but many thought IN
one who kept the gong on the eng -
RINGING stock the CAKE" he did not lea 1,,
his post for minute. Some person Ou.
wished he would, quite heartless OF tn a;ua
The fire was extinguished in snor! 'ili !.
after water was obtained, and IN tine
prevent the main building from oecoIiin
! ignited or who knows what woeio nav
occurred. During the excitement, o WI.
to combination of circumstances, ln, e
pugilistic individuals became entape r.,
- oIinchpd- and one uh