Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-19
II will go and lend a hand at those pumps, ;

~ will go and lend hand at those pumps,
Jacob Carey said
Its not the slightest use," Mr.. Armstrong
replied. You might as well try TO blow ouI
that fire with your breath as to put it out by
throwing few pals of water on it Let us SET
that everyone is out first; that's the main mat
ter"
They Joined group of men and women, who
were standing looking at the flames; they
were the two women, the groom and gardener
and four or five men who had already come ul
from the village.
The gardener was speaking.
Its no use to work at the pumps: there are
only four or five pals. If it was only at one
end we might prevent its spreading but it's got
hold all over"
Il can't make it out" the groom said Zone
of the horses was sick and was down there
giving him hot lamentations with the other
groom. had been there perhaps an hour when
saw a light coming out of the drawing room
window, and ran up shouting; and then saw
there was light in the dining room and library
too. Then | ran round TO the back of the
house, and the housekeeper's room was alight
behind. ] run in at the kitchen door, and up
stairs and awoke one of the gardeners, and
got them out The place was so full Of
smoke, it was as much as we could do to get
down. Then we got this long ladder,
and put it against Mrs. Wilson's window.
and got her and the girl down. Then
we went round the other side, and got up and
shouted. l could not make him hear so l
broke another pane and unfastened the win
dow and lifted it, and went in. l thought he
must have been stifled in bed, for the smoke
as thick as possible, and L had to crawl to
the bed. Well, master wasn't there. 1 felt
about to sec if he was on the floor, but could
find nothing of him; the door was open. and
expect he must have been woke up by the
smoke and went out to see what was the
matter. and perhaps got choked by it. / know
] was nearly choked myself by the time got
my head out of the window again."
He may have got to the upper storey"
Jacob Carey said. ave had best Keep a look
out round the house SO as to be ready to put the
ladder up at once if we see him. There is
nothing else to do, is there, Mr.. Armstrong?
You are accustomed TO all sorts of troubles
and may know best what We ought to do"
Il can't think of anything" Mr. Armstrong
replied. mo, if he's not in his own room it
seems hopeless to search for him. You see the
flames have broken out from several windows
of the first floor Ny own idea is from what
you say as to the fire having spread into all the
rooms on the ground floor when you discovered
il, that the poor gentleman must have set fire
TO the house himself in half dozen places.
and as likely as not may have been suffocated
almost at once"
~ shouldn't wonder if that was it." the smith
said. ITS not natural that the fire should
have spread all over the lower part of the house
in such short time. You know what we were
saving this evening. It's just the sort of trick
The smith was interrupted by a sudden ex-
clamation from those standing round, followed
by shOut of There he is" dormer window
on the roof of the oldest part of the house
opened, and a figure stepped out on to a low
parapet that ran round the house.
"Al right, sir, all right. Jacob Carey shouted
out at the top of his voice; I'VE will have a
ladder for you in no time" and he and score
of men ran to lift the long ladder that was
leaning against the side of the house.
1t was soon lowered. brought round and
placed against the parapet close to where
Reginald Carne was standing.
Now then, sir" Jacob Carey shouted again.
tits all right. You can come down safe
enough"
But Mr.. Carne paid DO attention to the shout;
he was pacing up and down along the parapet
and was tossing his arms about in strange
manner. Suddenly he turned seized the lad
der. and pushed it violently sideways along the
parapet Those below vainly tried to keep it
steady.
Look out" the smith shouted. 'Ieaye 90
and clear out or he will have it down on you"
The men holding the ladder dashed away
from the foot, ana the ladder fell with a crash
upon the ground, while peal of wild laughter
broke out from above.
The Squire has gone clean mad" Jacob
Carey said to MI. Armstrong. as be joined him;
"either the fire has driven him mad or what
is more likely, be went mad first and then lit
the fire. However, we must save him if we
can."
Look there, Carey. if we lifted the ladder
and put it up between that chimney and the
window next to it. he can't slide it either one
way or another, as he did before; and he GER
tainly could not throw it backward, if we plant
the foot well away from the house."
That's right enough" the smith agreed.
''but if he won't come down. he won't"
I'VE must go up and make him, Carey If
You and and couple of strong men go up to-
Eether, we ought to be able to master him. OF
course, we must take up rope with us. and bind
him and then lower him down the ladder"
We might do thar" the smith said, 'but
supposing the ladder catches fire ?"
The fire won't touch it at that point, Carey.
You see It will go up just between the rows Of
windows"
so it will; anyhow we might take up a long
rope, If they have got one, so as to lower our.
selves down if the ladder does catch fire."
He spoke to one of the grooms. Have you
Plenty" the man said. 'I will fetch YOU
couple of long coils from the stables. Here.
one of you, come along with me-
Now we will get the ladder up" MIR Arm
With the aid of a dozen mentor the whole
village was now upon the spot-the ladder was |
again lifted, and cropped SO that the upper end |
1en between a chimney and dormer window
Reginald Carne again attempted to cast il |
down, but number of men hung on to the |
lower part of the ladder, and be was unable TO |
lit 1t Tar enough to get II out of the niche into
which it had fallen. Then he turned round |
and shook his fist at the crowd. Something /
flashed in the light of the flames, and half a /
dozen voices exclaimed-"He has got knife |
At this moment the clergyman and doctor ar.
rived together on the scene
whats to be done, doctor?' Jacob Carey
asked.
Il don't mind going up with some Others to
back me, to have a tussle with him on the roof:
but ne would knife us one by one as we got mn
to the parapet and, though l don't think as I
am coward, don't care about chucking away
my life, which is of use to nv wife and chii-
oren, TO save that OF madman whose life amt
Of no use to hisself or anyone else"
mo, don't see why you should Carey the |
doctor said; ''the best plan will be to keep away
from the ladder for the present PERHAPS when
he thinks you are not going to make the at
up there before he sees us. 1 will 20 first be-
cause he knows me, and my influence NAV
quiet him, but we had better arm ourselves
hand"
Reginald Carne stood guarding the ladder
for lew minutes. By this time the whole of
the first floor was in blaze, the flames rushing
out with fury from every window. Seeing that
he did not move, the doctor said at last:
well, we must risk it. Give me a stick.
Carey, and we will make try, anyhow.
You can't go now" Mr.. Armstrong said
suddenly, look, the ladder is alight"
This was indeed the case. The flames had
not absolutely touched it but the heat was SO
light flame had now suddenly appeared, and IN
moment 10 or II feet Of the ladder was in
flames.
1T is of no use," the doctor said, droppinp
the stick that Jacob Carey had Just cut for hun
in the shrubbery; I'VE can do nothing for him |
now" |
There was scarcely a word spoken among the
little crowd OF spectators on the lawn. Every
moment was adding to their number as Mr. |
Volkes, the magistrate, and several other ren-
tlemen rode up on horseback, and men ran up |
from all the farm houses and cottages within a
circle of couple of miles. All sorts of SUCCESS
tions were made, but only to be rejected
ut is one thing to save a man who wants To
be saved" the doctor said. but quite another
thing TO save one who is determined not to be
owed" This was in answer to proposal to