Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-04
A HEROINE
The Girl Who Bravtd the Flames That
Awful Night
When the Grand Texas Spring Palace Burned
to the 6round-A Beautiful Medal
to Be Given Her.
Miss Ada E. Large is a heroine.


On that awful night when the great
and beautiful Texas Spring Palace
burned to the ground; when thou
sands of people, driven out by the
fast disappearing remnants of the fire.
devoured structure, wondering with bated
breath how many sacrificed lives
the death list would show, one picture
was in the minds of all-that Of q young
girl within the palace. undaunted and
and cool as some war Scared veteran,
hurrying hither aud thither to save the
lives of children and babes, rerking not
how her own safety was provided.
That girl was Ada Large.
She is fifteen years of age.
At the time of the Spring Palace exhi-
bitiou, her father, a carpenter by trade,
was engaged OH the Palace building. He
lived a couple of blocks south on Coch-
ran street. Miss Ada assisted Mrs.
Wilkinson, in the arranging of the floral
display at the south entrance to the
West wing on the lower floor, display
which attracted more attention, per-
haps, than any other on exhibition III
the palace.
When the cry OF fire rang through the
Spring Palace ON the night of MAY 80,
Miss Ada was near the floral display.
Looking up into the dome she per-
ceived the cause of the panic,
and saw also the necessity for instant
action. Not selfishly seeking to make
seru re her own flight, she cast about for
any unfortuDates who might need sue
cor, and peceIving the numbers of
children PLAYING about, set herself to
providing their safety. INCREASINGLY ST..
labored. Not untIl every living thing
had left the palace, not I'M
I'll her own clothing had
been burned aud torn to shreds
and her SIX in in places was parched aud
blistered, could she be induced to leave.
And then it was only by Strenuous urg-
ing that she was got from the building
by Capt. b. 8. Paddock and others.
But she did not stop there. On all
hands were people wounded and suffer-
ing, receiving surgical attention as fast
as the small force Of surgeons
at hand could afford it. Lint
aud other such articles were
in demand. With but scsut clothing and
herself suffering terribly from wounds
End burns, Miss Ada sped to her home
aiding in the work of helping the
wounded.
Her noble conduct was observed by
many eyes, and though her name was
not generally known, yet she was spoken
of for days afterward by those Interested
in the great fire. A week after that
time the directors of the Spring Palace
met and 1t was decided that Miss Ada
conduct should be suitably comment
GRATED.
This medal is the result.
1t is beautiful specimen of the gold
smith s handicraft. 1t was made at the
jewelry establishment of Howard Tully
IN this city.
The medal is of pure gold. 1t is about
an inch aud a half in width by two
inches and half deep: Beneath
a bar, across which is engraved
the name of the recipient, and connected
with the same by star, emblematic of
the Lone Star state, hangs a shield, in
which was engraved the following:
Presented by the Director, OF the Tex as
Spring Palace for Heroic Conduct Displayed
at the Burning of their Building May 81, 1880. :
1t had been arranged to have some
slight ceremony in connection with the
presentation, which was to have &C.
Cured at the Spring Palace office, Hon.
T. j. Hurley TO deliver au address, but
this programme will not be carried out.
Since the Spring Palace fire Miss
Large and her parents have moved to
Henrietta. MIR. Large had charge of
the Clay county exhibit at the state fair
1t was intended that she should come
to Fort Worth Tomorrow; but
last evening Information was
received that she is i'll and cannot come;
so the medal will be sent to her by her
father who is now in Fort
Worth. With it will go a
purse of S25 in gold as
further testimony of appreciation of her
herols m, and TO repay IN part her loss of
clothing on the occasion of her noble
cohduct.