Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-04-26

was the scebe which met the
gaze of Sapphire Dodge's boardets
They had slept through all the noise
and were awakened to lind themselves
in a world of fire.
Had it not been for Colonel Frost it
is highly probable that the entire
household of boarders would have
been burned to death He occupied
room on the third floor front. The
first he knew of the fire was strong
smell of smoke in his room Jumping
out of bed, he drew on a pair OF
trousers and ran ont into the hall.
He quickly realized that prompt ac-
ton was necessary, and he at once began
to arouse the house. ! he pandemonium
which ragged in the street did not tend
to pacify the boarders Half-clad they
tore through the halls to the stree,
and were sool lost in the vast tumult
that swept on to the lake. BY some
fortunate chance Colonel Frost ran
back to his room for more clothing
after rousing the sleeping boarders.
As he came back to the hall he was
amazed to find that Mrs. Matthews
and her daughters had not yet
escaped. The smoke and heat were
pouring up the stairway, making an
exit by that route next to impossible.
There was a fire escape from the rear
hall window, and he urged the ladies to
waste no time in using it. The daugh-
ters were so overcome with smoke and
fright that he had to almost carry them
down the ladder He made third
trip for the mother to find her insane
with hysteria. She was afraid OF the
ladder In the most piteous terms she
begged him to try the stairs. Com
plying with her wish came near prov
ing fatal to both. There was pitcher
of water in his room This he dashed
over blanket and throwing it over
their heads they started down the stairs
through the binding smoke. Before
they reached the second flight the
mother tainted. Hastily rolling the
blanket about her tic Yv4onel made a
fierce rush for the street. He got out,
but was terribly burned His face and
breast were fairly cooked. A short
time in the open air and the mother
revived. In the excitement the Col
onel needed not his burns. Through
his tireless energy they reached place
of safety. Then came time of terri
bic suffering from heat, cold, and ex-
posure. 1t was late the follow
ing afternoon when they reached
| the home of q friend who had es-
capped the fire. The Coloael was in
q frightful condition. His eyes were
almost swollen shut and he had high
fever. AS soon as they reached shelter
he sank into unconsciousness. Fol
days he rayed in delirium When the
fever left his face and breast were still
raw The skin refused to grow oven
the burned flesh. In vain the doctor
applied healing lotions One day he
Glanced to remark in the presence OF
the elder daughter that he wished some
one would invent a good substitute fol
the natural skin. she asked what he
meant. He explained that if he had
what he wanted in that line he could
soon cure the Colonel, and save him
from Disagreement as we'll. In other
| NOItS lu6y W unbGu sOluC luuidl oh1I
to engraft a new growth on the Colo
nels face and breast. Miss Matthews
Mt once offered her services. Without
finching she permitted the surgeon tC
peel off portions of skin from her shout
ders and plant it on the Colonies face
and breast. 1t was all done withou
Colonel Frost's knowledge, but
worked like q charm.
1t was fully year before the Colone
got his business affairs straightenec
out, but he did not lose sight of Mrs
Motthews and her two daughters. HI
was not discouraged in his attentions
and on the second anniversary of tn
fire Miss May and he were married
He is q handsome man of fifty year
now, and whenever any one passes
compliment upoh his looks, he invari
ably says it is due to the fact that h
stole his complexion from his wife.