Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-05-23
BUTLER. PA, FRIDAY, MAY %, 1890

/ fire Then snatchiug a shovel from one
woman and a piekaxe from another be ran
I to a bend of the creek. AMI began the con
struction Of dam.
/ Two old men and some boys came to
. help him, while the women brought picks
and shoyels, and laid them on the bank OF
/ the creek, in readiness for use By husbands
and brothers, who to a man were attending
/ a mass meeting OF the producers IN Har-
/ ford
! The blazing oil heated the tank, the
/ flames roaring and struggling to maintain
/ a perpendicular against the wind, growing
in force and blowing steadily.
Gabe Was working with wonderful
energy, making a sluice for the escape Of
| the water, at the same time directing his
assistants how to build the dam, which was
/ To be constructed of stones laid one on the
other and banked with dirt. The old men,
| whose strength was unequal to the efforts
| they put forth in the excitement, leaned on
/ their shovels presently, and took an oh
servation of the progress of the fire, and
/ reckoned on the probability of the small
force being able to complete the dam be
fore the overflow would come.
"Why. Gabe, how can you work so hard
in this heat with your coat oni" one of
them remarked querulously, -as he wiped
his brow with soiled handkerchief.
Didn't think of that" said GaLe, and in
a moment he was at work again without
coat or vest to impede him. Does 60
easier" be said, cheerily, as he strengthen
ed the side of the sluice with large stone.
Now, if you old fellows amt played out,
you can shovel some dirt behind that
rock.
Il amt played out, " one OF the old men
said; "but I'm thinkin you'd better git fast
as your boss can carry you, or you won't
save much from that little house of yours
up to Summit"
One of the boys stopped in his digging,
his breath growing short and looked at
the conhagration sweeping up the mount
ain side "Gabe, hadn't better ride up
aud tell your wife the fires comingf he
said
mo, you stay here and dig. Mrs. Har-
ris knows as much about the fire coming
her way as we do. She's got eyes"
Yet, with all his cheerful manner and
the courage in his voice, Gabe did not dare
to look up from his work, for fear the sight
of the tempest of flames that was rushing
to the destruction of his home would over
come his resolution TO save Kendall if pos
sible.
But don't you think you'd better go,
Gabel' the old man queried Charity be-
gins to home, you know
Stop pestering me and work, or get
out of the road
The old man, offended, shoveled in a
desuItory way.
"Spoonfuls don't count; 'tain't the little
grains of sand we want here, but shovel
fuls," and suiting action TO word, Gabe
dumped pile OF sand against the stone he
had just put in place The old man, feel
ing that he was useless, threw down his
shovel and walked away; the other one
joined him, and together they went to
chatter with the women who were stand
ing in the highway, alternately gazing at
at the fire and noting the progress of the
dam.
.Is the dam done?' asked one woman
eagerly OF the men.
"Donef 1t will never be done, for the
overflow will come first"
Dettcr get out your things said the
other old man.
This suggestion stampeded the women.
They scattered each to her home, the
children crying after their mothers, who
were fastening to save keepsakes and
small valuables. Here and there frantic
woman carrying baby, but was needless
of its cries.
Meanwhile Gabe was cheering the boys,
some of whom were beginning to flag
one, then another of them, pausing to
draw shirt sleeve over his perspiring
forehead
Here, Dick, you carry stones awhile.
You help him, Bill And you two fellows
there with picks take shovels. Well beat
that fire or We amt men"
Thus encouraged, the boys worked with
increased vigor, and Gabe saw with grow
ing hope that the dam was assuming pro
portions which would offer effectual re
sistance to considerable of "boil over"
as the overflow was sometimes called.
Once again the boy who had wanted to
ride to Gabe's home with news of the ap-
preaching fire recurred to the subject.
"Tain't too late yit, Gabe Hadn't /
better gof"
You can go if you want to, Dick, but
only not to my house We need all hands
here"
The boy shameiacedly renewed his ex-
ertions, and the others, in logged imita
tion of Gabe's unhagging zeal, worked
with their heads down, bestOwing all
their attention to obeying his orders
There was silence among them except
when Gabe spoke; but amid the roaring of
the fire III the tank they could hear the
shrll voices of the women screaming to
each other, and presently there came to
their ears the welcome screech of one of
the little narrow gauge engines. Buoyed
by a repetition of the whistle, the little
band seemed to red0ublc their efforts.
Soon again the locomotive shrieked, nearer
to them, and there was silence until the
rumble of the train was heard Then the
boys looked up; but Gabe did not pause in
the particular task be was engaged upon
packing the sand between some stones
The train ran up TO q point opposite the
tanks and before it was at stand-still
men carrying picks and shovels had leap
ed from the platforms and were running to
The dam, shouting for the workers to make
way for new men.
Then Gabe paused. He looked mp the
valley, but could not see his home for the
dense smoke that was blowing over the
summit. He was jostled aside by the new
comers, who came to the work like a com
pany charging a battery. Gabe felt that
he would not be needed now. He could no
longer restrain his heart. 1t called on him
louder, more urgently than it had done
when there was time for him to get to his
house before the conaagration reached ii,
and he obeyed.
In the tumult he was not missed, and no
one heard the catter of his horses hoofs
over the stony road. Bending low over
the pommel of the saddle, hc dashed into