Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-05-23

was the scene which met the
gaze of Sapphire DOdge's bOarders.
They had slept through all the noise
and were awakened to find 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 q strong
smell Of smoke in his room. Jumping
out of bed, he drew on q pair Of
trousers and ran out into the hall.
He quickly realized that prompt ac-
ton was necessary, and he at once began
to arouse the house. The pandemOnium
which ragged in the street did not tend
to pacify the boarders. Half-cIad they
tore through the halls to the street,
and were soon 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 fire escape from the rear
hall window, and he urged the ladies to
waste no time in using 1t. The daugh-
ters were so overcome with smoke and
fright that he had to almost carry them
down the ladder. He made a 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 a 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 the Colonel 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
oneI needed not his burns. Through
his tireless energy they reached a place
of safety. Then came a time of terri
bic suffering from heat, cold, and ex-
posture. 1t was late the follow
ing afternoon when they reached
the home of a friend who had es-
capped the fire. The Colonel was in
a frightful condition. His eyes were
almost swollen shut and he had high
fever. AS soon as they reached shelter
he sank into Inconsistencies. For
days he raved in delirium. When the
fever left his face and breast were still
raw. The skin refused to grow over
the burned flesh. In vain the doctor
applied healing lotions. One day he
CHANGED to remark in the presence of
the elder daughter that he wished some
one would invent a good substitute for
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 well. In other
words they wanted some human skin
to engraft a new growth on the Colo
neIs face and breast. Miss Matthews
at once offered her services. Without
hinching she permitted the surgeon to
peel off portions Of skin from her shout
ders and plant it on the COlOnel's face
and breast. It was all done without
Colonel Frost's knowledge, but it
worked like a charm
It was fully a year before the Colonel
got his business affairs Strengthened
out, but he did not lose sight of Mrs.
Matthews and her two daughters. He
was not discouraged in his attentions,
and on the second anniversary of the
fire Miss May and he were married.
He. is a handsome man of fifty years
now, and whenever any one passes a
compliment upon his looks, he invari-
ably says it is due to the fact that he
stole his complexion from his wife.