The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-12
PICKING OUT A GIRL TO SAVE.

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PICKING OUT GIRL TO SAVE.
shrill cry of fire was seen approaching,
and fire laddie, in less time than it
takes to tell it, was up my window like
a squirrel, playing the hose on beauti-
fal and elaborate scarlet embroidered
nightie of mine which hung over the
head of my couch.
The statement in the Nebraska papers
that was perfectly cool even at first is
very kind, but not borne out by the
facts. was not real cool till the hose
company had been playing on me for
some little time.
Regarding my heroism in saving the
life of a slender and beautiful dining
room girl, or doughnut lady, l will say
that the press, especially of Omaha and
Beatrice, has erred in its enthusiasm
and haste to do me favor altogether
out of proportion to the act Of courage
and heroism itself.
l always, while stopping at a hotel,
very early decide in my own mind which
VI UuC ullulS IOOn SlllS rOulo saw LII
case of fire. This do invariably while
1 am perfectly cool, knowing that should
fire break out might in the wild ex-
element Of the moment rescue right
and left without any discretion or sense.
Once rescued a shrouded figure in the
darkness and uncertainty of night, and
when | took her to the light and got
three reporters there to take down what
she might say by way of thanks, l found
when it was too late that she was lit
tie colored bootblack who could neither
read nor write.
The dining room girl whom rescued
at Beatrice was heavier than had sup
posed, and l had not more than half
rescued her before regretted it. How
ever, as | reached the foot of the first
fire escape she returned to conscious
ness and sprang out of my arms with a
cry of horror. l Gained her, however,
so that her fears at last vanished, and
with deep drawn sigh, having already
noticed that l was very much out Of
breath, she took me over her shoulder
and carried me to the foot of the fire es-
cape.
Inotice recently that King Humbert
of Italy has severely criticised the Ro-
man fire department, and agree with
him that it needs thorough overhaul
ing. Having seen the Roman fire de-
partment myself, would say that the
insurance company that would take a
risk in Rome would deserve to die in
want.
In the first place, the Roman hose is
decayed. 1t would not hold railroad
ties or hoop poles. did not get to see
Humbert while was there, but l wrote
him well timed note regarding his fire
department, and in that note said that
if he would give less attention to his
personal appearance and more to the
question of the Roman fire department
he would make hit.
This winter has proven what said to
be true. wrote piece also for the
Roman morning paper-The Roman
Candle, it was called-a piece which l
signed "Veritas," and in which said it
was time to call halt. The piece was
never published, and l had to leave
Rome before had got my visit out on
account of it. There were some good
points in it too / managed to mildly
roast Humbert IN it, and got off two or
three good local hits in the piece; then l
got it put into good Italian by the res
taurant where | stopped while in Rome.
This winter Humbert was out to see q
Roman FIRE. and the department did not
reach the scene for an hour and half.
Over 1900 900 francs worth of property
was destroyed. One engine tipped over
on the way to the fire, and the others
might as well have done so, for the hose
would not hold water-even the coarse
and impregnable water of Rome.
The water of Rome is IN many respects
like that of Mexico, Mo. We stopped
there for lunch not long ago. Mexico,
Mo-, is one Of the thriving and thor
oughly prosperous towns of that pros
porous and now rapidly growing state.
But the waters of Mexico. No, like the
board bill OF man who boarded at our
house once while engaged In upbuild1ng
his fellow man. still remains unsettled.
The water OF Mexico tastes some of
Jefferson City, but has strong favor
of Galloway county. We went TO the
wash BASIN at the eating works and
turned on the faucet, but soon had to
poke out the water with stick. AT
table asked for glass of water and
the color9d man and brother went TO
this same lancet 70 get my glass filed
\ nlssn N Mexico who had been drink
Ing considerably. and was said - have
ms skates or a great deal Of the time,
told me while l steadied nm up against
the depot THAI his only reason for drink
ing was iaat he had 10 cut away The
s,sndbars IN his system every few dsys
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