Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29
sAvED mr. 4 sRAvE FIREMAN

a Thrilling Episode of a New York Fire.
Mrs. Lloyd Aspinwali Rescued From an
Upper Window, Holding 500, 900 Worth
Of Gems and Her Clothing Ablaze.
NEW York, Dec. 22.-Thrilling stu
ations eliminating in the gallant rescue
of Mrs. Lloyd Aspinwall, wife of the
millionaire steamship owner, from 4
third-story balcony by a brave fireman,
marked the fire at No . Gramercy Park
this morning. The fire is believed to
have started from hot Goals falling on
the kitchen floor while the servants were
out. The flames and smoke quickly
rushed down the waiter shaft and into
the halls, and the interior was speedily
ablaZe. The nurse discovered the fire
first and ran down stairs screaming. Two
other servants, who were on the second
floor, escaped by ladder Mr.. Aspin-
wall and son, who were at breakfast,
had to run out without ceremony.
OUT on THE BALCONY WITH HER GEMS.
As they stood looking about for Mrs.
Aspinwall a window in the third story
was opened and that lady herself, who
is very handsome woman and a society
leader, stepped out, shut down the sash
deliberately behind her and perched
upon the slanting roof of the bay win
dow. She braced her feet against the
gutter, and sat secure and calm, holding
her jewel casket in her lap. In the
casket were gems worth $4,000.
There was no ladder at hand long
enough TO reach her lofty perch. Vainly
her husband and the neighbors stormed
around for one. Some one had run for
the fire engines, and they were coming
on dead gallUp. But as the gathering
crowd stood breathless, watching her
sitting there. the smoke that filled the
room was reflected against the window
pane behind her. 1t had crept from the
hallway to the room, following the
garlands of Christmas greens that had
been hung in the house, as a trail sure to
lead it to its prey.
Even while the crowd stared the pane
cracked and broke and the smoke poured
out behind the woman, who could not
stir an inch without falling to her death.
FTREMAN's BRAVE RESCUE.
But at that moment fire engine No.
Ia dashed around the corner to the
square. Fireman Thomas Coleman
grabbed a scaling ladder, hooked it on
the bay window and ran up it like cat
Resting on the sill, he hooked it story
higher up to the roof, and in second
his head and shoulders rose above the
gutter. Mrs. Aspinwall was saved.
She had been sitting calm and appar-
emily unconcerned through it all, wait
ing for the rescue Womanlike, when
it was in sight, her nerve gave way.
She slid into the arms of the fireman,
leaving behind her on tie roof the
precious box she had guarded so WE'LL
He was about to carry her down the
scaling ladder when one of the long
ladders was thrown up alongside by the
others of the crew, making a broader
and safer highway for the descent.
Down it they went, while thousand
spectators cheered the rescue.
CARRIED DOWN THE LADDEN IN A
FAINT.
Mrs. Aspinwall reached the street,
lying on his shoulder limp and appar-
entity lifeless burden. She had tainted
When she revived, her first question
was for her children. Then She told
the police of $25, 900 worth of diamonds
scattered on the stairs when she tried
to get down that way. The precious
stones were found to the last one after
the fire had been put out.
MIR. Aspinwall rewarded Coleman,
the fireman, with handsome gift Of
money and promises to further reward
him for his bravery and promptness in
saving Mrs. Aspinwalls life.