Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-19

ON his countsnance. Yes, indeed. You
see. I am the champion rope climber of the
district ND there, and whenever there are
any perilous heights to be climbed or der
ricks to be mounted, or anything that re-
nuires nerve or skill in the climbing line,
fbev always send for me. If you don't
mind, boys, I'd just Ike TO try tnat blamed
pole once
A Lumberman on o Pole.
"Permission was granted and Perry
mounted the winding stair to the second
| floor. He first removed his coat and hat
and after he had urged the firemen all to
pay close attention lest they miss soms
pointers, he wrapped his legs around the
pole and --. whist
''The big lumberman had made the
descent, 1t only took a fraction of
second for those 200 pounds of humanity to
drop. He fell like pile driver and shook
the building so that old Bob, the hose car
riage horse, startled anxiously from his
morning nap.
Luckily the cushion was in its place at
the bottom of the pole, or the champion
rope climber of Clarion county would in all
probability have broken his neck. As it
was he was knocked senseless and Jared so
hard that he had to be rubbed with arnica-
When he recovered his senses we assisted
him to his shanty or the raft, where he was
confined for several days, unable to walk
without pair of crutches.
'Before Perry went home he called
around to see us and get final look at SBat
blasted lightning rod The next time he
comes to town Perry saws he is going to
treat the No. iremen if it takes S25.
Fireman Gale Tells q Story.
A
fremen can relate thrilling tales of advent
ure and miraculous escapes from instant
death, while battling with fire, but none can
excel the record of George W. King, Captain
of Engine Company No. 8, Pittsburg, said
Fireman Gale the other dav. ''Some of the
boys think the Captain bears q charmed
life'
"When quite young Mr.. King began his
career as q fireman. During his apprentice
ship several fierce fires occurred, at which
his conduct won him the reputation of a
fearless and daring fireman. One of these
fires was the memorable confectioner's con-
fagration on Smithfield street, in the year
1868, at which seven young women lost
their lives. The boy fireman, King, was
the first to enter the building and attempt
the rescue of the unfortunate inmates. He
succeeded in carrying three of them out,
but they were suffocated by the smoke be-
fore the street was reached.
'In the year 1870 he was in the three-day
fight with the Standard Oil fire at the
Sharpsburg bridge. At the riot fires of
1877 he was on duty for three consecutive
days without rest. While st. Philomena's
Church was burning one of the malicious
rioters cut the hose with dagger. King
saw the act and promptly knocked him
down, taking the mans weapon from him.
The dagger, which was attached to cane,
was presented to William Moore, Fire Com
missioner at that time, who still retains i.
as memento of the great riot.
Rolling Down a Steep Roof
'Tn the year 1880 King had one of his
narrowest escapes from death. A fire had
broken out in Wilson's commission house,
at the corner of Garrison alley and Liberty
street. King was working on the steep roof,
when some of the fremen accidentally
turned stream of water on him. The force
of the blow caused him to lose his balance,
and like log he started to roll down the
roof toward destruction. The spectators
below closed their eyes and waited in hor-
ror for the man to be dashed to death on the
pavement. But Kings time had not come.
Just as he was plunging over the edge he
caught the rain spout, and, clutching it with
both hands, held on for dear life. A rope
was passed down to him, and, grasping it,
uc was SAFELY uIoWu up Ou W bnc IOOi.
CAT the First National Bank fire in 1887,
Fireman King had very close call He
was on the top of an 80-loot ladder when
the roof and cornice of the building gave
way. In its descent the great mass just.
grazed his head and tell crashing t. the
ground below. Shortly after this, at a fire
in Clark's bakery on Seventh avenue, King,
blinded by the smoke, fell % feet down
pair of stairs, injuring himself so that he
had to lay off duty for several months
Weighted Down With Ice.
cat the Fleishman fire, on Market street,
in the year 1888, King experienced another
narrow escape. 1t was bitter cold night
and King, with fireman named Evan
Pugh, were on the roof. Streams of water
were playing in all directions, throwing
mist on the two men which troze on their
clothing, converting them into living
icicles. The roof upon which they stood
began to sink. They were so encountered
with ice that they could barely flee for
their lives, but they succeeded in reaching
the walls Just as the roof went down. They
were then rescued with ropes and ladders
During the floods of 1888 break was
caused in the gas main of the Philadelphia
Company, which crosses the Monongahela
river at Soho. The escaping gas, becoming
ignited set fire to the Keystone mills. The
fire department was called, but it was found
that unless the flow of gas was stopped the
w ork of the firemen would be useless. The
stopcock was buried ten feet under the
flood, and all attempts to reach it with
pole from a boat were fruitless. The fate
of the big mill seemed evident. But Fire
man King saved the day. After q moment
of thought he directed the men to turn sew
eral streams of water on the burning gas
which arose from the rivers surface, and
then seizing the wrench firmly in his hand
be disappeared in the muddy water. Sew
sral times he had to rise to the surface to
breathe, but each time he returned ntil the
,topcock had been securely shut off. And
that is how Captain King got his name OF
diver Captain King is now "A years Of
lge, and is still as active as ever"
JOHN /. HIGH.