The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
PRESENCE DE- MIND.
How q Man Who Had 1t Profitcd by the
Scheme of One Who Hadn't 1t.

Presence OF mind and bravery in the
face of peril was being discussed in the
Office of W. r. Busenbark. general man
ager of the Maple Leaf route. The cap
sizing of yacht of the lake front the
day before suggested the theme. After
listening to the thrilling experiences
which each of the group present related
and somehow on the occasion of an
exceptional accident people are prone TO
talk thrillingly of what they have passed
through themselves-Mr. BuSenbark told
story.
He did not need to call our fancy 10
his aid to give interest to his tale. he
had been the central figure in the well
remembered burning of the Newhall
hotel, in Milwaukee, being the only per
son above the second floor who did no.
perish in the terrible fire.
Referring 10 the manner in which he
escaped. he said he owed his life 10 the
fact that man who was burned TO ashes
in the flames the same night told him
how he would try 10 save his life III case
of fire.
"This is how il was, BOYS" said Mr..
Busenbark. II got orders from my road
to meet one of our agents named Ware,
who was TO be transferred from Detroit
70 Milwaukee. and introduce him TO onr
patrons in the Cream City. | joined
him here in Chicago. and we went to
Milwaukee together. 1t was the day of
the Newhall hotel fire. On the trip, by
q strange coincidence, we began talking
about fires. Ware. think. brought up
the topic Yes. il was Ware: and what
started him on the subject was the fact
that ne had witnessed big fire IN the
Western Union building at Detroit. st
which five lives were lost. Isn't it curl
Gus, Busenbark. said Ware TO me. how
common sense Will desert man in the
hour of danger? | saw the big fire IN
Detroit.
"a number of operators could be
seen standing helplessly and in wild de-
spair at the windows Of the Western
Union building. There was perfect
network of telegraph wires within
twenty feet of them. by jumping on
which they might have saved their
lives. But they didn't jump and they
persisted. What is puzzling is that the
telegraph wires as means OF escape for
the poor fellows did not occur 10 me
until after all was over.
"'No accounting for these things,
Ware said | to the Detroit man. and
then we talked about other matters.
THAT evening. after arriving at Nil
waukee. we went 10 the theater / re-
member it as if it was but Yesterday.
About II o'clock we reached the New
hall and were given a double bedded
room. When | was awakened by the
heat and sitting smoke | pulled Ware
out of bed, and the poor follow dashed
from the room and toward the staircase.
| never saw him again. alive or dead.
for he was burned 70 ashes. ! rushed 20
one of the windows of my room and
stood for fully haH minute. daZed and
bewildered. Right under tho window
was network of telegraph wires. Poor
Wares story Of the Detroit incident
flashed across my mind.
81 jumped toward the wires, and all
that remember Is that grabbed them.
They told me afterward that | hung on
for about minute and then fell 70 the
pavement below. / was put among the
dead In the old bank across from the
hotel, but revived, and two months
later ! was able 20 walk.
Ware inspired me with the idea that
saved my hfe. and while he had the
same opportunity as | had he did not
avail himself Of IL.
at Is idle. boys. 20 talk OF what one
would be sure to DO under given circum-
stances. There is no accounting for
what man Will do when h6 is looking
into the jaws Of death.
All the boys looked thoughtful and
agreed that it was so.-Chicago Herald