The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-03-12

houses soon discovered, and wild
rush was made to the scene of the con-
flagration, which proved to be the
Cameron house, owned by Mrs. Frank
lin.
The fire was discovered by the
watchman in one of the mills Just be-
low the hotel, but as it had originated
in the kitchen at the rear, 1t was not
discovered until that portion of the
building was mass of flames. The
familiar Shrek of the whistles had at
once aroused the lumbermen who
roomed at the hotel, and soon a motley
crowd Of men was seen pouring from
the building in every direction.
The apartments of Mrs. Franklin
and her daughter were in that portion
Of the building over the kitchen and
near the servants quarters. Before
the alarm was sounded the female por-
tion in the building had been awakened
by the dense volumes of smoke which
came pouring into their rooms. and it
was with difficulty they escaped suf-
location.
Willing hands were soon at work
uClDllk w ICiuONO MndJ blNlSo VI
furniture could be saved, as it was evil
dent nothing could stop the progress of
the flames, as the only water supply
was from the mill just opposite, which
was inadequate to grapple with the
fiery monster with any show of sue
cess
While the men were at work, sud-
denly the shrieks of a woman were
heard in the burning building and the
next instant Mrs. Franklin came rush
ing out, crying:
"Willie! Williel Oh, where is Willie?
Oh, some one save him; he's in there
and will be burned up, oh!-oh-!"
Hardly had the lady announced the
fact of her little boys danger, when
tall form, bareheaded and with moth
ing on except an undershirt and pair of
overalls, was seen to rush through tho
crowd and into the burning building.
Everyone who saw the man at once
recognized him as River Jin," and as
all knew his friendship for the little
boys, and Jim's courage in times of
danger, they felt that he never would
return from the building without the
boy.
Every minute seemed an age after
Jim disappeared from sight in the
burning building, and Mrs. Franklin
did nothing but walk back and forth
wringing her hands and sobbing out:
"Oh. Willie! Willie! Oh, know he
is dead and maybe burned up before
this time
Pretty soon there was a shout, which
increased to mighty roar as the form
of River JIM was seen at an upper
window, grasping something in his
arms. For only an instant was he Wis
ible and as he disappeared from sight
groan went up from the vast crowd.
This was changed to glad cry, as
jim was seen, through the smoke, to
stagger out of the door still tightly
grasping what proved to be the inani-
mate form of Willie Franklin, with a
blanket wrapped around him AS Jim
staggered out OF the burning building,
willing hands caught the boys form
and rushed to place free from smoke,
when it was found that he was unin-
jured, except from inhaling smoke, and
was soon resucitated.
When the boy was taken from Jim's
arms, the fellow was seen to stagger,
and those gathered around noted the
change in the man. His long hair and
whiskers were burned close to his head
and face, and his flannel undershirt
was almost burned from his back,
while his overalls were still seen to be
on fire in many places. His hands and
l f 4 1 I
blistered He endeavored to walk. but
again reeled like a drunken man and
fell to the ground where he lay as if
dead.
A portion of the crowd of men gath
cred around the form of Jim, anXiously
asking: SIS he dead?"
The poor fellow lay to all appear
ances dead man for moment or two,