The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-04-28

gan to jump The people in the street
below were frantic.
Back backl" they shrieked. watt
wen save you. don't jump
Which is the pleasanter. be roasted
alive or to be mashed ou II shape on
the stone pavement II there is to be
any saving done, it must be done quick
ly. Many people were busy saving
themselves. The sleeping clerk and
porter and bell boys had gotten out.
But what OF the little black fellow in
the elevator? He, too, had been asleep.
He had been awakened as the others had
been by the first cry OF fire. Unliks
them he had that "two-oclock,in-the
morning courage which Napoleon said
was the rarest sort In an instant be de.
cided that it was his duty to stick to his
post. And gsick he did.
Up and down he went, and every time
his car touched the Office floor it was
loaded with people. The journey was
frightful one, hut he did not shrink.
How long be could continue to make the
trip he could not tell The elevator
might drop any minute. Very well, lei
1t drop. Some Of the people in it might
survive the shock 1t was sure to catch
fire sooner OF later. Even then he would
be on the way to safety with his pas
sengers And Mt any rate he knew that
be could bring some people out Of the
fire burning above.
| He had not been good at going up
stairs, but he could run his elevator.
Trip after trip he made, each worse than
the last. The fireman at the bottom OF
the shaft to whom he turned over his
living freight sought to stop him in his
dangerous work. The whole well was
full Of smoke, and far up toward the
roof the fire could be seen.
Still he kept on, and it did seem that
every time he started skyward he was
going to certain death. But he knew
that the rooms and halls were swarming
with people, and he would take any
chance to save life. The firemen were
doing their best outside; death was busy
within; and he finally made up his mind
that it was no use to 60 back again, till
all at once he remembered that he had
seen nothing OF his little friend.
Could be weather the storm and flame
once mores He could try. He pulled
the rope, and the journey began. 1t was
slow, oh, how slow. The smoke was
terrible-worse even than the fire-bul
he held his breath and fixed his mind
upon the business in hand.
The flame kindled the woodwork Of
the car. He fell on his hands and knees,
but he kept his hold on the rope Al
last he reached her hoor He found her
room, and found her. She was ASLEEP
and alone
Wrapping her in the blankets, and
throwing about her rug which he
snatched from the floor, he struggled
through the fame and smoke back to thu
burning car. Back from the jaws Of
hell" it was that he brought her, fighting
the FIRE away from her every inch Of th'
way down. He had just strength enough
TO stop the car.
The children were taken out and car
, ried to drug store across the street
the girl alive and well and the boy seem
ingly dead.
He was horribly burned. Among thu
people who stood around were the pa
rents Of the little girl. They had beer
out to an evening party, and returning
after long cold drive found their hom
on fire Every effort had been made, il
response to the agonizing appeals Of tn
father, to save the child-and now her
: she was, safe and sound, laughing in he
mothers arins
And the hero? BE opened his eyes,
"Did bring her froo all right
"Yes, yes" said the father, land hov
= can we ever thank you for what you hav
r done2'
+ "Nebber min bout dat, boss. Ell she
I sfte OATS nun Tor me e"-and ne close
bis eyes
. Dead? Yes, dead and gone to heave
. in q chariot Of fire. Richard Yorke: Re
nance,
Hl5 ----------7-------------------
4 At Wedding.
l. The wedding in question was, in man
!, wnys. the most brilliant event OF th
4 season. Nothing which could serve t
h heighten the grace and significance 0
4 the affair had been spared. The churcf
tittingly decorated by a Boston artist
n was filled with interested guests. tn
4 faint strains Of Mendelssohn hoate
r through the still air, and the beautifr
!. bride stood before the altar with he
chosen one,