St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-03

not lust beyond" but the railroad
yards were. and in imminent danger OF
our lives we lodged before and behind
engines. passenger coaches and freight
cars. until we were so tangled up that
we had forgotten all about the fire, and
our only desire was to get safely llome.i
A long line of freight cars hemmed us
in, and before 1 knew what she was
about the fire bug had crawled under
the cars and landed safely on the
other side, from whence she called
TO me to do the same. So under went
with my heart in my mouth. and, think
ing that il ever | got out of this scrape.
l would never venture three feet away
from home again. We were in the same
Fix after | crawled under-nothing but
long lines of cars to be seen Oh either
side OF US. Nothing would induce me
to crawl under any more cars. Then
we will go over" cried my energetic
friend, and up that little iron ladder
she flew. calling from the top that the
road was only few feet away, and
scrambled down the ladder on the other
side. l had no choice but TO follow
In fear and trembling L went up that
fire escape ladder that brakemen climb,
crawled on my hands and knees to the
other side and prepared 10 descend.
But when L looked down my courage
fors0ok Inc. and my heart dropped with
athud that cracked it trifla. Il can't
do it" cried. Truly was it said, "ue
who heSitateS is lost" while [ was
hesitating and trying to decide
whether to go down head fore
most or feet foremost, an inter-
fering engine moved quietly up to
the front car, and before | realized what
its intentions were [ was being whisked
off towards Chicago, leaving the fire
bug Wildly screaming in the distance.
imagined all Serts of horrible things
as chung to the roof of the car. Sup
pose bridge should knock my head off
1 lay down then. Suppose | should be
taken through Chicago i'll this most un-
dignilied position in broad daylight
This idea was too dreadful, and wept
| wouldn't attempt to describe the feel
ngS of the brakeman when he came
along the top Of the cars carrying
lantern and discovered a weeping wom-
an. dressed in light summer gauZe,
perched upon the rear car. For min
ute feared for his reason, but as soon
as he became satisfied that the afore-
said Niobe was composed OF flesh and
blood he was very kind. Instead of
having me arrested for stealing ride
goodness knows didn't want the ride.
and would willingly have returned it
intaet-he saw tina: was safely landed
at Hastings, with the able assistance OF
the conductor. station agent, engineer
aud ladder. | arrived home just in
time to join the crown who were about
to search for my remains at the fire. l
do not knoW whether The other girl ever
got home. or whether she is still stand
ing in the road screaming, but Pfopt
some luuatic asylum has Gagged her, de-
fore now. s. ..f
jstag
That adventure reminds me of a fire
saw q short time ago in neighbDritig
small town. | learned that they iiaf
just purchased an engine. but were Stll
without horses When the fire bells
would ring and yet up real old,fiSii=
Toned excitement. TIE nearest TEAM ;af
horses was hastily coniiscateu anil
hitcted to the eagine. fhe ownef Of
later. False alarms became frequent.
and, as it was noticed that the Sa,neiaij
man usually happened IL Oe iii frontsop
the engine house ia time to ilase'iliS
team attached, the citizens becamS sus-
picious. The mayor-kjS brother-iu-
laws wite'S understanding that a
horse sale woaid arouse those primitive
citizens to the highest pitch OF excite
ment. argued that the easiest way to
stop the false alarms was 10 bay the
old mans team. The citizens were to
hold mass meeting that night and
vote for or against those horses. fhe
foregoing information was Impaired to
me 10y the hotel proprietor 1--WE minutes
after my arrival. L was regrettiag
nay inability to remain i'll the
town that night aud be present at the
meeting, when cries or ''Fire!" ''Fire!'
were heard. the bells changed, the dogs
barked anu the engine came Gathering
down the street. drawn by the old mans
ever ready horses and followed by The
usual crowd OF small boys making
noise that would discount a campmeet-
ing. Having d short time to spare
concluded to follow the small boys.
This was not d false alarm, and when L
reached the scene of action three brave
fire laddies were ripping off the roof,
some companions, armed with batehets,
we're breaking all of the windows.
others were throwing the furniture out
of doors, tearing up carpets, smashing
glassware and mirrors, while another
gang was dragging leaking hose up a
a velyet-carpeted staircase. The I'M
fortunate owner of the house was wildly
gesticulating and wringing her hands i'll
despair, as she yelled in the captains
ear that the FIRE had been in the cellar,
but had burned itself out half an hour
before But the captain only flourished
his speaking trumpet more vigorously
and screamed, Don't worry, madam;
now don't take on so; we will save
your home; be calm-be calm. Hi,
there. Bill. run line of hose
down the chimney and another through
the parior." Thereupon the owner was
carried off in raying Mysteries and the
brave firemen hacked and chopped more
energetieaIly. l returned to the hotel,
and three hours afterward [ saw the
fire department returning tired and
jaded, but still triumphant. The brave
captain was borne along uponf tile
shoulders OF the prominent citizens, and
the landlord explained to me how truly
grand had been his work Of saving a
house which might otherwise have been
burned to the ground. l wonder what
became of the hysterical owner and
what would have been her story of the
manner in which the brave captain
demolished her property in order to Oh
tain fame. As left town heard that
a real fire had been too much for the
old mans horses. One was dead and
the other crippled for life. E. III! r.
CATHOLIC CONGRESS. s IS:
~ II